Post Doctoral Associate -Rural Economic Resilience & Food Systems

Noaa Cessrst; Burlington (VT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Vermont invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate to conduct applied economic and community-engaged research. The project supports NSF EPSCoR work on rural climate resilience and FSRI-derived studies on rural food business dynamics.

The role includes leading interviews with community members and stakeholders, and performing causal-inference analyses to inform policy and practice. Applicants will contribute to manuscripts, presentations, and public-facing outputs,

Qualifications

• PhD in economics or related field required.
• Experience conducting applied economic research and publishing results.
• Ability to lead qualitative interviews with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead in-person and virtual interviews with New England business owners, municipal officials, and consumers.
• Perform causal-inference analysis on high-frequency data and satellite-derived environmental data.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, presentations, and public-facing outputs.

Skills

Interviewing

Causal inference

Manuscript writing

Education

PhD in Economics

Tools

R

Stata

Job description

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.

Applications will close October 31, 2026.

Questions? Contact Dr. Andrew Van Leuven at [e-mail]