Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M Agri Life Research

Job Location:

College Station, Texas

Job Type: Staff

Job Description:

Texas A&M Agri Life is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M Agri Life Extension Service
• Texas A&M Agri Life 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 Agri Life 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 Agri Life is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Position Information:

The Antony-Babu laboratory seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead the field pathology and pathogen genomics of a project building predictive tools for cotton soil-borne disease management. The work is supported through a cooperative agreement with USDA-ARS and is conducted in collaboration with the USDA-ARS Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center (Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research Unit). This is a field scientist's role with full ownership of the genomics that flows from it.

You will take the major cotton soil-borne pathogens from field and greenhouse experimentation through isolate sequencing, hybrid genome assembly, comparative and population genomics, and diagnostic-tool development, and you will publish the resulting population-ecology and disease biology. The position works alongside a Ph.D. student across the whole project. We are looking for someone who is independent in field-based research and in molecular bioinformatics, and who sees genome data and disease ecology as one continuous line of work rather than separate specialties.

Research Focus:

You will lead the field pathology and pathogen genomics: design and run field and greenhouse pathogen experiments, drive the isolate-to-assembly-to-diagnostic-assay pipeline, and lead population-ecology and disease publications built on that genomic work.

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute field and controlled-environment pathology experiments, including inoculum-density gradient studies; direct undergraduate research interns during field-sampling campaigns.
• Lead hybrid (Oxford Nanopore + Illumina) sequencing, assembly, and annotation of pathogen genomes; conduct comparative and population genomics to characterize spatial/temporal structure, virulence, and effector variation, and to identify diagnostic target regions.
• Translate genomic targets into field-deployable molecular diagnostics (LAMP), with quantitative cross-validation by droplet digital and real-time PCR.
• Contribute to the host–microbiome analyses (GWAS/mGWAS, metagenomics) and the integrative modeling led by the graduate student.
• Apply machine-learning and AI-assisted tools in genome analysis, population and disease-ecology work, and pipeline development, with attention to reproducibility and validation of results.
• Develop reproducible bioinformatic pipelines on Texas A&M HPRC resources; prepare data, figures, and first- and co-authored manuscripts.
• Maintain accurate lab records in both digital and hardcopy form, and ensure up-to-date lab safety documentation.
• Lead and co-author manuscripts in scientific journals; assistance may also be sought in drafting extension documents.
• Mentor the graduate students and interns.
• Collaborate with USDA-ARS scientists.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. (in hand by start date) in plant pathology, microbiology, microbial/molecular genomics, agronomy/crop science with a pathology focus, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated field and/or greenhouse experimental experience in plant pathology or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated bioinformatics capability: microbial/fungal genome assembly and annotation, comparative or population genomics, command-line work in a Linux/HPC environment, and scripting in at least one of Python, R, or Bash.
• Hands-on molecular biology (DNA extraction, library preparation, PCR/qPCR).
• Experience handling Oxford Nanopore (ONT) sequence data.
• A record of scientific productivity appropriate to career stage and strong written and oral communication.
• As a field-demanding position, a current driver's license is required. The laboratory works with machine-learning and AI-assisted tools as part of routine research practice. Prior formal experience is not required, but candidates are expected to use these tools in their work and to develop fluency with them on the job, with a strong emphasis on reproducibility and validation.
• Experience with soil-borne pathogens of cotton or other row crops (fungal and nematodes).
• Population genomics, microbiome analysis, or diagnostic assay (LAMP/qPCR/ddPCR) development.
• Field-trial design and prior mentoring or supervisory…