Senior Research Associate

Texas A&M University; College Station (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Paid holidays

Sick leave and vacation

Retirement plan

Wellness program

Job summary

Texas A&M AgriLife is seeking a Senior Research Associate to support the Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management in College Station, TX. The role focuses on exclusion fencing and mitigation of wild pig damage, with fieldwork across Texas and collaboration with landowners and biologists.

The position emphasizes data collection, analysis, and report writing to support producer-directed research and outreach initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field.
• Four years of related professional experience.
• Ability to work in remote locations and challenging conditions.
• Ability to analyze data and write reports.
• Preferred MS degree in rangeland or natural resource management; GPA ≥3.0.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with landowners, managers, biologists, ranchers and a wide range of stakeholders.
• Identify study sites, collect baseline data, set and maintain feeders, build exclusion fences.
• Monitor wildlife activity with remotely triggered cameras and analyze data.
• Work with project partners to design wild pig exclusion methods for livestock operations.
• Travel to multiple study locations across Texas.
• Prepare reports and contribute to publications.

Skills

Data analysis

Report writing

Communication

Field work

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

MS preferred

Tools

ATVs/UTVs

4-wheel drive

Remote cameras

Job description

Senior Research Associate Agency — Texas A&M Agrilife Research Department Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management

Location: College Station, Texas

Job type: Staff

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Position Information

The Texas A&M Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management is seeking a Research Associate with a strong work ethic to assist in executing projects related to exclusion fencing and mitigation of wild pig damage. Texas A&M University’s Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management (CGRM) aims to safeguard the ecologic and economic resiliency of grazingland resources and ranching operations with a focus on producer-directed, applied grazingland and ranch management research, outreach, and industry engagement. CGRM develops and supports interdisciplinary collaborations to address critical needs in the ranching community and strives to achieve three overarching goals: enhance operational resiliency, strengthen enterprise sustainability, and foster the future of the industry.

Responsibilities

• Working directly with landowners, managers, biologists, ranchers, and a wide range of constituents.
• All field related work such as identifying study sites, collecting baseline data, setting, filling and maintaining corn feeders, building small exclusion fences and plots, monitoring animal activity with remotely triggered cameras, reviewing and assimilating data from pictures and video, data entry, and report writing.
• Working with other project collaborators to design and implement wild pig exclusion methods in livestock operations to prevent damage, use of feed and water, and access to sensitive areas, which also may include use of farm equipment, implements, ATVs, UTVs, and similar to remediate damage from wild pigs.
• Frequent communication with landowners and coordination with project partners, so effective communication skills are required.
• Travel to multiple study locations across Texas.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field.
• Four years of related professional experience.
• Strong work ethic and self-motivated.
• Ability to work in a remote location, sometimes under adverse conditions (hot, humid, biting/stinging insects), on working ranches with livestock operations.
• Ability to work independently and as a team with minimum supervision and be capable of planning an effective work day.
• Ability to analyze data and write reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently (verbal and written); detail oriented.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Ability to learn new skills and techniques.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. degree in rangeland management, natural resource management or closely related field; GPA of ≥3.0; more than two years of experience.
• Experience or working knowledge of ranching, wildlife, and rangeland management practices.
• Experience working directly with producers.
• Experience building various fence designs.
• Experience using 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs/UTVs, farm machinery/tractors, and ability to tow trailers.
• Knowledge or experience planning, coordinating, and conducting field activities.
• Technical writing skills.

Other Requirements

This position is funded through grants or contracts. Continued employment is dependent upon ongoing funding and satisfactory job performance.

Salary

Compensation is commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications.

Position Funding

This position is funded through grants or contracts. Continued employment is dependent upon ongoing funding and satisfactory job performance.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing 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 for Texas A&M AgriLife

Equal Opportunity

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer. The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a statewide network of twelve universities, eight state agencies, a comprehensive health science center, Texas A&M-Fort Worth and Texas A&M-RELLIS. The A&M System is committed to providing an educational and work environment that is conducive to the personal and professional development of each employee. Each member institution provides equal opportunity and access to all students, employees and prospective employees.

External Applicants

Applicants not currently employed by a Texas A&M System member may search postings and apply for positions within one or more A&M System members by selecting the job posting.

Internal Applicants

This site lists job postings throughout The Texas A&M University System. It is intended for applicants not currently employed by a member of the system. Current employees should apply for jobs on the Internal Career site.

Equal Opportunity/ Veterans/ Disability Employer

The Texas A&M System is an Equal Opportunity/ Veterans/ Disability Employer.