Post Doctoral Associate -Rural Economic Resilience & Food Systems

Post Doctoral Associate
-Rural Economic Resilience & Food Systems

Please carefully review the details of this position below.

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Advertising/Posting Title Post Doctoral Associate
-Rural Economic Resilience & Food Systems

Posting Summary

The Postdoctoral Associate will conduct applied economic and community-engaged research jointly supporting two related research programs under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Van Leuven. Approximately 60% of the position’s effort will support an NSF EPSCoR project focused on rural climate resilience, which examining how severe weather, extreme heat, and harmful algal blooms affect rural labor markets, downtown business activity, and recreation economies.

The remaining 40% will support UVM Food Systems Research Institute-funded work examining climate effects on rural food business dynamics (e.g., restaurant and grocery entries and exits) and rural food systems infrastructure, building on ongoing FSRI
-supported research.

The postdoc will help with leading in-person and virtual interviews with New England business owners, municipal officials, and consumers; conducting causal-inference analysis of high-frequency foot-traffic, consumer-spending, and satellite-derived environmental data; and contributing to manuscript preparation, presentations, and public-facing outputs.

When applying, please submit a CV, a cover letter describing your fit with the position and research interests, a writing sample, and contact information for two to three professional references.

Applications will close October 31, 2026.

Minimum Qualifications (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

• PhD completed by the January 1, 2027 start date in economics, applied/agricultural economics, regional science, public policy, or a closely related quantitative social science field
• Demonstrated quantitative/econometric skills, ideally including causal inference or panel-data methods
• Programming proficiency in R, Python, and/or Stata
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across institutions

Desirable Qualifications

• Research experience or strong interest in rural economic development, climate resilience, and/or food systems
• Experience conducting qualitative or community-engaged interviews
• Data visualization and GIS skills
• Familiarity with high-frequency mobility/spending data (e.g., Advan, Safe Graph) or satellite-derived environmental data

Anticipated Pay Range

Anticipated Pay Range $63,480 - $63,900

Other Information

Hybrid and remote candidates will be considered; the search will not be limited to candidates already based in Burlington. At minimum, the postdoc must be able to travel to Burlington, VT at least four times during the year for team meetings, plus additional periodic travel across New England for interview-based fieldwork. Candidates able to work in person at UVM on a more regular basis (i.e., within driving or transit distance) are preferred, all else equal.

This position is expected to be able to begin work from an approved work location, within the United States, on January 1, 2027

Special Conditions

Special Conditions Contingent on continued funding, Travel to and from worksites required, This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with an option to split time between campus and elsewhere, in accordance with the university telecommuting policy, Background Check required for this position

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Union Position

Union Position No

Position will be posted for a minimum of one week, after which it is subject to removal without notice.

Job Location

Job Open Date

Job Open Date 08/20/2026

Job Close Date (Jobs close at 11:59 PM EST.)

Open Until Filled No

The University of Vermont is a welcoming, educationally purposeful community committed to creating an inclusive environment that embraces intellectual diversity and global perspectives. We seek to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct. Members of the University of Vermont community…