Auburn University

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology
Assistant Professor of Production Econometrics

The Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology (DAERS) in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University is seeking an Assistant Professor in Production Econometrics to join a diverse environment of high-quality scholars dedicated to the discovery, education, and application of research-based knowledge. This position is a 9-month tenure-track, academic-year appointment with an allocation of 40% teaching and 60% research, as well as service to the Department, College, and University. The expected start date is August 1, 2022. Current assistant professors are also eligible to apply, and negotiations over shortened tenure and promotion schedules are possible.

Responsibilities:
Research: The successful candidate will develop an active, innovative, and externally funded research program that focuses on the application of big data to agricultural production problems using econometrics, machine learning, or other advanced analytic techniques. A substantive portion of this research will focus on applying valid underlying economic models to give actionable advice to farmers. Providing information on innovative solutions to agricultural data management will be important. Collaboration with faculty and professionals across the College of Agriculture is expected. This position will contribute to the strategic vision of the University and College through excellence in graduate education, innovative partnerships, community engagement, entrepreneurship, and world-class research efforts.

Teaching: The teaching load for this position is three courses per year. Courses include a master’s level applied econometrics and a master’s level operations research, which focuses on applied optimization methods. The third course will depend on candidate interests/preparation, and it will be at the undergraduate or graduate level in advanced database management, production economics, or quantitative methods. Courses are subject to change based on Department needs.

Qualifications:
Ph.D. in applied economics, agribusiness, agricultural economics, economics, business economics, or a closely related field at the time employment begins. Successful candidates are expected to have demonstrated excellence, or the potential for excellence, in research and have a dedicated interest in high quality teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Candidates must also meet United States work eligibility requirements at the time the appointment begins and maintain eligibility throughout the term of employment.
Application: To be considered for the position, visit the online application system at https://www.auemployment.com/postings/24948 and attach the following:
1. Cover letter that addresses teaching philosophy and research plans
2. Current curriculum vitae (CV)
3. A “job market” paper such as a piece of original research (published or unpublished) that demonstrates the candidate’s training, skills, and aptitude
4. Diversity statement
5. Unofficial copies of all academic transcripts
6. Contact information for three (3) professional references (letters of recommendation will be requested for shortlisted candidates).

Only complete applications will be considered. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2021 and may continue until the position is filled. Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Adam Rabinowitz, Search Committee Chair, Email: adam.rabinowitz@auburn.edu.
The University: The University is an R1 land-grant institution organized into twelve academic colleges and schools. Auburn is ranked 40th among public universities in the U.S. News and World 2021 Report. For 2020, 24,505 undergraduates, 6,232 graduate, and professional students were enrolled. The University is nationally recognized for its academic excellence, commitments to community engagement, positive work environment, flourishing student life programs, and beautiful campus.
Auburn maintains high levels of research activity and high standards for teaching excellence, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, Educational Specialist, and Doctor’s degrees in agriculture and engineering, the professions, and the arts and sciences. There are 1,450 faculty members who offer more than 200 educational programs. Auburn University is understanding of and sensitive to the family needs of faculty, including dual-career couples. To learn more about the University, please visit: http://www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/facultyjobs/.

The Department: Discovering and transmitting socio-economic knowledge to students, Alabama, and the world is our mission. As a multidisciplinary department, 14 faculty members are agricultural economists and 2 are rural sociologists. This includes a mix of research, teaching, and extension appointments to achieve the department’s mission in conjunction with other university departments, industry, and organizations. With retirements, there has been an opportunity to hire 5 new tenure-track faculty in the past 1.5 years. New faculty are offered competitive start-up packages, have access to state funded graduate students, and internal grant competitions from the Alabama Experiment Station. Faculty and students publish in top journals in their respective disciplines. The Department has excellent facilities, an experimental economics laboratory, over 150 undergraduate students and about 30 M.S. and Ph.D. students. The department website can be accessed at: http://aers.auburn.edu/. A department facilities video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33zsIh31r40.

The Community: Auburn is recognized as one of America’s best small towns with a moderate climate and easy access to major cities, beaches and mountains. The city is situated along the rapidly developing I-85 Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama corridor. The combined Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Statistical Area boasts a growing population of over 160,000. The City of Auburn grew 43% in the past decade and is known for an excellent public school system and a local medical center acknowledged as among the best in the region. The City of Auburn website has information on the community and services that can be accessed at: https://www.auburnalabama.org/.

Auburn University is an EEO/Vet/Disability Employer