Position Summary:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service seeks a forthcoming or recent PhD as a Postdoctoral Research and Extension Associate to explore determinants of the location of business activities, with particular attention to rural areas of the United States. The associate will collaborate with a research team comprised of senior researchers and Extension professionals from Texas A&M University, Michigan State University, and Iowa State University on a research project conducted with the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers.

In the FSRDC, the associate will work with the Longitudinal Business Database (over 8M observations annually), the Integrated Longitudinal Business Database (over 20M observations annually), and county-level estimates derived from the Annual Retail Trade Survey (about 35,000 observations annually) and the Annual Survey of Manufacturers (about 70,000 observation annually). These databases will be merged with public data on other community characteristics.  Following initial data management activities, the associate will execute the following activities:

• Model specification analysis and discussion in the FSRDC
• Actively engage with the research team to develop Extension curriculum, programming, and training
• Prepare numerous refereed journal articles related to one or more of the following broad areas:
  • Rural community industrial perceptions
  • Comparison of various thresholds measures
  • Community-opportunity matching program evaluation
  • Policy implications for thresholds and development
  • Various specific industry demand and supply thresholds
• May participate in proposals to obtain external funding

The position will be appointed for twelve months, and pending performance review, extended up to 20 months. Through the experience with the research team and the FSRDC, the associate will complement the strong disciplinary training of their PhD program with exposure to a broad range of sciences and learning-by-doing in rural development Extension curriculum design and pilot testing.

The position will be located in College Station, Texas, though the Extension programming will be nationwide, allowing the successful candidate to build a national profile.

At the end of their post-doctoral experiences, the research and extension associate will enjoy a network of senior academic and policy colleagues from which they may launch a successful career as a faculty member or policy analyst.

The research associate will be compensated commensurate with recent PhDs in their field of study and will have access to health care benefits.

Location of Activities:

The successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Texas and will be provided with an office on the Texas A&M University (TAMU) campus in College Station, in close proximity to mentors within the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the FSRDC. TAMU is distinctive as a student-focused, land-grant, research university, that provides an excellent education at a top-ranked institution by combining teaching, research, and Extension in a rich learning environment. TAMU is listed in the National Science Foundation’s top 20 in several areas.

The position will involve travel to the TAMU FSRDC, located on campus in College Station, and to conferences related to the topics addressed by the associate. Travel in and out of state is necessary to fulfill job responsibilities.

This position is supported by the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Program Of The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Award number 2017-67023-26242.

Minimum Requirements:

ABD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or related field, completed by the date of the first day of employment.

Demonstrated interest in topics addressed in project description.

Strong English written and verbal communications skills.

The associate will need to pass a background check and have spent three of the previous five years in the United States, as required to gain access to a Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC).

Working knowledge of Stata, SAS, or related statistical software available in the FSRDC environment.

Desired Qualifications:

PhD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or related field, completed by the date of the first day of employment.

Academic record of publications related to the issues to be address in project description.

Demonstrated skills in quantitative analysis.

Demonstrated ability to synthesize academic inputs from a wide array of sources.

Understanding of the land grant university system.

Experience working in the FSRDC system or with other systems involving large datasets.

Required Application Materials:

Applicants should submit a cover letter, which should address how the post-doctoral experience will help the candidate achieve their ultimate career goals. Candidates holding ABD status should specify their expected date of degree completion. In addition, applicants should provide a curriculum vita, electronic copy of PhD program course transcripts, three (3) letters of reference with email and phone contacts. All application materials should be uploaded to Texas A&M University’s Workday application website: https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AgriLife_Extension_External/job/College-Station-AL-EXT/Postdoctoral-Extension-Associate_R-002961-1

Special Instructions:

Individuals applying for the position should expect to begin working August 2018 after receiving Special Sworn Status from the Department of Commerce, subject to approval for access to an FSRDC.  Individuals who hold ABD status are strongly encouraged to apply, but should expect to finish their PhD before starting the post-doctoral position.

Review of applications will begin April 1, 2018, and will conclude when a successful candidate has been identified.