RuralConfluence Postdoctoral Fellow
Divisionof Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
OklahomaState University - Stillwater, Oklahoma



The Department of Agricultural Economics is seeking applicants foran 11-month, non-tenured track, Postdoctoral Fellow position, with a durationof up to two years. The position will receive support from a $6M grant from theNational Science Foundation and will work in a multidisciplinary,multi-institutional team to help implement the Rural Confluence initiative (https://www.ruralconfluence.org/) to increase resiliencein rural communities impacted by climate change.


While the position is located at Oklahoma State University inStillwater, OK, the postdoctoral fellow will be expected to collaborate with avariety of institutions, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,Louisiana State University, Western Oklahoma State College, Northern OklahomaCollege and the University of Vermont. The position is an opportunity to gainexperience in both outreach and community engagement, as well as applied socialscience community-led research.



Position Description

The successful candidate is expected to: (A) travel to locations within Oklahoma toengage with rural community leaders, agricultural producers, and OSU Extensionstaff in an outreach capacity and as a researcher; (B) collaborate withresearch and extension team (including faculty and students) to create projectmaterials, including workshop/webinar slides, meeting reports, and economicmodels for communities in Oklahoma, Nebraska and Louisiana impacted by climatechange; (C) Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to exploreperceptions and impacts of climate volatility and extreme weather events; (D) Participatein writing high-quality academic research papers that will be submitted topeer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant academic conferences.Quantitative and qualitative analysis under activity (C) will include: (1)conducting in-depth interviews and focus group sessions with rural communityleaders to investigate the economic impact of their community challenges (i.e.water availability, heat extremes, tourism changes, agriculture commodityrotations), (2) developing surveys (in both online and paper-and-pencil versions)to examine trends and commonalities among rural communities across differentstates, and (3) using high quality third-party datasets (e.g., monthly jobcounts or daily foot traffic data) to statistically model the impact of extremeweather on local economic activity.


Qualifications

Thecandidate must hold a Ph.D. in agricultural economics, environmental/resourceeconomics, or a similar field. Consideration will be given to doctoral studentswith planned completion dates before the start of the position.
Experience inenvironmental/climate economics research is preferred.
The successful candidateshould possess strong communication skills with the ability to engageeffectively with diverse stakeholders, including business owners, communityleaders, and residents. They must have the ability and desire to engagein rural community outreach activities, such as assessing needs, conductinginterviews/focus groups, and translating research findings to broad audiencesand demonstrate interest ingaining insights into the impact of climate change on rural communities.
Applicants are expectedto have a strong understanding of statistical and quantitative methods (e.g.,data cleaning, regression analysis, and economic modeling). They should be proficientin cleaning and handling large datasets.
Candidates must bewilling to live within 50 miles of Stillwater and the capacity to drive up to 3.5hours to reach rural Oklahoma communities. A valid driver's license isrequired.



Employment Conditions

This position is an 11-month, non-tenured trackposition. This position will be filled by February 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicantis available. It will be funded fortwo years from the hire date or until July 31, 2027, whichever comes first. Salarywill be up to $65K per year, plus benefits, commensurate with experience andqualifications. Grant funds are also available for travel to meet with rural communitymembers and present at 1-2 conferences.



Aboutthe Department

The Department of Agricultural Economics includes a diverse groupof 26 faculty members along with support staff, post-docs, and graduate andundergraduate students who are dedicated to the Land Grant mission throughresearch, teaching, and extension. Our faculty takes pride in collegiality andare focused on ensuring the success of our students, faculty, and stakeholders.More information can be found on our website at https://agriculture.okstate.edu/departments-programs/agecon/



Application Procedure

Formal applications are via electronicsubmission at https://jobs.okstate.edu search for req18525.


To apply, candidatesshould submit: 1) a letter ofapplication addressing the candidate's interests and experience relevant to theposition; (2) curriculumvitae; and (3) names and contactinformation of three professional references. Applicants who received a PhD in the last five years shouldprovide academic transcripts. Applicants are requested to submit their materials by November 15, 2024. Applicationswill be accepted until a successful candidate is identified.


For more information about the position, contact: Dr. Amy Hagerman(Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics) via email: amy.hagerman@okstate.edu.

Tolearn more about OSU Agriculture and Stillwater, visit these websites.
https://agriculture.okstate.edu
https://agresearch.okstate.edu
https://extension.okstate.edu
https://www.okstate.edu
https://www.visitstillwater.org
https://www.stillwaterchamber.org



Equal Employment Opportunity

OklahomaState University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with allapplicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmativeaction.  Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equalopportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race,religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation,gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard toemployment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions.  Formore information, visit https:///eeo.okstate.edu.