Postdoctoral Research Associate (Rangeland Ecology)

Location: College Station, Texas, with the position officеd at the USDA ARS OCPARC lab in El Reno, Oklahoma. The role includes fieldwork and travel for meetings, including work in challenging weather conditions.

Company

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is part of the Texas A&M University System and conducts agriculture and life sciences research across Texas.

What you will do

• Conduct independent and collaborative literature reviews, research synthesis, and applied ecological research.
• Develop science syntheses of regenerative conservation practices supporting soil health and agricultural sustainability.
• Design and conduct field research in grazed tallgrass prairie pastures and pastures planted with annual cool- and warm-season forages.
• Collaborate with ARS and Texas A&M scientists and coordinate communication with state and local NRCS staff.
• Publish research findings and develop factsheets and other outreach materials.
• Engage stakeholders through outreach activities and perform other assigned duties.

Requirements

• PhD in ecology or a related field by the time of hiring.
• Excellent technical writing and strong oral communication skills.
• Strong collaboration, multitasking, and cooperative working skills.
• Ability to travel for fieldwork and meetings, sometimes outside regular working hours.
• Ability to conduct fieldwork in challenging weather conditions, including heat.
• Continued employment depends on grant or contract funding and satisfactory performance.

Nice to have

• Research experience and peer-reviewed publications in rangeland ecology and management in the southern Great Plains.
• Experience with field-based rangeland studies, vegetation or grazing studies, and soil health assessment.
• Experience with GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis and modeling using Google Earth Engine, meta-analysis, and statistical analysis using R.
• Knowledge of regenerative conservation practices in rangelands.

Culture & Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance with employer contributions to premiums.
• 12–15 paid holidays annually.
• Up to 8 hours of sick leave and at least 8 hours of vacation leave per month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Access to wellness initiatives, professional development, and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internal programs.

Hiring process

• Submit complete application data or a resume, CV, cover letter, list of references, and any applicable certifications or additional documentation.
• Employment is contingent on credential verification and completion of a criminal history check.