Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Agricultural Economics

Proposed Minimum Salary

$4,583.34 monthly

Job Location

College Station, 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 Description: The Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the area of groundwater economics and policy. The successful candidate will work under the mentorship of Dr Rouhi Rad and contribute to a research program focused on groundwater management in the Texas High Plains (Ogallala Aquifer region). The project integrates econometric analysis, hydro-economic modeling, and policy evaluation to better understand groundwater demand, the economic costs of aquifer depletion, and the impacts of groundwater management policies. This position offers strong opportunities for co-authorship on academic publications and collaboration on externally funded research projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct empirical research on groundwater demand, aquifer depletion, and water policy in the Texas High Plains and in Texas more broadly.

• Clean, manage, and analyze large datasets.

• Lead and contribute to the development of academic manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.

• Assist with grant proposal development and related research activities.

• Collaborate with other researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students, and provide occasional guidance on data and methods.

Required Education, Skills, and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Economics, Agricultural Economics, or a closely related field. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research experience in water, environmental, or resource economics.

• Familiarity with groundwater systems or agricultural production in the western United States.

• Familiarity with hydro-economic modeling or integrated assessment approaches.

• Proficiency in R and/or Python.

• Experience working with large or spatial datasets.

• Interest in policy-relevant research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong training in applied econometrics, including causal inference methods.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and write for academic audiences.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a writing sample (e.g.,job market paper or a representative research paper), and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applicants who apply by May 21, 2026 will receive full consideration; the position will remain open until filled.

For any questions about the position, please contact mani.rouhirad@ag.tamu.edu

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.