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This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD) is located in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education within Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Our mission is to work on a range of issues with land grant universities and other partners in the Northeast as well as nationally in support of regional economic growth and rural development goals. The Center has a strong track record of publishing peer-reviewed articles.
The NERCRD seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position. This is a limited-term position funded for one year with good possibility of renewal subject to funding availability. The post-doc will be responsible for conducting economic and statistical analyses on a wide range of rural development topics, as determined by the Center’s emerging needs and priorities. There is a strong expectation that this research will contribute both to the science base as well as to informing U.S. rural economic development policy. Examples of topics to be studied range from policy impact assessments; the interdependence of rural and urban areas, as well as agricultural and non-agricultural industries; to the determinants and impacts of local economic well-being and health, including that of farmers and small businesses. The opportunity exists to work within Penn State’s Federal Statistical Research Data Center.
The Center offers a competitive salary along with benefits, and the opportunity to collaborate with scholars in the region, nationally, and internationally. Opportunities also exist for attending conferences to support networking activities. This position is required to work at University Park, PA.
Primary Responsibilities
Design and execute rigorous empirical research on regional and rural economic development topics.
Manage and analyze large, complex datasets, including administrative records, federal statistical microdata, and novel big data sources.
Prepare high-quality manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
Present research findings at national and international conferences and contribute to NERCRD research reports and policy briefs.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, graduate students, and regional Extension partners.
Qualifications
Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Economics, Regional Science, Public Policy, or related fields by the effective date of hire.
The successful candidate must have completed all degree requirements by the appointment date.
Extensive training in applied econometrics, causal inference, and spatial statistics.
Demonstrated proficiency in modern statistical and computational tools (e.g., R, Stata, Python).
Experience working with large-scale administrative, survey, or big data sets.
Strong written and oral communication skills, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, working papers, or a strong dissertation portfolio.
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of…