Postdoctoral Associate

Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA

11h • Onsite

About The Position

This position is part of a growing program integrating research, Extension, and experiential learning in agribusiness and agricultural finance. The postdoctoral associate will work with unique, applied datasets spanning farm-level, market, and financial data. They will engage directly with stakeholders across the agrifood system, including producers, agribusiness firms, and financial institutions. This role offers the opportunity to gain experience at the intersection of research, industry, and extension in applied agribusiness settings and contribute to externally funded projects while developing an independent and policy- or industry-relevant research agenda.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Economics, or a closely related field by appointment start date.
• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Strong quantitative and econometric skills
• Strong communication skills
• Demonstrated research potential (e.g., publications or working papers)

Nice To Haves

• Background in agribusiness, agricultural finance, or production economics
• Experience with statistical software (R, Python, Stata, or similar)
• Experience with data visualization and decision-support tools (e.g., R Shiny, Power BI, Tableau, or similar)
• Interest in applied, industry-oriented research and stakeholder engagement

Responsibilities

• Conduct applied research in agribusiness, agricultural finance, and/or production economics
• Analyze farm-level, market, and financial data to inform management, investment, and marketing decisions
• Produce publishable research in peer-reviewed journals
• Contribute to externally funded research projects and assist in the development of grant proposals
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and external partners
• Translate research into actionable insights for producers, agribusiness firms, and other stakeholders
• Contribute to Extension programming, workshops, and outreach activities
• Work directly with industry partners on applied research questions and decision-support tools
• Provide occasional guest lectures and support student research initiatives

Benefits

• Professional development opportunities
• University shared governance participation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree