Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job TitlePostdoctoral Research Associate Agency Texas A&M Agrilife Research Department Horticultural Sciences Proposed Minimum Salary$4,583.33 monthly Job LocationCollege Station, Texas Job TypeStaff Job Description 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 nations 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. Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world! Position Information The Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program seeks a highly qualified, motivated applicant with experience in bioinformatics, biocomputing, statistical genetics, and the genomics of polyploid plant species. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting independent research and coordinating projects to implement genomics-guided breeding in potatoes with the goal of developing new potato cultivars. Responsibilities: Conduct independent research in areas of interest to the Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program, including investigations on heat stress tolerance, expanding the tuber dormancy period, marker-assisted and genomic selection for important traits, as well as starch modifications. Supervise personnel and coordinate program activities across locations and research areas. Design, plan, conduct, and coordinate experiments in support of various research projects. Keep detailed records of research objectives and procedures. Collect data, curate data (phenotypic and genotypic), analyze, interpret, and summarize results. Assist in the preparation of proposals for extramural funding and associated reports. Assist in the preparation of plant variety protection documents, scientific and clientele-oriented manuscripts, and reports. Supervise and train field/lab personnel, including graduate and undergraduate students. Perform other job-related duties as required. Required Qualifications: Ph.D. degree in relevant field (Horticultural Sciences, Plant Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, or closely related field). Experience in R programming and software for genetic analysis of polyploid plant species, and ability to work with databases and to handle large data sets. Experience in phylogenetic analysis, marker trait association studies and genomic selection in polyploids. Ability to effectively utilize computational systems and applicable software, including breeding databases, perform statistical analysis, present data, and perform other computer-related tasks. Experience in DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Good disposition to travel and to accommodate a flexible work schedule. Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others. Other Requirements: Experience with genotyping platforms, genotype calling, linkage mapping, and QTL analysis software and pipelines for polyploid plant species. Experience in field experimental designs and layouts, agronomic and quality evaluations, and selections. Tissue culture and micropropagation hands-on experience. Greenhouse experience (planting, irrigation, disease/pest management, pollination, production of minitubers and seedling tuber families, and harvest). Familiarity with laboratory and field equipment (operation, maintenance). What You Need to Know Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidates qualifications. Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible work schedules and remote work options may be available for this position, depending on the nature of the role and employee eligibility, in accordance with AgriLife Alternate Work Location Procedures. 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. In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following: 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 leaveand at leasteight hours of paid vacation each month Automatic enrollment in theTeacher Retirement System of Texas Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife Applicant Instructions Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife 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 LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application. Required Documents CV/ Resume Cover letter List of at least three references Certifications/ additional documentation All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institutions verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institutions procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check. Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer. As the largest comprehensive agriculture and life sciences program nationally, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies 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, the environment, and the economy of Texas and the nation through education, research, extension and service. If your goal is the pursuit of excellence and your vision is to make a difference in this world, we invite you to explore our opportunities to discover what a career at Texas A&M AgriLife has to offer you. 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 Texas A&M AgriLife collaborates with Prairie View A&M University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and West Texas A&M University as well as with other public and private partners. Prospective employee benefits Retirement programs Commitment to inclusive excellence Strategic plan