- Location
- Bushland, TX, United States of America
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Education
- Seniority
- Entry
- Education
- PhD
- Source
- Workday
Description
Job Title
Postdoctoral Research AssociateAgency
Texas A&M Agrilife ResearchDepartment
AmarilloProposed Minimum Salary
CommensurateJob Location
Bushland, TexasJob Type
StaffJob Description
About Texas A&M AgriLife
Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:
As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.
Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!
Position Information
Texas A&M AgriLife Research seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to support research advancing nutrient management and air quality in livestock–crop production systems at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Conservation and Production Research Laboratory (CPRL) at Bushland, TX. The successful candidate will develop and evaluate strategies that reduce nutrient losses from manure, assess fertilizer contributions of nearby feedyards to surrounding crop and forage production, and add value to abundant stocks of manure and agricultural biomass in the region. The postdoc will work closely with CPRL scientists and collaborators to conduct lab‑, pilot‑, and feedlot‑scale research to develop and evaluate approaches to reduce nutrient losses from manure and improve nutrient cycling in livestock–crop systems.
Responsibilities
Complete data analysis for the ammonia-deposition project (ADAPT Phase I).
Conduct ammonia emissions modeling for a local concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), and prepare results for publication.
Collaborate with USDA‑ARS workgroup contributing to enhancements of the USEPA CMAQ/STAGE model.
Deploy an open‑path laser–based monitoring system for continuous ammonia and methane measurements at a local CAFO.
Initiate and lead data collection, processing, and interpretation to support peer‑reviewed publications.
Participate in weekly research meetings (in person or virtual).
Lead the preparation of manuscripts, research presentations, and USDA‑ARS annual performance reports.
Submit all resulting publications to the ARS Principal Investigator for inclusion in the USDA‑ARS publication database.
Ensure all research data comply with USDA Departmental Regulation 1020‑006 (Public Access to Scholarly Publications and Digital Scientific Research Data) and ARS P&P 630 (Data Management & Public Access Requirements).
Collaboration & Reporting
Under general supervision by the Professor and Center Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research – High Plains, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will work alongside USDA-ARS scientists, contribute to team‑based research activities, and share hands‑on insights gained from experimental work. Performance reviews, conducted annually in April-May, will be the responsibility of the Professor and Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research – High Plains in consultation with the Research Leader of the USDA-ARS Livestock and Nutrient Management Research Unit (LNMRU), who will provide day-to-day guidance on research activities. All publications will be entered into the USDA‑ARS publication database to support research accountability and public dissemination.
Support Provided by USDA‑ARS
• Research materials and supplies
• Laboratory and office space
• Access to necessary facilities and resources following established protocols
• Support for publishing results in peer‑reviewed journals
Required Qualifications
Earned Ph. D. in Soil Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Atmospheric Science, or a closely related field.
Strong background in nutrient management, air quality, emissions monitoring, or livestock waste systems.
Experience with data analysis, modeling (e. g., ammonia emissions or air quality models), and statistical software (R, SAS, Python, etc.).
Demonstrated ability to conduct independent and collaborative field and laboratory research.
Excellent written and oral communication skills with a track record of scientific writing.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment and meet project deadlines.
Valid Texas driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work outdoors in varying and adverse weather conditions characteristic of the Texas High Plains.
Preferred Qualifications
Earned Ph.D. in Soil Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Atmospheric Science, or a closely related field within the past three years.
Experience with open-path laser-based gas monitoring systems or similar instrumentation.
Knowledge of CAFO operations, manure management, or High Plains agricultural systems.
Familiarity with air pollution dispersion models such as CMAQ or STAGE.
Peer-reviewed publication record.
Grant writing or project management experience.
What You Need to Know
Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.
Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?
When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.
In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:
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
Applicant Instructions
The successful candidate must provide a CV, a list of three references, and answer all questions. Failure to provide this information could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.
