Research Associate

Description:

The Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education at North Carolina A&T State University is seeking candidates for a 12-month, non-teaching faculty position of Research Associate with a track record of work on social sciences issues relating to agriculture (in general), food, and rural/urban communities. Prospective candidates are expected to provide knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods with applications of local and regional food systems and to provide analytic expertise to expand the Department’s research portfolio. This position is to provide support in the L. C. Cooper International Trade Center within the department.

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:

N.C. A&T is a public, land-grant, doctoral research institution and has been the largest historically Black university in the country for the past decade. With an enrollment of 14,311 students in Fall 2024, the university offers 59 undergraduate degree programs, 36 master’s programs, and 12 doctoral programs. It is America’s top producer of Black graduates in Engineering and Agricultural Science bachelor’s programs, as well as a top five producer in numerous additional disciplines, including Liberal Arts and Communications/Journalism. It also ranks no. 3 in master’s degrees awarded to Black graduates in Engineering Technologies and Related Fields, no. 4 in master’s degrees in Engineering, and no. 11 best business school for women in the nation.

Nationally recognized for its leadership and excellence in STEM education and research, N.C. A&T is classified as “R2-High Research Activity” in the Carnegie Classifications and is poised to achieve “R1-Very High Research Activity” status. It also holds Carnegie’s earned credential in Community Engagement and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities ( APLU ) Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation. With an annual economic impact of $2.4 billion, N.C. A&T plays a vital role as a higher-education economic driver in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region and across a state that is ranked No. 1 in the nation for the second straight year as “best for business” by the CNBC financial network.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences ( CAES ) has a rich history of innovation and application of cutting-edge technology. From our pioneering Laboratory Animal Science and Landscape Architecture programs to our award-winning Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Research programs, our faculty and staff serve today’s needs while keeping an eye on the future. With programs and expertise in biotechnology, agricultural and biosystems engineering, natural resources management, waste management, and food microbiology, the A&T College of Agriculture grows concurrently with the demand for qualified graduates. Our four academic departments are the Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education; the Department of Animal Sciences; the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design. Within these departments, students will find many opportunities for classroom learning, research, and fieldwork.Through our Agricultural Research Program and Cooperative Extension Program, we can research issues of importance to North Carolina and provide research-based outreach training to citizens across the state and around the world.

The Leonard C. Cooper Jr. International Trade Center at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University is a multidisciplinary Center that exists to facilitate collaborative multidisciplinary research programs supporting agricultural production and trade to generate analytical and policy relevant results that can be utilized in global agricultural markets and policy arenas to increase the competitiveness of private and public sector agribusiness stakeholders in the state, region, and U.S; and to develop skills of future leaders and working professionals through continuing education to understand, promote and manage regional economic development through trade.”

Requirements:

M.S. in Agricultural Economics, Economics or M.S. in Business Administration with concentration in Marketing or Management, Agribusiness or a closely related field with emphasis in Agribusiness, International Trade and Rural Development Policy a minimum of three years of research experience. Applicant must communicate effectively to work cooperatively with other professional staff, agencies, and clientele groups.

Preferred:

Applicant should be able to deliver computer technology to targeted rural communities and maintain computer Internet Web sites linking small farmers, small-to-medium sized businesses and community leaders to available economic development information. Knowledge in the use of statistical software such as SAS , R, Python, and SPSS . Preferred candidate will have experience in coordinating network opportunities, visits, and meetings; scheduling and facilitating workshops for training small farmers and small-to-medium sized businesses in marketing and business development; and helping entrepreneurs with packaging loan applications and recommending to funding agencies. Possessing knowledge of markets for specific products in North Carolina, the United States, and outside the country as well as knowledge on various import/export regulations and cultures of trading partners is an advantage.

Special Instructions:

You must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application. Applicants seeking Veteran’s Preference must attach a DD 214 form. Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with your application during the process of applying to the job posting. Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. North Carolina A&T State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. North Carolina A&T State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. No one who applies or seeks employment will be denied admission to or employment at North Carolina A&T State University on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disabling condition, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or sexual orientation and sexual identity.

Employee Benefits available to NC A & T permanent employees include the following and more;

• Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave for Eligible Employees

• Community Service Leave

• Aetna – State Health Benefits of North Carolina

• NCFlex – Vision, Dental, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance and more

• 12 Paid Holidays

• Teachers and State Employees Retirement System ( TSERS )

• Optional Supplemental Plans – 401k, 403b, 457b and 457

• Employee Assistance Program ( EAP )

• Campus Recreation Center Discount

• University Bookstore Discount

• and more

This position may be eligible for a remote or hybrid work arrangement, consistent with university and state policies. N.C. A&T employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a 2-hour commuting distance of their assigned duty station.