Job Description

Research Specialist II (Poultry Center)

Agency

Prairie View A&M University

Department

Cooperative Agricultural Research Center

Commensurate

Prairie View, Texas

Staff

______________________________________________________________________________

The Research Specialist II, under the general direction of the assigned faculty and the Poultry Center Director, performs advanced and independent research work involving the planning, execution, and reporting of research projects at the Poultry Center, CARC. The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing and new research initiatives in poultry nutrition, gut histology and molecular biology, microbiome science, and sustainable feed ingredient development. This role involves close collaboration with the Principal Investigators (PIs) at the Poultry Center, graduate and undergraduate students, external collaborators, and funding agencies including USDA-NIFA and NSF.

This position is funded by a grant or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of grant or restricted funding.

The salary is determined in accordance with the University’s compensation structure and will be commensurate with the candidates’ education and experience, within the assigned salary range for this position.

Responsibilities:

Facility Operations & Laboratory Management

• Assist the assigned faculty and Poultry Center PIs in the day-to-day operation of the Poultry Center facility; ensure required maintenance and repairs are scheduled and completed in a timely and compliant manner.
• Set up, calibrate, operate, and maintain laboratory and field research equipment including instruments for histology, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, microscopy, and microbiome analyses.
• Procure research supplies, reagents, and laboratory consumables required for active research projects; coordinate timely ordering to support uninterrupted experimental workflows at the Poultry Center.

Research Design & Scientific Execution

• Assist the assigned faculty, Poultry Center Principal Investigators in planning and conducting dietary intervention research experiments involving laying hens, broilers and other poultry species.
• Design, conduct, and document experiments evaluating the effects of dietary nutrients and novel feed ingredients on poultry growth, gut health, immunity, egg quality, and production performance.
• Perform advanced laboratory procedures: tissue sectioning, histological staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), in situ hybridization (ISH), light microscopy, and quantitative image analysis.
• Execute molecular biology techniques: RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, BCA protein assay, gel electrophoresis, and 16S rRNA gut microbiome sequencing data analysis and bioinformatics.
• Prepare, review, and maintain research protocol documentation in compliance with IACUC requirements, as well as institutional, state, and federal research guidelines.
• Contribute actively to grant proposal writing and submission to USDA-NIFA, NSF, and other funding agencies; support preparation of peer-reviewed publications, conference abstracts, and presentations.

Data Collection, Analysis & Reporting

• Collect, record, compile, analyze, interpret, and describe research data to support all active research projects; maintain accurate data collection records and summarization of field and laboratory trials.
• Create publication-quality charts, graphs, tables, and figures from data analysis results for use in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
• Apply statistical software and bioinformatics tools for microbiome data interpretation, gene expression analysis, and experimental data reporting.
• Ensure research data integrity and full compliance with TAMUS and PVAMU research data management and record-keeping policies.

Training, Mentorship & Teaching

• Train and supervise undergraduate and graduate student assistants in laboratory techniques including sample collection, tissue processing, histological preparation, microscopic evaluation, and scientific writing.
• Develop and deliver training materials for internal and external laboratory users; provide instruction in equipment operation, chemical safety, and standard research methods.
• Support course instruction as needed in undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Assist graduate students in research project design, experimental planning, sample collection, analytical techniques, and manuscript preparation for publication.

Institutional Service & Outreach

• Participate in and support college-wide events, activities, faculty search committees, and abstract review activities as directed by faculty or the Poultry PIs.
• Contribute to PVAMU’s 1890 land-grant mission through extension activities and community outreach related to poultry production, food sustainability, and agricultural education.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervising faculty and/or Poultry Center PIs.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science, Poultry Science, Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Six years of related experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in Poultry Science, Agricultural Sciences or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• Postdoctoral research experience at a recognized research university or agricultural research center, with demonstrated independent research productivity.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety protocols, IACUC compliance, biosafety regulations, and research ethics standards.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, accuracy, and integrity in data collection, record-keeping, and scientific reporting.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, including with international and interdisciplinary research teams.
• Ability to prepare scientific reports, manuscripts, grant proposals, and conference presentations.
• Ability to prioritize competing deadlines under the direction of the assigned faculty and Poultry Center Director.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in poultry gut biology: intestinal histomorphology, enteroendocrine cell biology, mucosal immunology, and enterocyte ultrastructure.
• Hands-on proficiency in advanced histological and imaging methods: IHC, IF, ISH and quantitative light microscopy image analysis.
• Expertise in molecular biology: RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, BCA assay, gel electrophoresis, and 16S rRNA-based gut microbiome analysis and bioinformatics analysis and interpretation.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing dietary intervention trials in laying hens, broilers, or other poultry species.
• Research experience with sustainable and novel feed ingredients.
• Experience with intestinal organoid culture protocols and related in vitro gut biology techniques.
• Familiarity with AI/ML applications in animal nutrition, precision feeding, or livestock monitoring systems.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals such as Poultry Science, Animal Science Journal, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Veterinary Sciences, Food Bioscience, or equivalent high-impact journals.
• Experience writing and contributing to competitive grant proposals submitted to USDA-NIFA, NSF, or comparable funding agencies; experience as PI or Co-PI on submitted or funded grants is preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to lift moderately heavy objects ( up to 30-50lbs).
• Ability to exert heavy force as required during poultry facility and laboratory operations.
• Work beyond normal business hours and/or work on weekends during animal trials, data collection periods, and grant submission deadlines.
• Must maintain a valid drivers license if required for field work activities.

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.