Career Center

Graduate Research Assistantship – Ph.D. in Agronomy (Turfgrass Science)
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences – Texas A&M University

The Turfgrass Program at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas is seeking a motivated student to pursue a Ph.D. in Agronomy (Turfgrass Science) through the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. The position is expected to begin Summer 2026 or Fall 2026. https://soilcrop.tamu.edu/

The graduate student will be based at the Dallas research center (17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX), a state-of-the-art facility that includes 11,000 ft² of greenhouse space, a 20-acre field research area, and 3,500 ft² of laboratory facilities. The student will work within an active turfgrass research and extension program focused on improving sustainability and management of turfgrass systems. https://dallas.tamu.edu/

Research Areas
The selected candidate will conduct research related to turfgrass management, urban soil systems, and alternative water sources for turfgrass irrigation. Current projects include:

• Cultural management of putting-green Zoysiagrass cultivars
• Evaluation of soil amendments to improve soil health in urban soils
• Traffic tolerance and management of bermudagrass
• Environmental implications of reclaim water use

Required Qualifications
Applicants must have:

• M.S. degree in agronomy, horticulture, turfgrass science, or equivalent combination of education and experience (e.g., B.S. degree and experience in turfgrass research).
• Knowledge of basic turfgrass cultural management practices
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to remain detail-oriented while managing multiple responsibilities
• A strong work ethic, punctuality, and the ability to work independently
• A desire to learn, improve, and contribute to collaborative research
• Preferred Qualifications
  Preference will be given to applicants with experience in:
• Operation, repair, and maintenance of specialized turfgrass equipment (e.g., aerifiers, verticutters, sod harvesters, reel mowers)
• Installation, repair, and programming of irrigation systems

Additional Requirements
The position will involve travel to outdoor field environments, off-campus research sites, and collaborating institutions as part of the research program.

Interested applicants should submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Short statement of interest describing research interests and career goals
• Contact information for at least one reference

Applications and questions should be sent to:
Pablo Agustin Boeri, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor – Extension Turfgrass Specialist
Email: pablo.boeri@ag.tamu.edu
https://dallas.tamu.edu/sustainable-turfgrass-management/