Postdoctoral Research Associate (Ecology)

Location: Officed onsite at the USDA ARS OCPARC lab in El Reno, Oklahoma; the position involves fieldwork and travel for meetings, sometimes outside regular working days and hours.

Company

hirify.global is part of the Texas A&M University System and conducts agriculture and life sciences research, education, extension, and service across Texas.

What you will do

• Conduct independent and collaborative literature reviews, science syntheses, and research to address identified knowledge gaps.
• Study regenerative conservation practices, soil health, and agricultural sustainability in farmland and rangeland of the southern Great Plains.
• Conduct applied 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 with state and local NRCS staff to align research with stakeholder needs.
• Publish research findings and develop factsheets and outreach materials for stakeholder engagement.

Requirements

• PhD in ecology or a related field at the time of hiring.
• Excellent technical writing and strong oral communication skills.
• Strong ability to work collaboratively, multitask, and cooperate with others.
• Ability to travel for fieldwork and meetings, including occasionally outside regular working days and hours.
• Ability to conduct fieldwork in challenging weather conditions, including heat.

Nice to have

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

Culture & Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance with employer contributions.
• 12–15 annual paid holidays, monthly sick leave, and monthly vacation leave.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee wellness initiatives and ongoing professional development through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internal programs.
• Continued employment depends on grant or contract funding and satisfactory job performance.

Hiring process

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