Postdoctoral Scholar (Evans Policy Analysis and Research Group)

Position Overview

School / Campus / College: Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Organization: Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Title: Postdoctoral Scholar (Evans Policy Analysis and Research Group)

Position Details

Position Description

The Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, at the University of Washington, invites applications for a non-tenure position as a Postdoctoral Scholar. This is a full-time, twelve-month position with a possible extension dependent upon available funding and satisfactory performance in the role. If reappointed the time in title should not exceed the constraints noted in the union contract section 25.1B.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will work for the Evans School Policy Analysis and Research Group (EPAR) at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. EPAR conducts rigorous interdisciplinary research on a range of topics related to agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including digital financial services, gender, health and nutrition, climate, markets, and development policy and finance. EPAR research streams focus on data and measurement, and we use statistical, spatial, and other analytics and promote open-access tools and programming. For more information about EPAR, please see: https://evans.uw.edu/policy-impact/epar

The Postdoctoral Scholar will provide support on several current contracts that involve constructing agricultural indicators associated with agricultural transformation and small-scale producer climate adaptation. Depending on qualifications and interests, there is a possibility of being engaged in a new interdisciplinary UW Center on Risk and Inclusion (CRIFS), and/or the possibility of supporting our EVITA evaluation grant. Priority skills are proficiency with various forms of survey, spatial, and other forms of data that inform climate and agricultural analysis in low- and middle-income countries, including the LSMS-ISA.

This position may include preparing confidential reports for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, public research briefs and literature reviews, public coding syntax files, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Support for presenting at conferences is available and supporting EPAR’s efforts to move technical reports to publication is a part of the position, though the range of expected activities is broader and includes support and mentoring across a team of graduate students on other EPAR projects.

Specific daily activities might include:

• Curating and analyzing panel socio-economic survey data
• Processing climate data and merging them with socio-economic survey data
• Drafting and collaborating on manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and reports
• Preparing and delivering presentations at academic conferences and stakeholder workshops
• Developing conceptual frameworks and assisting with literature reviews
• Retrieving and conducting text analysis and topic modeling on large sets of regulatory filings, grant documents, and government regulatory and policy documents
• Collaborating with and mentoring graduate student researchers on research and analysis

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in development or agricultural economics or equivalent. Doctoral level training must be completed by December 2022.
• Experience with constructing indicators from raw files using the LSMS-ISA
• Experience with working with climate data, including combining these data with household survey data
• Excellent writing, research, and analysis skills
• Good organizational and project management skills
• Strong statistical/econometric skills
• Experience with Stata and spatial mapping software
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and on research teams
• Strong interest in rural economies in developing countries

Desired Qualifications:

• Training in economics, decision, crop, climate or data science is desirable, particularly if paired with interdisciplinary research experience.
• Other quantitative social scientists are also invited to apply with a background in agriculture, statistics and evaluation. Candidates whose backgrounds or experience have provided them with contextual knowledge of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and/or South Asia are particularly encouraged to apply.

Instructions

Initial review will begin September 10, 2022 and continue until the position is successfully filled. To be considered for this position, please submit the following materials:

1. Cover letter describing your interest in the EPAR Postdoctoral Scholar position, your qualifications for the position, and your professional development goals.
2. Current resume or CV.
3. Three names and contact information for references. At least one reference must be an academic reference from your doctoral dissertation committee. Letters of reference will be requested for short-listed candidates.
4. A recent sole or primary-authored writing sample.
5. Copies of transcripts and/ or proof of academic good standing (transcript of highest degree conferred; proof of academic good standing on official letterhead and signed by graduate program director, advisor, or equivalent).
6. Copies of official GRE score documents if those are not included on your transcript.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Benefits Information

A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).

Privacy Notice

Review the University of Washington Privacy Notice for Demographic Data of Job Applicants and University Personnel to learn how your demographic data are protected, when the data may be used, and your rights.

Disability Services

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Information

Under University of Washington (UW) Policy, University-compensated personnel must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive a UW-approved medical or religious exemption. This requirement will be a condition of any offer associated with this recruitment. For more information, please visit https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/vaccination-requirement/.