Post Doctoral Research Associate Agronomy & Crop Physiology

Position Description

Performs specialized Post Doctoral work in the planning, conducting and/or supervision of original research. Responsible for participating in a research project associated with PhD studies and the interpretation of the results of publication. Work is performed under supervision of graduate faculty members with evaluation based on accomplishment of assigned objectives and overall effectiveness of project. May supervise research and student assistants. Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all employees.

Major/Essential Functions

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the Texas Coalition for Sustainable Integrated Systems Research Program (TeCSIS) at Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX). This position focuses on field-based agronomy and crop physiology, with an emphasis on cotton phenotypic and architectural plasticity, root system development, and whole-plant responses to planting geometry and water management. In addition to cotton-based research, the position will include complementary work in forage cropping systems (e.g., sorghum, maize, pearl millet), where crops are evaluated under contrasting production systems. Together, these activities aim to improve understanding of management environment interactions that influence crop performance in water-limited systems. The successful candidate will lead and coordinate intensive field research activities, including experimental design, plot establishment, seasonal management, data collection, and synthesis across multiple field and controlled-environment studies. This position is explicitly field-oriented and is best suited for a candidate motivated to manage complex field experiments and translate crop physiological hypotheses into rigorous agronomic trials.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will have primary responsibility for planning, executing, and managing field-based agronomy and crop physiology experiments, including but not limited to:

• Lead cotton planting geometry trials aimed at understanding phenotypic plasticity, canopy architecture, and crop responsiveness to management conditions.
• Coordinate and execute root box and below ground phenotyping experiments, focusing on root plasticity under different planting geometry and contrasting water regimes.
• Design and manage experiments that explicitly link plant physiological responses with field-scale agronomic performance.
• Contribute to forage cropping system research (e.g., sorghum, maize, pearl millet), evaluating crop responses across contrasting production systems.
• Supervise and coordinate seasonal undergrad student assistants and graduate students.
• Conduct data analysis and interpretation, and lead the development of peer-reviewed publications and project reports.
• Contribute to grant writing and development of new research directions related to crop plasticity, management environment interactions, and sustainable production systems.
• Work collaboratively as a team member and assist other research activities during peak summer field seasons as needed.

Required Qualifications

PhD in area of project specialization. Knowledge of modern research practices, the methods, resources, and standards thereof. Ability to organize work effectively, conceptualize and prioritize objectives and exercise independent judgment based on an understanding of organizational policies and activities. Ability to integrate resources, policies, and information for the determination of procedures, solutions and other outcomes. Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with other employees and the public. Ability to plan and allocate the workload of employees, providing direct training and supervision as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Agronomy, Crop Physiology, Crop Science, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience conducting field-based agronomic research.
• Proven ability to independently manage complex field experiments.
• Strong statistical and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including a strong record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience working with cotton and/or forage crops.
• Hands-on experience with agronomic trials, root phenotyping systems, and production-system experiments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent field projects.
• Experience supervising students and working effectively in teams.

Pay Range

$48,000 - $63,700 - $78,400

To apply, visit workattexastech.com

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