Agency

Department

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 nation’s 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 joining AgriLife! 

Position Information

Job Summary:

The Postdoctoral Research Associate is responsible for designing, conducting, and coordinating molecular biology experiments that address defined research objectives, analyze and interpret the resulting data, and lead the preparation of manuscripts and technical reports. The post doctoral will work with a high degree of independence, contribute preliminary data and methods to funding proposals, and help train students and research staff in experimental design and molecular methods.

Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct experiments that address defined research objectives, including sampling designs, controls, and replication suited to the study question.

• Develop and validate molecular detection assays, including quantitative PCR and sequencing approaches, for bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance determinants in environmental, animal, and food samples.

• Apply culture and molecular methods to characterize microbial communities, pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance across livestock, wildlife, and food production settings, including multispecies biofilm systems.

• Plan amplicon, metagenomic, and whole genome sequencing studies in coordination with the laboratory's sequencing and bioinformatics staff, and interpret the resulting data against study objectives.

• Analyze experimental data with appropriate statistical methods in R or Python, and prepare figures and tables for publication.

• Lead the writing of manuscripts and technical reports, and contribute methods, preliminary data, and results to funding proposals.

• Maintain detailed experimental records and follow the laboratory's data management practices.

• Operate and help maintain the laboratory's molecular instrumentation.

• Train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students and research staff in experimental design and molecular methods.

• Coordinate experiments and timelines with collaborators at partner universities and federal laboratories.

• Present findings at laboratory meetings, scientific conferences, and stakeholder meetings.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, animal science, veterinary science, or a closely related field.
• Research experience in molecular biology or microbiology, evidenced by peer reviewed publications.

• Bench expertise in nucleic acid extraction, PCR detection, and at least one sequencing approach (amplicon, metagenomic, or whole genome sequencing).

• Experience designing experiments and analyzing data with appropriate statistical methods.

• Strong scientific writing, with the ability to draft manuscripts and technical reports with limited supervision.

• The ability to manage several concurrent experiments and coordinate with project teams.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research experience with microbial communities, pathogens, or antimicrobial resistance in livestock, wildlife, environmental, or food production systems.
• Experience developing and validating quantitative PCR or digital PCR assays.

• Experience with nanopore sequencing.

• Experience analyzing sequencing data with command line tools and R or Python.

• Experience with biofilm models or culture methods for bacterial pathogens.

• Experience working under biosafety level 2 conditions.

• Experience contributing to extramural funding proposals.

• Experience mentoring students.

Other Requirements:

• This position is funded through grants or contracts. Continued employment is dependent upon ongoing funding and satisfactory job performance.
• In order to be considered for this position prior to your doctoral degree being conferred, please attach a letter from your school’s official Graduate Office, Registrar’s Office or PhD Committee Chair certifying that all requirements for the doctoral degree have been met and stating the degree conferral date.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation is commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications.

Position Funding: This position is funded through grants or contracts. Continued employment is dependent upon ongoing funding and satisfactory job performance.

Important Notice Regarding H1-B Sponsorship: Your employment at Texas A&M AgriLife may require nonimmigrant sponsorship. A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Texas A&M AgriLife will NOT pay this fee. If the fee is imposed on your petition, this offer of employment will be revoked. If actions taken during your employment result in the imposition of this fee, your employment will be terminated. To the extent that this statement conflicts with any applicable System or member Policy, Regulation, or Rule, this statement will control. We recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense regarding potential implications. 

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbott issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate. 

Benefits and Leave:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance (AgriLife contributes to premiums) 

• 12–15 annual paid holidays 

• Up to 8 hours/month sick leave and at least 8 hours/month vacation 

• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas 

• Employee Wellness Initiative 

• Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs 

How to Apply 

Applications must include all job application data or a complete resume. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Applicants are encouraged to upload a resume or use LinkedIn to prepopulate application fields. 

Required Documents: 

• CV / Resume 
• Cover Letter 

• List of References 

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.