Postdoctoral Research Associate
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
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.
Job description
Job 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.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, completed by the start date
- Working knowledge of Stata
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work well in a team and independently
- Preferred: Research experience on SNAP or other food and nutrition programs
- Preferred: Experience with program evaluation methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, event studies)
- Preferred: Experience analyzing transaction-level or scanner purchase data (e.g., Circana, NielsenIQ)
- Preferred: Experience working with restricted data in an ADRF or similar secure data environment
- Preferred: Strong programming skills in Python and experience applying machine learning methods
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- 12-15 Paid Holidays
- Sick Leave
- Vacation Leave
- Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Employee Wellness Initiative
- Professional Development and Training
Company overview
Texas A&M AgriLife Research is the premier agricultural and life sciences research agency of the State of Texas and a key component of the Texas A&M University System. Established in 1887 as the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, the agency was rebranded in 2008 to better reflect its comprehensive mission in agriculture and life sciences. With headquarters in College Station, Texas, the organization operates 15 research centers across the state, serving all 254 Texas counties. The agency employs over 400 doctoral-level scientists and maintains an annual budget exceeding $216 million. Texas A&M AgriLife Research conducts groundbreaking research across diverse scientific disciplines including crop science, livestock genetics, natural resource management, food safety, and biotechnology. The organization has made significant contributions to agricultural innovation, including developing the world's largest gene-mapping resources for beef cattle, pioneering mechanical cotton harvesting technology, and creating disease-resistant crop varieties. As part of the land-grant mission, the agency focuses on translating scientific discoveries into practical applications that benefit Texas producers, consumers, and the environment while addressing global challenges in food security and sustainable agriculture.