Postdoctoral Research Associate - job 1 of 7

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About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

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

This position provides leadership to the modeling and analysis of historical data on groundwater extraction and agricultural irrigation in the northern Texas High Plains.

Responsibilities:

1. Under the supervision of the Professor and Center Director (Texas A&M AgriLife Research – Amarillo), the Senior Research Engineer (Texas A&M AgriLife Research – Amarillo), Agricultural Engineer (USDA-Agricultural Research Service – Bushland), and Assistant Professor of Agricultural Statistics (West Texas A&M University), develop and publish a map of “Q-Stable” for the counties of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District in the Texas Panhandle.
2. Keep detailed records of data, metadata, and data-derived products used to estimate and document agricultural water use and groundwater extraction across the region.
3. Consult closely with the project team to confirm assumptions, identify and use appropriate data sources, and examine scientific rationale and conclusions. Drive motor vehicles to/from the Amarillo Center, Bushland, the James Bush Farm, and District headquarters in Dumas, TX, for those consultations.
4. Lead the preparation, submittal, and reviewer responses/revisions of one or more manuscripts to a peer-reviewed journal documenting the workflow for estimating annual irrigation withdrawals from the Ogallala Aquifer in the project domain.
5. Initiate and coordinate project-team meetings, both in person and via Microsoft Teams or other
videoconferencing application.
6. Use computers and technical equipment to perform data analysis, statistical analysis, and technical evaluation of water-use data and projections; summarize results for inclusion in scientific and clientele-oriented publications.
7. Prepare and write proposals to funding agencies; maintain financial records related to research projects.
8. Use presentation graphics and multimedia to develop presentations and documents in support of faculty supervisors.
9. Write research reports and make oral presentations to the Ogallala Aquifer Project (OAP) administration and research team.
10. Serve on appropriate standing or ad hoc committees of Texas A&M AgriLife Research-Amarillo, as assigned.
11. Perform other, related duties as assigned.

Supervision:

The incumbent will report directly to the Professor and Center Director (Amarillo, TX), who will be responsible for overall strategic guidance, project scheduling, and performance review. Technical supervision on evapotranspiration modeling and crop water demand will be provided by the Senior Research Engineer (AgriLife) and the Agricultural Engineer (USDA-ARS). Technical supervision on data analysis, statistics, and database management will be provided by the Assistant Professor of Agricultural Statistics (WTAMU).

Required Qualifications:

• A doctoral degree in groundwater hydrology, civil engineering, agronomy, soil science, crop science, agricultural engineering, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written English.
• Ability to use a computer and software effectively to create databases, perform statistical analyses, present data, and perform other computer-related tasks, including competence in one or more modern programming languages.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
• Good team member, results orientated
• Texas Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five years of professional experience in agricultural or biological research, including demonstrated experience with agronomy, irrigation, groundwater hydrology, and/or related disciplines.
• Working familiarity with groundwater availability modeling (GAM) and statistical and geospatial software (R, ArcGIS, QGIS) is strongly preferred.

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

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter describing the fit for the position as described herein.

2. A comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV).

3. Contact information for three references.

4. Answer all questions within the electronic application process.

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.