Technical positions

Sedimentary Basin Analysis and Modeling Position, Berg-Hughes Center and Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University (for more information).

Graduate Fellowships in Sedimentary Basin Modeling, Berg-Hughes Center and Deaprtment of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University (for more information).

Assistant Research Scientist (VPR NOV R120262)

S00011FY13Duties include contributing to the mission of GERG and OCNG through research involving ocean-observing systems including their design, fabrication and deployment, data acquisition, data modeling, and data management. This will involve collaborating with faculty, scientists, technicians, engineers, and students at GERG and elsewhere in the department and University who are involved with ocean technology. The successful candidate is expected to identify and seek new interdisciplinary research opportunities through collaborative proposals to local, state, and federal agencies and industry. This position is expected to contribute to the teaching and mentoring mission of the University and College by serving on graduate student advisory committees and engaging undergraduate/graduate students in research opportunities. Required: Ph.D. in related field with postdoctoral experience. The position requires a background in observational oceanographic methods and instrumentation. Preferred: Ph.D. in physical oceanography with 3 years of postdoctoral experience; cruise experience; success in obtaining research funding; transportation worker identification credential certification; passport; working knowledge of oceanographic sampling equipment; excellent oral and written communication skills; and management experience.

To apply for Assistant Research Scientist (VPR NOV R120262), send application packet (Curriculum Vita, statement of research and teaching interests, names and email addresses of at least 3 references, and up to four reprints) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Sr. Marine Inst. Specialist: Ocean Observing Technician (GERG NOV S00012FY13)

The position supports ocean observing activities as it pertains to ocean glider and buoy operation and fabrication, mooring design, deployments and recoveries, repair, calibration, and maintenance of oceanographic instrumentation, and data quality control and processing. The position will require participation in cruises. Required: Bachelor's degree in oceanography, science, engineering or related field or equivalent combination of training and experience; 5 years experience in repairing, operating and maintaining oceanographic scientific instrumentation such as acoustic Doppler current profilers, CTDs, and current meters; ability to work aboard a ship for extended periods and work cooperatively with others; excellent oral and written communications skills, valid driver's license; and ability to obtain valid passport and international travel visas. Preferred: M.S. in science or engineering with 5 years' experience with experience in mooring design programs such as WHOI Cable, Mooring Design Dynamics or Orca Flex; experience with communications systems such as Iridium, Globalstar, Freewave radio and ARGOS; familiarity with embedded systems design, communication and interface protocols; familiarity with Linux, PERL and C and scientific programming languages like MATLAB or ID; basic knowledge of the physical science of the ocean; experience operating towed, undulating, and autonomous underwater systems such as ocean gliders and/or AUVs; working knowledge of an oceanographic laboratory focused on environmental and oceanographic analysis; satellite and radio data communications equipment; and knowledge of the different mooring materials available, rope manufacturers and material physical properties.

For a full job description and to apply for this Sr. Marine Instrument Specialist position visit the TAMU Employment website (reference: NOV S00012FY13)

Sr. Research Associate: Technical Team Lead (GERG NOV 121777)

This position will provide leadership for the technical services capabilities, facilities, and infrastructure for ocean observing, oceanography, and environmental analysis activities of GERG and will be responsible for coordinating technical service staff at GERG. The successful candidate will take an active role in the maintenance and support of ongoing nationally recognized research projects, as well as designing and developing new systems and capabilities in ocean observing and environmental monitoring. The successful candidate will work with scientists, technicians, and engineers at GERG, OCNG and other research and academic elements of the College and the University. The incumbent is expected to assist in developing new research opportunities through proposals to local, state, and federal agencies, as well as industry. The position will be expected to indirectly contribute to the teaching and mentoring mission of the University and College through facilitating graduate student research and training. Required: B.S. in science or engineering with 5 years' experience working with: oceanographic and environmental instrumentation and technology; ability to work at sea for extended periods; management experience; ability to work cooperatively with others; leadership and supervisory skills; valid driver's license; ability to obtain passport and international travel visas. Preferred: M.S. in science or engineering plus 5 years' experience in supervisory position. Strong leadership and supervisory skills. Professional Engineer working knowledge of oceanographic laboratories and marine facilities: Excellent oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of oceanography and/or environmental science.

For a full job description and to apply for this Sr. Research Associate position visit the TAMU Employment website (reference: NOV 121777)

Sr. Marine Inst. Specialist: Glider Technician (2 positions available) (GERG NOV S00011FY13)

These positions are responsible for the maintenance, configuration, programming and deployment of underwater autonomous gliders and subsequent data handling.. Specific duties include: maintaining the glider lab, setting up, servicing and ballasting autonomous Gliders, maintaining proper traceable records, developing and maintaining standard operating procedures for ballasting; mission planning, running simulations, writing mission code, handling data; assisting research professors/clients in designing glider routes and mission parameters; deploying, retrieving and operating gliders at sea; setting up glider demos for teaching purposes; assisting with other programs at GERG as required;. Required: BS in science or engineering. 5 years' experience servicing and setting up oceanographic instrumentation; ability to work aboard a ship for extended periods; valid driver's license; ability to obtain passport and international travel visas; and excellent oral and written communication skills. Preferred: MS in science or engineering with 5 years' experience in oceanographic equipment, previous experience setting up, ballasting and programming gliders. Experience with BASIC programming. Experience with satellite communications and communication protocols, TWIC certification, Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification. Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others. Management experience.

For a full job description and to apply for this Sr. Research Associate position visit the TAMU Employment website (reference: NOV S00011FY13)

Screening of applications for all positions above will begin Oct. 30, 2012. We anticipate engaging the newly hired director in filling some of the Oceanography/GERG positions.

Also see Faculty positions available at GERG.

Graduate Research Assistantships

Graduate Research Assistantships in Climate Change Research. We invite highly motivated Ph.D. and Ph.D.-aspiring M.S. students to apply for two graduate assistantships under the auspices of the Stable Isotope Geosciences Facility at Texas A&M University (http://stableisotope.tamu.edu/). Both assistantships involve development and application of trace element and stable isotope proxies to study climate change and paleoceanography. The first, in the Department of Geography (Roark), pursues biogeochemical proxy development in deep-sea corals. The second, in the Department of Geology & Geophysics through the Halbouty Chair in Geology (Grossman), applies geochemical proxies to macrofossils to understand Caribbean extinction or Paleozoic paleoclimate. Funding is available for at least three years with additional funding available through TAs. Preference will be given to students with experience and interest in mass spectrometry. Contact Brendan Roark ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Ethan Grossman ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

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Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences 

Texas A&M University, Department of Oceanography and Department of Atmospheric Sciences seek to hire a Postdoctoral Research Associate in coupled regional atmosphere-ocean modeling and ensemble forecasting, starting as soon as possible. The appointment is for 12 months, with an additional funding of at least one year available upon satisfactory performance.

This project is part of a large, multi-institution project to examine the recent BP oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico, funded by the Gulf Research Initiative. Work in this project will involve conducting high-resolution coupled regional atmosphere-ocean model simulations within the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, and carrying out short-term high-resolution coupled ensemble forecasts with initial conditions derived from reanalysis products. We have an existing high-resolution coupled regional atmosphere-ocean model of this region, and successful candidates will be expected to work with our research group to improve the model, conduct simulations and analyze the data. The successful candidate will have many opportunities to pursue their own scientific goals within the framework of the modeling system.

Candidates are expected to have extensive experience using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) and/or Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, as well as have a background in a Linux or Unix environment and parallel computing. A demonstrated solid knowledge of the basics of mathematical statistic and probability theory, control theory, or inverse problems is desirable, but not required.  Applicants should have a Ph. D. in Atmospheric Sciences, Oceanography, Applied Mathematics or in a closely related science.  Individuals should be creative, organized, motivated, have excellent communication skills, and able to work well as part of a large group. Annual salary is $50,000, negotiable, commensurate with experience. Review of the applications will begin immediately, and proceed until the position is filled. Please email a statement of research interests, CV, and names of three references to: Dr. Ping Chang ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Dr. Istvan Szunyogh ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from under-represented and minority groups.

Post-Doctoral Research Associate  

Candidates are expected to have experience using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), and have a solid background in programming in a variety of languages. Individuals should be creative, organized, motivated, have excellent communication skills, and able to work well as part of a large group. Annual salary is $50,000, negotiable, commensurate with experience. Review of the applications will begin immediately, and proceed until the position is filled. Please email a statement of research interests, CV, and names of three references to: Dr. Robert Hetland ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from under-represented and minority groups. 

Post-Doctoral Research Associate and Ph.D. graduate student opportunities for near-field modeling of petroleum fate and transport from accidental subsea oil-well blowouts 

The Division of Coastal and Ocean Engineering in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University invites applications for one postdoctoral researcher and one Ph.D. graduate student. The successful candidates will apply laboratory, field and numerical modeling methods to predict the near-field dynamics of released oil and gas from accidental subsea oil-well blowouts. The laboratory experiments will apply advanced fluids modeling methods to characterize the physical behavior of energetic multiphase plumes in stratified ambient reservoirs, focusing on entrainment and mixing properties, including effectiveness of subsea dispersant application. The laboratory results will guide integral plume modeling of full-scale blowout plumes. The numerical results of the plume near field will be dynamically coupled to a multiscale, nested modeling suite for circulation and petroleum transport in the Gulf of Mexico. Field experiments will contribute insight on the physics and chemistry of subsea blowouts and generate new data for model validation. These activities are integral to the "Gulf Integrated Spill Response" Consortium (led by Texas A&M University) and the "Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of the Gulf Ecosystem (C-IMAGE)" Consortium (led by the University of South Florida), both funded by the Gulf Research Initiative (GRI).

There are two research positions available. The Postdoctoral Researcher will oversea all aspects of the near-field research and have primary responsibility for design, implementation, and analysis of the field experiments. The Ph.D. Graduate Student will conduct the numerical modeling and participate in the field and laboratory experiments while completing the requirements of the Ph.D. degree in Civil or Ocean Engineering. Both students will be expected to collaborate closely with each other and with the other member institutions of the two GRI consortia described above. 

Applicants for the Postdoctoral position must have a Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental or Ocean Engineering, Physical oceanography or a closely related field. A strong background in two or more of the following is desirable, though not required: physical or numerical modeling of unbounded multiphase flows (jets, plumes or thermals), oceanographic field work or instrumentation development, multiphase pipe flow, and chemistry of hydrocarbons in the deep ocean (dissolution, gas hydrate formation).

The start date is negotiable although preference will be given to applicants who can start as soon as possible. The appointment will be for three years and salary for the postdoctoral position is negotiable, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To apply, please send a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, the names, addresses (including email), and telephone numbers of three references, and if available a representative peer-reviewed publication in a journal or conference proceeding via email to Dr. Scott Socolofsky ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Applicants for the Ph.D. position must have an M.S. or equivalent degree in Civil, Environmental, or Ocean Engineering or a closely related field. A broad background in fluid mechanics is necessary. Expertise in one or more of the following areas is desirable, but not required: unbounded shear flows (jets, plumes, mixing layers), contaminant fate and transport, hydraulics, laboratory or numerical methods in fluids research.  To apply for graduate admissions go to http://admissions.tamu.edu/graduate/default.aspx .

Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from under-represented and minority groups.

Graduate Student Opportunities in Oceanography  

The Department of Oceanography and the Gulf of Mexico Integrated Spill Response Consortium seeks an M.S. or Ph.D. graduate student in oceanography who is interested in oceanographic data management and informatics. The consortium will soon begin a three-year program collecting various types of physical and chemical oceanographic data from moored and drifting buoys, research vessels and aircraft. Several numerical models will simulate the transport and fate of spilled oil and dispersants. The student will work with consortium scientists under the direction of the Data Manager, Dr. Matthew Howard, Research Scientist, to assemble and prepare the project's data sets and selected model outputs for submission to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative's data management unit and appropriate long-term repositories. The ideal candidate will have some programming experience, familiarity with UNIX and software such as MatLab or IDL. The graduate student will work 20 hours per week and will receive a stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance. The Department of Oceanography is home to 30 faculty members and 75 graduate students and conducts research around the world. For more information on applying please see http://ocean.tamu.edu/future-students. To apply for graduate admissions go to http://admissions.tamu.edu/graduate/default.aspx.

Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from under-represented and minority groups.

Associate Research Specialist/Laboratory Manger, Stable Isotope Geosciences Facility 

 We invite applications for a Laboratory Manager position for the Stable Isotope Geosciences Facility (SIGF). SIGF houses a Picarro cavity ring-down spectrometer and three mass spectrometers (MAT253, MAT252, DeltaPlus XP) and associated peripheral devices (Kiel IV carbonate device, two EAs, TC/EA, Gas Bench II, and GC-combustion system).

The successful candidate must have at minimum a B.S. degree in science and three years experience with light stable isotope mass spectrometers and peripherals. Candidates with a graduate degree (M.S.) in Earth Sciences and at least three years experience with multiple peripherals (elemental analyzer, GC-combustion, automated carbonate device) will be given preference.

Responsibilities include (1) conduct and/or supervise maintenance and repair of research instrumentation; (2) train and supervise graduate and undergraduate students, lab technicians, post-docs, and research scientists using the Facility; (3) develop and improve analytical methods and instrumentation; (4) maintain quality control and tracking of all data; (5) participate in facility design, promotion, planning, and growth; and (6) oversee Facility's financial management. Salary will be commensurate with experience and education.

The facility is supported by the College of Geosciences and the Departments of Geography, Geology & Geophysics, and Oceanography. Users include faculty and students from these departments, from other departments across the University, and from the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG) and the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP).

Interested candidates should send by email a letter of application outlining analytical experience, a current curriculum vitae, and addresses of three references to Dr. Ethan Grossman (e-grossman@ tamu.edu), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA 77843-3115. In addition applicants should apply online at http://tamujobs.tamu.edu. Applications will be reviewed beginning December 15, 2011 and will be accepted until the position is filled. Texas A&M University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and encourages applications from minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities. For more information visit www.stableisotopes.tamu.edu or contact Ethan Grossman ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Brendan Roark ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), or Niall Slowey ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Texas A&M University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through the recruit¬ment and retention of a diverse faculty and student body and compliance with the Americans with Disabili¬ties Act. We encourage applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities. Texas A&M University also has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual-career partners.