Postdoctoral Research Associate - Phytoplankton Ecology

About the role

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. It employs over 1,400 full‑time and 2,000 part‑time Islanders (including students/GAs) and offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. As a member of the Texas A&M University System, the university provides resources, visibility, influence and collaboration opportunities. The campus sits on a 240‑acre island on Corpus Christi Bay and was ranked #1 College by the Sea by Best College Reviews. The position is in the Coastal Water Health lab at the Harte Research Institute, supporting a NOAA ECOHAB grant on Aureoumbra lagunensis (“brown tide”) blooms in the Baffin Bay‑Upper Laguna Madre ecosystem. The postdoctoral researcher will gain experience in project management, project development, mentoring (undergraduate/graduate students) and stakeholder engagement, with opportunities for comparative phytoplankton analysis across estuarine systems varying in freshwater inflow, nutrient loadings, etc. This is a grant‑funded position; continued employment is contingent upon available funding and may be impacted by the Presidential proclamation of September 19, 2025 and the Texas Governor Abbott moratorium of January 27, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Functional Area 1: Project Coordination (10% effort) – Coordinate project activities in collaboration with PI, Co‑PIs and assigned staff; implement project activities.
• Functional Area 2: Data Acquisition (40% effort) – Participate in field and laboratory‑based project activities to acquire data; process and analyze samples collected; develop new techniques as appropriate for the project.
• Functional Area 3: Research and Data Analysis (40% effort) – 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 and international meetings.
• Functional Area 4: Research Development (10% effort) – 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

Skills

• Preferred: Experience with R software packages

Benefits

• Medical: $0‑$30 per month for Employee Only coverage after university contribution ($920 value); up to 83% of premium covered by the university for Employee and Spouse, Employee and Children, Employee and Family coverage
• Dental & Vision
• Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account
• Dual Career Partner Program
• On‑campus Wellness Opportunities
• Work Life Solutions Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and Legal Resources
• Tuition Benefits: Public Loan Forgiveness, Book scholarships, 100% tuition coverage for up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year (other rules may apply)
• Retirement: Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP); Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan
• Time Off: 8+ hours of vacation paid time off every month; 8 hours of sick leave every month; 8 hours of paid time off for Birthday leave; 12‑15 paid holidays each year

Pay

Salary: $4,166.67 – $4,791.67 monthly ($50,