Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Institute For A Disaster Resilient Texas

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who We Are

The Institute for Disaster Resilient Texas, located at the Galveston campus, works to facilitate and deliver critical research on disaster risk reduction, provide data analytics and decision-making tools, and generate evidence-based solutions that help Texas communities become more resilient over the longer term. To learn more, visit https://idrt.tamug.edu.

What We Want

The Postdoctoral Research Associate position (located in Houston, Texas) is responsible for leading UAV-related research projects, including the design, development, deployment, and support of UAV-based data collection systems. This role will also support IDRT projects through research analysis and technical writing while pursuing independent research in areas related to disaster resilience and UAV technologies.

What you need to know

Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire’s experience.

A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Marine and Coastal Management, Environmental Science, Geospatial Science, or a related field with a strong background in UAV-based research and data analysis.

Required Licenses and Certifications:

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) UAS Drone Pilot License Part 107

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong programming skills in Python.

• Ability to adapt and integrate new UAV technologies into existing research frameworks.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.

• Ability to multi-task and work collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with UAV data collection, particularly using RTK-UAS.

• Experience with photogrammetry software such as Pix4D.

• Practical experience in conducting research on coastal risk management and flood risk assessments.

• Experience in developing UAV-based systems for disaster resilience applications.

• Experience working on projects related to flood risk assessment and mitigation.

• Peer-reviewed publications in UAV applications, coastal management, or disaster resilience.

• Knowledge of UAV applications in academic research environments.

• Familiarity with coastal risk management and mitigation strategies.

Responsibilities

• UAV Applications and Systems- Leads the design, development, and deployment of UAV systems for data collection and analysis in support of IDRT research. Collaborates with data providers, engineers, and staff to ensure the scalability and performance of UAV applications.

• Research Support- Assists fellow researchers and faculty members in the execution of specific phases of UAV-related research projects, particularly in areas of flood risk assessment and coastal management.

• Data Analysis Support- Explores and implements new techniques and technologies for high-performance UAV data analysis, contributing to the broader goals of IDRT.

• Research Proposals- Contributes to the preparation of research proposals and technical documents to secure funding and support for UAV-related research within IDRT.

• Other Duties- Performs other duties as assigned, including participating in relevant conferences, workshops, and community outreach activities.

  Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 

• Health (https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/medical/) , dental (https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/dental/) , vision (https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/vision-insurance/) , life and long-term disability insurance (https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/life-add/) with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/index.html) of annual paid holidays

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/sick.html)  and at least  eight hours of paid vacation each (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/vacation.html) month

• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time (https://flourish.tamu.edu/wellness-release-time/)

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free  LinkedIn Learning (https://linkedinlearning.tamu.edu/)  training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

• Employee Tuition Assistance (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/employee-tuition-assistance/) and Educational Release time (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/educational.html) for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University 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 pre-populate the online application.

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/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.