Senior Research Associate

Texas A&M • Temple, TX

4d

About The Position

Applications are invited for a Senior Research Associate to work in a joint research project at Texas A&M AgriLife, Temple, TX and USDA-ARS, Maricopa, AZ. The associate will lead the collection, processing, and analysis of agricultural data using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related sensing technologies. This position supports research aimed at enhancing in-season cotton monitoring, resource management, and decision-making through the use of high-resolution aerial imagery and data analytics.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or related field and four years of related professional experience. Or, Master's degree in in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or related field and two years of related professional experience.
• Proven experience in agricultural remote sensing and UAV flight operations.
• Proficiency with photogrammetry and GIS software (e.g., Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Strong data analysis skills using Python, R, or similar analytical tools.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
• Fieldwork under varying weather conditions.
• Travel to research sites or grower fields.
• Manual handling of UAV equipment (light to medium weight objects up to ~25 lbs.).

Nice To Haves

• Experience with multispectral and thermal imagery applications in crop monitoring.
• Knowledge of agricultural management practices, crop phenology, and environmental monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Collect aerial imagery using UAV for vegetation indices (NDVI, NDRE, etc.), canopy structure, soil variability, and water stress analysis.
• Process raw imagery using photogrammetry and GIS software to generate orthomosaics and vegetation maps.
• Manage geospatial data and integrate UAV and other sensor-derived datasets with ground-based observations and crop models to enhance data-driven insights.
• Work with crop modelers and data scientists to integrate UAV-based analytics into precision agriculture workflows.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees