Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title Postdoctoral Research Associate Agency Texas A&M Agrilife Research Department Dallas Proposed Minimum Salary Commensurate Job Location Dallas, Texas Job Type Staff Job Description 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 how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world! Position Information Texas A&M AgriLife Research – Dallas Center ( ) is seeking a highly motivated individual to join the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Engineering Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The candidate will primarily work in one or more of the following areas: computer vision, AI-driven automation, and/or robotics for greenhouses and vertical farming systems. The successful candidate will focus on robot hardware development, automation system design, machine vision, and intelligent control, supported by physics-based simulation and AI-enabled methods. The position involves hands-on work with robotic platforms, sensors, actuators, and embedded systems, as well as system-level testing and deployment. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: Responsibilities Design, build, and integrate robotic and automated systems, including end-effectors, manipulators, and sensor-actuator networks. Lead mechanical, electrical, and mechatronic design activities, including CAD design, prototyping, fabrication, and system assembly. Integrate sensors and embedded hardware (e.g., cameras, depth sensors, environmental sensors, motor drivers, microcontrollers) into robotic platforms and automated systems. Implement AI approaches for crop sensing, growth analysis, stress monitoring, and interpreting plant-environment interactions for intelligent climate control. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to design and execute research studies, perform data collection and analysis, and contribute to high-impact publications. Present research findings through presentations at scientific conferences and stakeholder meetings. Performs other duties as assigned. Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Agricultural, Biosystems, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. Strong background in robotics, automation, and mechatronic systems. Demonstrated track record of peer-reviewed publications in areas such as robotics, automation, and/or embedded control systems, particularly with applications in agriculture systems. Ability to multi-task and work co-operatively with others. Preferred Qualifications: Hands-on experience with robotic hardware, including mobile robots, robotic arms, and automated systems. Proficiency in mechanical design and prototyping (CAD, fabrication, rapid prototyping). Experience with embedded systems, motor control, and sensor integration. Proficiency in ROS/ROS2, Gazebo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, or Unity for simulation and deployment. What You Need to Know Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications. Applicant Instructions: Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife 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 prepopulate the online application. Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife? When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents. In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following: Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 12-15 days of annual paid holidays Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife 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.