Senior Research Associate

Job Title
Senior Research Associate

Agency
Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department
Temple

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Temple, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

About Texas A&M Agri Life

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.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of Agri Life and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

The Senior Research Associate will lead the acquisition, processing, and analysis of high-resolution agricultural data using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced sensing technologies. This role supports ongoing cotton research in two key areas: (1) high-throughput phenotyping to improve varietal performance under heat and water stress, and (2) in-season crop monitoring to inform and optimize management decisions.

Responsibilities

• Collect multispectral and hyperspectral imagery using UAV for vegetation indices (NDVI, NDRE, etc.), chlorophyll, canopy structure, soil variability, and water stress analysis.
• Process raw imagery using photogrammetry and GIS software to generate orthomosaics and vegetation maps.
• Manage geospatial data and integrate UAV and other sensor-derived datasets with ground-based observations and crop models.
• Work with crop modelers and data scientists to integrate UAV-based analytics into precision agriculture workflows.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or related field. Four years of experience in agricultural remote sensing and UAV flight operations. Or, a master's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or a related field. Two years of experience in agricultural remote sensing and UAV flight operations.
• Proficiency with photogrammetry and GIS software (e.g., Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Strong data analysis skills using Python, R, or similar analytical tools.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with multispectral and thermal imagery applications in crop monitoring.
• Knowledge of agricultural management practices, crop phenology, and environmental monitoring.

Other Requirements:

• Fieldwork under varying weather conditions.
• Travel to research sites or grower fields.
• Manual handling of moderate-weight UAV equipment (up to ~25 lbs.).

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate's qualifications.

Why Work at Texas A&M Agri Life?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M Agri Life, 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.

In addition, Texas A&M Agri Life offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M Agri Life 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 Agri Life

Applicant Instructions

Applications received by Texas A&M Agri Life must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a Linked In profile to prepopulate the online application.

Required Documents

CV/ Resume

Cover letter

List of references

Copy of degree or transcript showing degree conferred

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.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.