Press "Enter" to skip to content

Job Announcement – Research Scientist

A grant-funded opening for a Research Scientist is available immediately at the WFPC, located in Durham, NC. This position is for a two-year employment period, with potential to extend dependent on garnering additional research funding. 

Continue readingJob Announcement – Research Scientist

The World Food Policy Center (WFPC) is a research unit situated in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. The WFPC conducts interdisciplinary research in the thematic areas of food policy evaluation, food security, inequality in the food system, and resilient food systems strategies. The center is supported through competitive federal research awards and grants from philanthropic foundations. A grant-funded opening for a Research Scientist is available immediately at the WFPC, located in Durham, NC. This position is for a two-year employment period, with potential to extend dependent on garnering additional research funding.

APPLY ONLINE

Occupational Summary 
The WFPC seeks a full-time Research Scientist to build out a research portfolio in one or more of the following food policy areas: 1) food and nutrition security; 2) food loss and waste; and/or 3) food and sustainability, broadly defined to include strategies to address the impact of climate change on the food system, and food systems resilience. The successful candidate will deepen and expand existing lines of research, with the opportunity to focus on North Carolina and/or U.S. food systems issues. Position responsibilities include co-teaching an upper-division food policy course and mentoring students.
Experience 
Candidates must have research experience in food policy research with experience in quantitative research methods (causal inference with surveys methods or secondary data) or experimental (e.g., randomized controlled trials, economic experiments, survey experiments, among others) methods. Experience with other methods (or an openness to and interest in) such as, qualitative research, or mixed methods can be bonus to the quantitative skills. The ideal candidate will have experience with proposal development and academic publishing.
Experience in university teaching, preferably both undergraduate and graduate level courses, is a plus.
Responsibilities 
 
Primary Responsibilities
Conduct research and publish in one or more WFPC priority areas of food and nutrition security, food loss and waste, or food and sustainability. Research may include:
  • Design, implementation, and analysis of large-scale, national experimental surveys.
  • Evaluation of existing food policy.
  • Mixed methods research design, incorporating the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
  • Working with WFPC Research Manager and undergraduate/graduate research assistants.
Secondary Responsibilities 

Lead or contribute to the development of new grant proposals in priority areas emphasizing collaboration with other faculty/units at Duke and beyond, and multidisciplinary inquiry.

Co-teach a food policy course with the WFPC Director. 

Engage in robust outreach of research findings, such as developing policy briefs or policy change-focused reports, informing social media outreach, participating in podcast interviews, and developing data visualization/communication appropriate for policy makers, food systems advocates, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications 
PhD in agricultural and applied economics, economics, food policy, political science, public policy, sociology, nutrition, or related fields.
Must have authorization to work in the United States.
 
Skills 
Required Skills 
The ability to work independently is a must. Strong writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills are necessary. Demonstrated experience in quantitative research design and analysis is necessary Experience with quantitative analytical programs (Stata, SAS, R, Python, or similar) is required.
Additional Skills 
  • A demonstrated track record of academic publishing and grant writing is a plus.
  • Experience with stakeholder interviewing, as well as, qualitative coding and analysis with programs such as NVivo is a plus.
  • Experience with mixed methods approaches is also a plus.
  • Evidence of effective teaching is a plus.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.