Postdoctoral Research Associate (Microbiology)

Location: College Station, Texas, United States; this position is not eligible for remote work.

Company

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is a state-supported agriculture and life sciences research organization within the Texas A&M University System.

What you will do

• Design, conduct, and troubleshoot experiments on bacterial stress responses, multispecies biofilms, and pathogen persistence.
• Process environmental and animal-source samples and prepare 16S and shotgun metagenomic sequencing libraries.
• Perform downstream sequencing analysis in R or Python.
• Plan and support environmental sampling in beef and dairy production settings while coordinating with collaborators.
• Maintain laboratory records and data management practices.
• Lead and co-author manuscripts, funding reports, conference presentations, and grant-related materials.

Requirements

• PhD in microbiology, microbial ecology, or a related field, or equivalent research experience.
• Hands-on experience with bacterial culture and general molecular microbiology.
• Knowledge of microbiome or sequencing data, including 16S or metagenomics, with basic R or Python analysis skills.
• Ability to independently design and conduct controlled experiments, document work carefully, and communicate scientific results.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States and must not require employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice to have

• Experience with biofilm models, multispecies microbial communities, or bacterial stress response assays.
• Experience with pre-harvest or on-farm sampling in beef or dairy systems.
• Peer-reviewed publications.

Culture & Benefits

• Mentorship in research design, laboratory methods, field coordination, and professional development.
• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance with employer premium contributions.
• 12–15 paid holidays, monthly sick leave, and monthly vacation leave.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Access to wellness initiatives, professional development, and training programs.
• Employment continuation depends on grant or contract funding and satisfactory performance.

Hiring process

• Submit a complete application with a CV or resume, cover letter, and list of references.
• Employment is contingent on credential verification and a criminal history investigation.