Job Description

This Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation Postdoctoral Associate research position is a key component of the USDA AMS cooperative agreement for the titled project, “Increasing Access to Wholesale Markets: Meeting Technical Assistance Needs of Black, Hispanic, and Tribal Producers.” The Postdoctoral Research Associate will take leadership to organize and conduct research to address the project’s aim in partnership with USDA-AMS and the Food Systems Action Lab at Illinois Tech: employ a mixed methods study to understand the distinct needs of Black, Hispanic, and Tribal producers around access and entry into wholesale markets. Specifically, the position includes taking research leadership to a) understand and document the distinct needs of Black, Hispanic, and Tribal producers in the Southern United States through a series of interviews and focus groups with Black, Hispanic, and Tribal educators, thought leaders, producer networks, Black- and Hispanic- led institutions, and where feasible, directly with producers; b) conduct a literature review and secondary data scan to reinforce the understanding of distinct Black, Hispanic, and Tribal producers’ needs and market access; and c) compile, evaluate and synthesize all data to develop core competencies recommendations report provided to Regional Food Business Centers to support their development of technical assistance for Black, Hispanic, and Tribal producers.

Required Qualifications

• An doctorate in social sciences earned no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year of eligibility remaining.
• Required experience in food systems-based community development or related field.
• Demonstrated command of concepts, practices, policies, and programming frameworks and issues associated with wholesale market access, social equity-based technical assistance, food and farm business scaling models, and value chain development.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills from a critical, inclusive, and interdisciplinary perspective.
• Perform as a team member with the Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation to achieve project and programming goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging with Black, Hispanic, and/or Tribal producer communities in the Southern United States.
• Experience in participatory community-engaged methodologies
• Experience in mixed methods processes and applications related to food systems research.

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$53,550 - 65,029

Additional Information

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 the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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, 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. Kim Niewolny at niewolny@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.