Assistant Professor, Agricultural Markets, Trade, and Rural Development Policy

Job Description

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AAEC) in the
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) invites
applications for a tenure-track position in agricultural markets,
trade, and rural development policy. This is a 9-month,
academic-year appointment, with expectations to fund summer
activities through external grants or other mechanisms. The
specific appointment is 50 percent research and 50 percent
Extension.

The successful candidate will maintain a visible, nationally
recognized, externally funded applied research and Extension
program in agricultural markets, trade, and rural development
policy analysis, with a particular focus on distilling and
successfully communicating the impacts of proposed policies and
market changes to stakeholders across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
International engagement and recognition are encouraged and
expected as the candidate’s career advances. The successful
candidate is expected to collaborate with colleagues in AAEC, the
Center for Agricultural Trade, and other departments in CALS to
develop effective Extension and applied research programs that
integrate market, policy, and trade analysis into existing efforts
on local food systems and rural development initiatives. This
position will also work closely with Extension agents, specialists,
and field staff to develop effective and visible programs. By
collaborating with others in the department, CALS, across campus
and beyond, the successful candidate will serve as a catalyst for
interdisciplinary activity, bridging the technical rigor of
quantitative analysis with the practical, applied focus of
Extension work needed to address the market, trade, and policy
impacts confronting rural communities in Virginia. Through
dissemination of trade and policy impacts, this position will
enhance communication and public policy outreach efforts in CALS
that foster economic growth and resilience in our rural
communities.

As a priority to develop and foster new partnerships and leverage
existing ones across campus and the commonwealth, the candidate is
expected to build partnerships with stakeholders (e.g. government,
industry, nonprofits, etc.), producer groups, agricultural lenders,
supply chain businesses, and others. The position will also enhance
communication to raise awareness of CALS engagement in the
communities we serve. There is an expectation of excellence in
grantsmanship, timely communication of research findings through
publication in peer-reviewed journal articles and extension
outlets, and mentoring students. This position requires occasional
travel for meetings and conferences.

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
(https://aaec.vt.edu/) is a growing unit with approximately 250
undergraduate students, 45 graduate students, and 27 faculty
members. The department offers unique opportunities to develop
applied research and outreach programs that have meaningful impacts
on decision-makers. The department offers undergraduate programs in
agribusiness and applied economic management
(https://aaec.vt.edu/academics/undergraduate.html), an online and
in-person Master’s program, and a joint Ph.D. with the Department
of Economics (https://aaec.vt.edu/academics/graduate.html). The
department collaborates closely with other units within the College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as well as with various units on
campus.

The Department is located in the College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences (http://www.cals.vt.edu/), which has about 2,600
undergraduate students and 600 graduate students across 10 academic
units. The Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and Virginia
Cooperative Extension, within the college, deliver research-based
information to the Commonwealth of Virginia through county/city
extension offices, 4-H educational centers, and Agricultural
Research and Extension Centers
(http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices).

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech
pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on,
transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and
problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that
enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world,
Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge,
discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280
majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate,
graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate
colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college,
Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a
significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the
greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology
Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous
Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global
research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million
in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional
development opportunities and university shared governance. These
valuable contributions to university shared governance provide
important representation and perspective, along with opportunities
for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or
applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including
pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic
information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation,
race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or
otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire
about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation
of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected
by law.

Required Qualifications

• Ph,D, in Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Agribusiness,

Regional Science, or a closely related discipline by appointment
start date.

• Demonstrated ability (or potential) for publishing peer-reviewed

research, Extension, and teaching materials.

• Skills in and experience applying regional economic and

international trade models in conducting economic analysis.

• Demonstrated ability (or potential) in communicating and

synthesizing complex economic analyses to a wide range of
audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and delivering economic-based educational

programs to extension agents, business managers, industry groups,
public agency personnel, and stakeholders.

• Experience applying for grants or other funding for programmatic

support, including running fee-based workshops, and/or establishing
novel sources of external funding to support integrated research or
Extension programs.

• Experience working with clientele such as industry partners,

commodity groups, and government agencies.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$85,000 - $110,000; commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40; M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Review Date

11/29/2026

Additional Information

Application packets should include:

a. A formal cover letter summarizing qualifications,

b. a statement describing Research and Extension philosophy (2-pg
max),

d. a current curriculum vitae, and

e. the names and contact information of three professional
references who can assess the applicant’s qualifications for this
position.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal
conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),
Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a
hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be
leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution
that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the
world, Virginia Tech is an
inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and
creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse
enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and
professional students in eight
undergraduate colleges , a
school of medicine , a
veterinary medicine college,
Graduate School , and
Honors College . The university has a significant presence
across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C.
area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites
in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous
Extension offices and
research institutes . A leading global research institution,
Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research
annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional
development opportunities and university shared governance . These valuable
contributions to university shared governance provide important
representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique
and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or
applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including
pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic
information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation,
race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or
otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire
about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation
of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected
by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an
accommodation, please contact Dr. Jason Grant at jhgrant@vt.edu during regular business
hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.