The Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track Research Assistant Professor position with an expected start date of January 16, 2027. The position will support grant-funded research, applied policy analysis, and market intelligence on U.S. and North Dakota agricultural policy and trade issues. The initial appointment will be for two years with the possibility of extension based on performance and continued availability of external funding. The successful candidate will join a research and outreach program led by Dr. Sandro Steinbach at North Dakota State University and affiliated with the Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies. The position will focus on applied analysis of agricultural trade, commodity market conditions, input market developments, policy changes, and global disruptions that shape opportunities and risks for North Dakota producers and agribusinesses. Work may include analysis of trade measures, tariffs, sanctions, export restrictions, logistics disruptions, exchange-rate movements, fertilizer and energy market conditions, and international supply and demand shocks. The position provides an outstanding opportunity for independent research, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. The Research Assistant Professor is expected to actively participate in the University's intellectual life and contribute to peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, data products, conference presentations, and market intelligence for academic, policy, and stakeholder audiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

Successful applicants must have received a doctoral degree in agricultural economics, applied economics, economics, public policy, or a closely related field, preferably within the last two to three years (or expected before the start date). Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable. Applicants must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills and strong quantitative training. Applicants should have experience with applied microeconometrics, agricultural markets, trade policy analysis, commodity market analysis, or related empirical policy research. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency working with large datasets and strong coding skills in one or more programming languages commonly used for empirical research, such as Python, R, Stata, or similar.

Preferred Qualifications:

Proven record of relevant research publications or strong evidence of an active research pipeline; experience working on agricultural trade, commodity markets, agricultural policy, market intelligence, or producer-relevant policy analysis; familiarity with trade data, customs or value-chain data, commodity price data, farm policy data, high-frequency market data, or other policy and market information systems; experience with causal inference, forecasting, machine learning, spatial or panel data methods, or reproducible data pipelines; interest in U.S., North Dakota, and Northern Plains agriculture; demonstrated ability to work independently and collegially with interdisciplinary teams, commodity organizations, policymakers, Extension professionals, and stakeholder audiences; and interest in producing research outputs that are accessible and usable by researchers, analysts, producers, and policy audiences.

Starting Date:

January 16, 2027, or as negotiated. To apply for the position, upload the following documents:

• Cover letter,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Statement of research interests and how they align with North Dakota agricultural policy, trade, and market intelligence,
• One (or at most two) research papers or job market paper, and
• Names and contact information (including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) for three professional references.

To apply for this position, please upload your materials here. For any inquiries, please contact Dr. Sandro Steinbach at sandro.steinbach@ndsu.edu. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Applications should be received by August 31, 2026 to ensure full consideration for interviews. The position will be open until filled. The successful candidate's employment will be contingent upon completing a pre-employment criminal background check.