Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Agency
Texas A&M Agrilife Research
Department
Agricultural Economics
Proposed Minimum Salary
$4,583.34 monthly
Job Location
College Station, Texas
Job Type
Staff
Job Description
About Texas A&M AgriLife
Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M Forest Service
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.
Click here to learn more about joining AgriLife!
Job Summary:
Under the direction of Dr. Maria Bampasidou, this position will be for the USDA-NIFA AFRI-funded project "Adapting to Digitalization: Labor Market Access and Workforce Development in Tech-driven Agricultural Systems." The successful candidate will work closely under the direction of Dr. Maria Bampasidou and Dr. Yuri Calil with an interdisciplinary team spanning digital agriculture, data sciences, soil and crop sciences, and ethics.
The research investigates how emerging technologies (including AI, computer vision, drones, and autonomous decision tools) reshape farm labor demand, skill requirements, technology adoption, trust, and overall rural communities. The postdoctoral scholar will bridge rigorous quantitative applied microeconomics and qualitative social science methods to map digital divides, model stakeholder perceptions of digital divides, and develop pathways for resilient agricultural workforce development.
The position provides a unique opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team of faculty, producer organizations, and other stakeholders to develop research that informs industry decision-making and public policy. The postdoctoral scholar will be expected to build productive partnerships and contribute to collaborative multidisciplinary research efforts.
Responsibilities
Research Design, Fieldwork, and Data Analytics (60%)
Design, implement, and analyze primary qualitative and quantitative data tools including producer/stakeholder focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and state/regional surveys across Texas and Louisiana.
Model and analyze key dimensions of agricultural digital divides (skill, scale, geographic, and use divides) and their systemic impacts on labor demand and workforce retention.
Scholarly Outputs & Grant Writing (20%)
Lead and co-author high-impact, peer-reviewed journal articles and present findings at major national and regional academic conferences.
Collaborate with PIs on writing competitive grant proposals to expand project sustainability and funding.
Translate research findings into extension briefs, factsheets, policy recommendations, and educational modules for producers, extension personnel, and industry partners.
Project Coordination and Collaborative Research (20%)
Assist in co-advising, mentoring, and supervising Ph.D. and undergraduate students working on project deliverables.
Coordinate project timelines, lead multi-institutional collaborator meetings, manage IRB protocols, and help prepare progress reports for grant sponsors.
Qualifications:
Required Education and Experience:
Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Public Policy, Economics (with emphasis on behavioral or labor economics), or a closely related social science such as Anthropology and Rural Sociology, completed by the start date.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Demonstrated expertise in applied research methods.
Strong expertise in statistical and econometric software (e.g.,…