Postdoctoral Research Associate - Phytoplankton Ecology

Planitec BTP; Corpus Christi (TX); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits

On-campus wellness solutions

Retirement plan

Job summary

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Harte Research Institute to study brown tide dynamics in the Baffin Bay-Upper Laguna Madre system. The role focuses on coordination, data collection and analysis under a NOAA ECOHAB grant.

The successful candidate will mentor students, collaborate with researchers and stakeholders, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications while developing new research directions.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Marine Science or related field.
• Experience with phytoplankton identification and ecology.
• Proficient in time-series analysis and statistics.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Willingness to engage with stakeholders and field work.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project activities with PI and staff.
• Participate in field and lab data collection.
• Analyze water quality data and publish results.
• Help develop new research avenues and grant proposals.

Skills

Phytoplankton identification

Phytoplankton ecology

Microsoft Office

Communication

Project management

Field work

Time-series analysis

Education

PhD in Marine Science or related field

Tools

R

Job description

**Job Title**Postdoctoral Research Associate - Phytoplankton Ecology**Agency**Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi**Department**Harte Research Institute**Proposed Minimum Salary**Commensurate**Job Location**Corpus Christi, Texas**Job Type**Staff**Job Description*******TAMU-CC is a dynamic university designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) with approximately 11,000 students from 47 states and 54 foreign nations. We employ over 1,400 full-time and 2,000 part-time Islanders (including students/GAs). The University attracts highly talented faculty and staff and offers an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral programs. As a member of the Texas A&M University System, TAMU-CC benefits from a range of resources, increased visibility and influence, and opportunities to collaborate in mutually beneficial ways with peers across member institutions and associated agencies.**********TAMU-CC’s beautiful campus is located on a 240-acre island on Corpus Christi Bay and was ranked #1 College by the Sea by Best College Reviews. Our natural setting is enhanced by its modern, attractive, and state-of-the-art classroom buildings and support facilities.*******PURPOSE**A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Coastal Water Health lab at the Harte Research Institute. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct research under the auspices of a new NOAA ECOHAB grant that focuses on understanding dynamics of *Aureoumbra lagunensis* (“brown tide”) blooms in the Baffin Bay-Upper Laguna Madre ecosystem of Texas. The postdoctoral researcher will gain experience in project management, project development, mentoring (of undergraduate/graduate students) and stakeholder engagement. Opportunities also exist for comparative analysis of phytoplankton dynamics between estuarine systems that vary in e.g., freshwater inflow, nutrient loadings, etc.**DESCRIPTION****Functional Area 1: Project Coordination****Percent Effort: 10%*** Coordinate project activities in collaboration with PI, Co-PIs and assigned staff* Implement project activities**Functional Area 2: Data Acquisition****Percent Effort: 40%*** Participate in field and laboratory-based project activities to acquire data* Process and analyze samples collected* Develop new techniques as appropriate for project **Functional Area 3: Research and Data Analysis****Percent Effort: 40%*** Analyze water quality data* Submit data to a data manager in a timely manner* Publish results in peer reviewed journals and present at local/national/international meetings.**Functional Area 4: Research Development****Percent Effort: 10%*** Develop new avenues of research* Submit grant applications to support new avenues of research**QUALIFICATIONS*** Ph.D. in Marine Science or related field* Experience with phytoplankton identification, preferably including marine taxa.* Fundamental knowledge of phytoplankton ecology* Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience communicating scientific findings to a broad audience.* Desire to work with a broad spectrum of collaborators, managers, and stakeholders.* Experience with project management and ability to meet project goals in a timely manner.* Ability to participate in field work under occasional harsh conditions such as heat and wind* Experience with appropriate statistical techniques for analyzing time-series data and community structure data**PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS*** Experience with R software packagesSALARY: $4,166.67 - $4,791.67 Monthly ($50,000 - $57,500 Annually Approximately)*NOTE:** ***This a grant-funded position. Continued employment contingent upon available funding******.**** ***Employment may be impacted by the Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025 and the moratorium issued by Texas Governor Abbott on January 27, 2026.*****BENEFITS (rules, policies, eligibility apply)****From our generous** ***benefits package*** **and professional development opportunities, to our retirement programs and our commitment to service excellence, the Island University is an engaging and rewarding place to work.****INSURANCE:*** Medical + $0 - $30 per month for Employee Only coverage after university contribution ($920 value). + Up to 83% of premium covered by the university: - Employee and Spouse - Employee and Children - Employee and Family coverage* Dental & Vision* Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account**DUAL CAREER PARTNER PROGRAM****ON-CAMPUS WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES****Work Life Solutions:*** Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and Legal Resources**Tuition Benefits:*** Public Loan Forgiveness* Book scholarships* 100% tuition coverage for up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year (other rules may apply).**Retirement****:*** Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)* Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan**Time Off****:*** 8+ hours of vacation paid time off every month.* 8 hours of sick leave time off every month.* 8 hours of paid time off for Birthday leave.* 12-15 paid holidays each year.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.