Postdoctoral Research Assocate

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

College Station (TX)

On-site

USD 63,000 - 66,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays and leave

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on U.S. domestic food policy research under general supervision. The role involves evaluating SNAP policy impacts using large transaction-level datasets and cutting-edge machine learning methods.

You will collaborate with Dr. Pourya Valizadeh, analyze restricted ADRF data, and contribute to journal articles and grant reports. Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics is required by start date.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics by start date (or certified near-term completion).
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.

Responsibilities

Evaluate SNAP purchase restrictions and other nutrition policies.
Study how policies affect household purchases of ultra-processed foods.
Clean and analyze transaction-level data using econometric and machine learning methods.
Work with restricted data in ADRFs.
Write journal articles and present findings at conferences.

Skills

Stata

Written & oral communication

Team and independent work

Education

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics

Tools

Python

Circana/NielsenIQ data experience

Job description

Job TitlePostdoctoral Research Assocate Agency Texas A&M Agrilife Research Department Agricultural Economics Proposed Minimum SalaryCommensurate Job LocationCollege Station, Texas Job TypeStaff 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!

Position Summary

To work with Dr. Pourya Valizadeh on U.S. domestic food policy research under general supervision. Projects include, but are not limited to, evaluating SNAP purchase restrictions and studying how various food policies affect household purchases of ultra-processed foods. The work uses large transaction-level food purchase data and state-of-the-art machine learning and causal inference methods.

Responsibilities

Evaluate SNAP purchase restrictions and other food and nutrition assistance policies.
Study how various food policies affect household purchases of ultra-processed foods.
Clean and analyze transaction-level purchase data (e.g., Circana, NielsenIQ) using econometric and machine learning methods.
Work with restricted data in Administrative Data Research Facilities (ADRFs).
Write journal articles; present findings at conferences and meetings.
Collaborate with the research team and support grant reports and proposals.
Other research duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of Stata.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Ability to work well in a team and independently.

Required Education and Experience

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, completed by the start date. In order to be considered for this position prior to your doctoral degree being conferred, please attach a letter from your school's official Graduate Office, Registrar's Office or PhD Committee Chair certifying that all requirements for the doctoral degree have been met and stating the degree conferral date.

Preferred Education and Experience

Research experience on SNAP or other food and nutrition programs.
Experience with program evaluation methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, event studies).
Experience analyzing transaction-level or scanner purchase data (e.g., Circana, NielsenIQ).
Experience working with restricted data in an ADRF or similar secure data environment.
Strong programming skills in Python and experience applying machine learning methods.

Salary

Salary: $63,000-$66,000, commensurate with experience.

Position Funding

Position Funding: This is a 1-year position funded through grants or contracts. Employment is contingent upon the continued availability of funding and satisfactory job performance.

Flexible Work Arrangements

Flexible Work Arrangements: This position requires on-site presence and is not eligible for remote work. Flexible work schedules may be available depending on the nature of the role.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.

Important Notice Regarding H1-B Sponsorship

Your employment at Texas A&M AgriLife may require nonimmigrant sponsorship. A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Texas A&M AgriLife will NOT pay this fee. If the fee is imposed on your petition, this offer of employment will be revoked. If actions taken during your employment result in the imposition of this fee, your employment will be terminated. To the extent that this statement conflicts with any applicable System or member Policy, Regulation, or Rule, this statement will control. We recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense regarding potential implications. In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbott issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate.

Benefits and Leave

Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance (AgriLife contributes to premiums)
12–15 annual paid holidays
Up to 8 hours/month sick leave and at least 8 hours/month vacation
Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Employee Wellness Initiative
Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs.

Application Requirements

Required Documents to Submit CV / Resume Cover Letter Writing Sample List of References with contact information Certifications / Additional Documentation (if applicable)

All positions are security-sensitive.

Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

About Texas A&M AgriLife (continued)

As the largest comprehensive agriculture and life sciences program nationally, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies 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, the environment, and the economy of Texas and the nation through education, research, extension and service. If your goal is the pursuit of excellence and your vision is to make a difference in this world, we invite you to explore our opportunities to discover what a career at Texas A&M AgriLife has to offer you.

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 Texas A&M AgriLife collaborates with Prairie View A&M University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and West Texas A&M University as well as with other public and private partners.

Prospective employee benefits