Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M University; Uvalde (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance

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

Job summary

Texas A&M University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for the Vegetable Breeding Program in Uvalde, Texas. The role involves managing research trials related to the USDA NIFA SCRI onion project and collaborating closely with project teams.

Ideal candidates should have a Ph.D. in relevant fields such as Plant Breeding or Horticulture and demonstrate proficiency in genome analysis, organizational skills, and teamwork. The position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Understanding of genetics and breeding principles of open-pollinated vegetable crops.
• Proficiency in biochemical assays for abiotic and biotic tolerance.
• Ability to work individually and interact with teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage research trials for USDA NIFA SCRI onion project.
• Conduct whole-genome structural and functional analysis in vegetable crops.
• Mentor graduate students in research and training.

Skills

Proficiency in whole-genome structural and functional analysis

Strong organizational skills

Excellent communication skills

Data management proficiency

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology or Agronomy

Job description

Position Overview

We are hiring a Postdoctoral Research Associate for the Vegetable Breeding Program at Uvalde, Texas. The successful candidate will support research focused on genomics, tissue culture, integrated pest management, agronomy, and breeding of cultivars for vegetable crops, and assist Dr. Subas Malla in managing logistics, reporting, communication, outreach, organization, and budget oversight for a 4‑year USDA NIFA SCRI onion project and the TDA‑SCBG onion and watermelon projects.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage research trials for the USDA NIFA SCRI onion project.
• Manage and direct all administrative functions for the 4‑year USDA NIFA SCRI onion project.
• Serve as point of contact and liaison for other university offices, colleges, and other agencies involved in subcontracts with Texas A&M University System.
• Coordinate and facilitate quarterly meetings with the USDA NIFA SCRI onion project team.
• Coordinate one in‑person meeting per year with the team, Stakeholder Advisory Panel (SAP) and stakeholders at conferences such as the National Onion Association or National Allium Research Conference.
• Provide administrative support for all grant project faculty, staff and administrators involved in the USDA NIFA SCRI onion project.
• Assemble project plans and teamwork assignments in collaboration with PD and co‑PIs on the SCRI project to monitor work efforts, identify resource needs, assess work quality, and troubleshoot issues accordingly.
• Monitor and report progress as appropriate.
• Develop workflows and models to standardize and improve outputs (e.g., workflow diagrams, policies and procedures, timelines, and reporting).
• Create, track, and manage timelines and related tasks to ensure effective implementation of the SCRI project goals and objectives.
• Assist PI and co‑PIs to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Plan and manage research trials for the TDA‑SCBG onion and watermelon projects, and the Texas A&M AgriLife onion projects.
• Conduct whole‑genome structural and functional analysis in vegetable crops.
• Manage marker‑assisted selection in vegetable crops and collect plant samples from the field, greenhouse, and nethouse (requires a driver’s license to drive a state vehicle).
• Harvest onion bulbs and watermelon fruits in the field, greenhouse, and nethouse (requires ability to exert heavy force and lift up to 50 pounds).
• Select onion bulbs and watermelon fruits for crossing and/or advance generation.
• Design crossing block.
• Plant onion bulbs/watermelon seeds for crossing block.
• Develop breeding populations.
• Collect multi‑location field, greenhouse, and nethouse data and maintain database (requires a driver’s license to drive vehicles for possible overnight stays).
• Analyze multi‑environment trial data using relevant statistical software.
• Attract and assist in grants and contracts to support the Vegetable Breeding program in Uvalde.
• Publish work in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Travel to and attend work‑related meetings and present research findings at various meetings outside of Uvalde (requires a driver’s license to drive a state vehicle or rental car).
• Mentor graduate students in research and training.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology or Agronomy.
• Ability to work individually and interact with internal and external teams.
• Understanding of genetics and breeding principles of open‑pollinated vegetable crops.
• Proficiency in whole‑genome structural and functional analysis.
• Understanding of lipid profiling and seed physiology.
• Proficiency in biochemical assays for abiotic and biotic tolerance.
• Proficiency in data management and use of office software such as spreadsheets and word processing.
• Strong organizational skills, excellent communication skills, and report‑writing skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships at the center, within the agency, the university, outside universities, and other organizations and stakeholders involved in the USDA NIFA SCRI onion project.
• Ability to multi‑task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of related professional experience in plant breeding and supervisory experience.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work flexible hours when needed, especially during the field season and peak workload periods.
• Requires travel to various work locations.

Location

Uvalde, Texas – a community of approximately 16,000 people located about an hour and a half from San Antonio, with a 150‑acre research campus.

Salary

Compensation is commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long‑term disability insurance (Texas A&M AgriLife contributes 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.

Security and EEO

All positions are security‑sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon verification of credentials. The organization is an Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.