Job Details

Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Phytoplankton Ecology

Agency
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Department
Harte Research Institute

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Corpus Christi, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

TAMU-CC is a dynamic university designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) with approximately 11,000 students from 47 states and 54 foreign nations. We employ over 1,400 full-time and 2,000 part-time Islanders (including students/GAs). The University attracts highly talented faculty and staff and offers an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral programs. As a member of the Texas A&M University System, TAMU-CC benefits from a range of resources, increased visibility and influence, and opportunities to collaborate in mutually beneficial ways with peers across member institutions and associated agencies.

TAMU-CC's beautiful campus is located on a 240-acre island on Corpus Christi Bay and was ranked #1 College by the Sea by Best College Reviews. Our natural setting is enhanced by its modern, attractive, and state-of-the-art classroom buildings and support facilities.

PURPOSE

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Coastal Water Health lab at the Harte Research Institute. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct research under the auspices of a new NOAA ECOHAB grant that focuses on understanding dynamics of Aureoumbra lagunensis ("brown tide") blooms in the Baffin Bay-Upper Laguna Madre ecosystem of Texas. The postdoctoral researcher will gain experience in project management, project development, mentoring (of undergraduate/graduate students) and stakeholder engagement. Opportunities also exist for comparative analysis of phytoplankton dynamics between estuarine systems that vary in e.g., freshwater inflow, nutrient loadings, etc.

DESCRIPTION

Functional Area 1: Project Coordination
Percent Effort: 10%

• Coordinate project activities in collaboration with PI, Co-PIs and assigned staff
• Implement project activities

Functional Area 2: Data Acquisition
Percent Effort: 40%

• Participate in field and laboratory-based project activities to acquire data
• Process and analyze samples collected
• Develop new techniques as appropriate for project

Functional Area 3: Research and Data Analysis
Percent Effort: 40%

• Analyze water quality data
• Submit data to a data manager in a timely manner
• Publish results in peer reviewed journals and present at local/national/international meetings.

Functional Area 4: Research Development
Percent Effort: 10%

• Develop new avenues of research
• Submit grant applications to support new avenues of research

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Marine Science or related field
• Experience with phytoplankton identification, preferably including marine taxa.
• Fundamental knowledge of phytoplankton ecology
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience communicating scientific findings to a broad audience.
• Desire to work with a broad spectrum of collaborators, managers, and stakeholders.
• Experience with project management and ability to meet project goals in a timely manner.
• Ability to participate in field work under occasional harsh conditions such as heat and wind
• Experience with appropriate statistical techniques for analyzing time-series data and community structure data

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with R software packages

SALARY: $4,166.67 - $4,791.67 Monthly ($50,000 - $57,500 Annually Approximately)

NOTE:
* This a grant-funded position. Continued employment contingent upon available funding.
* Employment may be impacted by the Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025 and the moratorium issued by Texas Governor Abbott on January 27, 2026.