Junior​/Senior Research Economist

Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, North Dakota State University

Position:
Junior/Senior Research Economist

The Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC) at North Dakota State University invites applications for a career-track position as Junior/Senior Research Economist at the rank of Research Assistant Professor. This appointment offers an exciting opportunity for an individual passionate about advancing applied agricultural policy research and strengthening the Center's analytical capacity in agricultural risk management, farm policy, agricultural credit and lending, and producer decision-making.

The successful candidate will contribute to ARPC's mission by producing timely, rigorous, and policy-relevant research and applied policy analysis that informs agricultural policy in the United States.

The Junior/Senior Research Economist will work closely with the ARPC Director and the FCIP Program Leader to help shape the Center's applied research agenda. This collaborative role involves identifying emerging policy priorities, developing empirical research projects, and generating evidence on how agricultural policies, commodity, land, and credit market conditions, financing constraints, and production risks affect producers, agribusinesses, and rural communities. The successful candidate's contributions will be integral to the Center's mission to inform U.S. agricultural policy with data-driven insights relevant to stakeholders and decision-makers.

A vital part of this position is collaborating daily with the ARPC Director and FCIP Program Leader to design and execute projects on agricultural risk management, farm programs, crop insurance, agricultural credit and lending, farm finance, and land markets. The Junior/Senior Research Economist will lead or contribute to ARPC-branded publications, policy briefs, stakeholder reports, presentations, data products, dashboards, peer-reviewed academic publications, and other research products that translate rigorous empirical analysis into practical guidance for policymakers, industry leaders, commodity organizations, and producer groups.

In this role, the successful candidate will help bridge the gap between high-quality academic research and the policy questions facing agriculture today.

The Junior/Senior Research Economist will provide leadership in empirical research design, quantitative analysis, and collaborative project development, while contributing to a supportive environment that encourages high-quality applied policy research. Depending on rank and experience, the successful candidate may also mentor junior staff and students, help develop externally funded projects, and support the long-term growth of ARPC initiatives. This position offers a unique opportunity for a motivated individual to expand the reach and relevance of ARPC's work through impactful research at the intersection of agricultural policy, risk management, and producer outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

* Collaborate closely with the ARPC Leadership to shape ARPC's applied research strategy, ensuring alignment with the Center's goals and mission.

* Lead or contribute to applied research on agricultural risk management, farm policy, crop insurance, agricultural credit and lending, farm finance, production economics, producer behavior, and commodity, land, and credit market dynamics.

* Develop peer-reviewed ARPC-branded publications, policy briefs, stakeholder reports, presentations, data products, dashboards, peer-reviewed academic publications, and related research outputs that communicate the implications of agricultural policy and risk management issues.

* Contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations and external partnerships that expand the reach, quality, and visibility of ARPC research.

* Engage with stakeholders, including policymakers, commodity organizations, producer groups, agribusiness firms, and academic collaborators, to ensure ARPC research remains relevant and responsive to emerging issues.

Minimum Qualifications:

* Ph.D. in agricultural economics, economics, or a closely related field by the start date.

* Demonstrated expertise in agricultural policy, agricultural risk management, farm programs, crop insurance, agricultural finance or credit markets, production economics, or closely related areas.

* Strong empirical research skills and evidence of the ability to conduct high-quality applied economic analysis using relevant quantitative methods.

* Experience with conducting research in reproducible computational environments, including the use of version control systems for managing code and research workflows, and the ability to leverage modern computational tools, including AI-assisted coding, data processing, and analytical workflows, to enhance research productivity.

* Demonstrated ability or strong potential to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary, policy-oriented research environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

* A strong record of peer-reviewed publications, working…