Research Operations Associate Jobs in Houston, TX

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Summary
We are seeking a senior Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our interdisciplinary research team at ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc. (EMBSI). The Associate will support and lead a diverse portfolio of applied research projects aimed at evaluating the role of water management in enhancing ecosystem resilience, hydrologic function, and biodiversity across a range of ecosystems. Serving as a cross-disciplinary scientific integrator, the candidate will provide leadership in study design, QA/QC oversight, and technical coordination across hydrologic modeling, hydrogeologic systems, ecological monitoring, and geospatial analytics. This role emphasizes ensuring scientific defensibility, data integrity, and alignment across complex datasets and modeling systems, while synthesizing outputs to inform adaptive management and decision-making.
In addition to coordinating ongoing efforts, the Associate will actively generate novel research directions by translating integrated data insights into new hypotheses, study designs, and strategic initiatives. The position requires close collaboration with a broad team of industry, academic scientists, and 3rd party collaborators to co-develop approaches, harmonize methodologies, and integrate expertise across disciplines. Through these efforts, the candidate will contribute to high-impact research, proposal development, and partnerships with academic and industry collaborators, advancing our understanding of the water, soil, plant, animal nexus, including surface-groundwater interactions. In addition, postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to publish and present their work in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. This is supported through a standard internal review process designed to protect intellectual property and confidential business information while enabling timely dissemination of scientific results.
This opportunity is for a postdoctoral position expected to last one to three years, subject to annual review and renewal.
About you
Skills and Qualifications

• Ph.D. in: Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Ecohydrology, Environmental Science, Rangeland Ecology, or related field
• Demonstrated experience with study design and experimental frameworks, Data QA/QC and management
• Experience with process-based hydrologic and/or hydrogeologic models (e.g., SWAT+, APEX, MODFlOW)
• Strong quantitative and statistical skills (R, Python, or equivalent)
• Expertise in GIS and spatial analysis (ArcGIS, QGIS, GEE)
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications
• Strong written and verbal communication, coordination, and collaboration skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within an interdisciplinary team

Preferred Qualifications / Experience

• Experience overseeing multi-disciplinary field programs
• Background in water quality, salinity, nutrient transport systems, or groundwater flow systems
• Experience with remote sensing integration (LiDAR, UAV, satellite)
• Experience with surface-groundwater interaction studies and aquifer characterization
• Familiarity with regulatory or applied monitoring frameworks
• Experience working with industry-sponsored or applied research programs
• Strong ability to bridge science, operations, and decision-making

What you will do
Study Design & Scientific Oversight
Provide leadership in study design refinement, ensuring alignment between:

• Hydrologic and/or hydrogeologic modeling, field monitoring networks, ecological response metrics
• Develop and standardize sampling frameworks and experimental design across treatment and control areas
• Ensure consistency between field data collection, modeling assumptions, and reporting outputs
• Support development of monitoring plans and adaptive management frameworks

QA/QC & Data Governance
Ensure implementation of QA/QC protocols across all project datasets, including:

• Hydrology, hydrogeology, vegetation, wildlife
• Establish data validation workflows, metadata standards, and documentation practices
• Perform data integrity audits and cross-validation between field observations, groundwater data, remote sensing, and model outputs
• Ensure compliance with scientific best practices and regulatory expectations

Ecohydrological & Hydrogeological Modeling Integration

• Oversee implementation, calibration, and validation of water models (e.g., SWAT+, MODFLOW
• Ensure appropriate linkage between:
  • Model parameterization, field data inputs, groundwater systems, observed ecological responses
• Review and refine:
  • Soil, aquifer, vegetation, and hydrologic parameter assumptions
  • Scenario design for application

Field Monitoring Integration

• Coordinate across teams to ensure aligned, defensible monitoring approaches
• Provide technical guidance on study design
• Ensure field programs generate data suitable for:
  • Model calibration and validation
  • Statistical inference and trend detection
  • Identify and resolve data gaps, inconsistencies, or methodological risks

Geospatial & Systems Integration

• Oversee integration of GIS, remote sensing, and model datasets, including:
  • Watershed and aquifer delineation
  • LiDAR, drone imagery, and satellite products
  • Ensure spatial consistency across datasets and time series
  • Develop integrated spatial products linking hydrologic and hydrogeological processes and ecological outcomes

Synthesis, Reporting & Decision Support

• Lead or co-author peer-reviewed publications and technical reports
• Ensure reporting reflects high confidence, QA/QC-vetted data and analyses
• Develop decision-support tools and guidance, including:
  • Application thresholds, risk mitigation strategies (salinity, erosion, water quality), and groundwater impacts
• Translate scientific outputs into actionable recommendations for:
  • Land management
  • Water reuse implementation
  • Regulatory and stakeholder engagement
  • Collaborate with EMBSI scientific staff, 3rd party collaborators, IT resources, global operations

What role you will play in our team

• Grow ecology, hydrology, hydrogeology capability at ExxonMobil
• Develop tools to assist in evaluation of complex ecological/hydrogeological systems
• Incorporate optimization elements to automate biodiversity monitoring

Work Location
Our ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc. employees are located at our main corporate office in Spring, Texas.
Your Total Rewards
An ExxonMobil career is one designed to last. Our commitment to you runs deep: our employees grow personally and professionally, with benefits built on our core categories of health, security, finance, and life.
More information on our Company's benefits can be found at www.exxonmobilfamily.com.
Please note benefits may be changed from time to time without notice, subject to applicable law.
Relocation Options
Relocation benefits may be available to you based on ExxonMobil eligibility guidelines.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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