Xavier Jaime is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas A&M University-College Station in collaboration with the USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub. In his role, he is working with PIs and with other Fellows to synthesize the best available science on current and emerging NRCS Conservation Practices, Climate Smart Agriculture, and greenhouse gas mitigation practices within the agency. His goal is to identify critical knowledge gaps and integrate the information into outreach modules/programs, technical guides in collaboration with other members of the topical teams, USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub and NRCS. Moreover, he will conduct research to fill identified critical knowledge gaps relevant to the Southern Plains region, synthesize the best available science on Agrivoltaics and develop spatial models for suitability assessment of agrivoltaics for rangelands in the Southern Plains region. Lastly, with the research findings, he will collaborate in building extension and education outreach modules and engage with stakeholders through associated extension/education outreach activities.
Xavier holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Conservation Biology from Texas A&M University. He previously earned his B.S. in General Biology at the University of Puerto Rico in his hometown of Humacao, Puerto Rico, and a M.S. in Forestry from North Carolina State University. His Ph.D. research focused on the spatial patterns of prescribed fires and plant communities within mesquite-oak savannas in Texas, in collaboration with Texas A&M faculty, AgriLife Extension, and the USDA-ARS researchers.
Most of his work used advanced multi and hyperspectral remote sensing techniques for vegetation classification and exhaustive plant identification during field sampling in Texan rangelands. These techniques allowed examining the effect of heterogeneous fires on the structure, diversity, and functional traits of vegetation in mesquite-oak savannas in the Edwards Plateau of Texas. He also developed a novel remote sensing methodology that classifies the spectral and geometrical features of prickly pear (genus Opuntia) using high-resolution multispectral imagery and advanced spectral classification. As a result, he made possible the mapping of Opuntia cover and assess the effect of fire on its spatial pattern in semi-arid savannas, and ultimately provide an important tool for managing, monitoring and mitigating Opuntia encroachment in the Southern Plains region. This last study was published in the peer-reviewed MDPI journal of Remote Sensing
Beyond his Ph.D. accomplishments, he possesses over ten years of certified-GIS and Remote Sensing experience integrated in spatial analysis, statistics and modeling with ArcGIS, and R-Gui for interdisciplinary research in landscape ecology, fire ecology and rangeland ecology. He has worked in teams to coordinate symposiums at Texas A&M University (e.g., 2017 Ecological Integration Symposium), and previously served as an instructional design specialist and collaborated on high-impact learning experiences for large undergraduate ecology courses. This led to the development of authentic-based inquiry projects and resulted in two peer reviewed publications. He also had the privilege to conduct research for the Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) in Houston, Texas, where he implemented spatial analysis of land-use legacy and tree mortality within the park after the 2011 drought.
Outside of his professional career, Xavier served as the Vice-President (2023-2025) for the Aggieland Fly Fishers Club in College Station, Texas, and collaborated with the Good Fly Non-profit and the Texas A&M Fly Fishing Club to provide community activities and events such as The Round-Up Fly-Fishing Festival.
