PostdoctoralFellow in Small Business Development   
Divisionof Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources 
OklahomaState University - Stillwater, Oklahoma  The Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma StateUniversity invites applications for a for a full-time, temporary Postdoctoral Research position. The position will receivesupport from a $500K grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration and willwork in a multidisciplinary team to help develop and implement the "OklahomaRural E-Commerce Academy" initiative. The position is an opportunity to acquireexpertise in outreach and engagement, as well as applied social scienceresearch and carries the expectation of excellence in Extension and researchcommensurate with the land grant mission of Oklahoma State University. Pleasesee https://extension.okstate.edu/articles/2024/rural-digital-retail.html for more informationabout the project and grant funding.



Position Description 

The successful candidateis expected to (a) travel to locations withinOklahoma to assist grantpersonnel with the development and execution of the Oklahoma Rural
E-CommerceAcademy program (b) engage with rural retailers through interviews and focus groupsessions to identify individual needs and challenges (c) help organize andimplement workshops, webinars, and in-person meetings/trainings targeted toassist rural retailers (d) collect and analyze quantitative data (e.g., laborstatistics and economic
indicators)and qualitative data (e.g., surveys and interviews/focus groups) related todigital retail and rural development (e) collaborate toward producinghigh-quality academic research papers that will be submitted to peer-reviewedjournals and presented at relevant academic conferences.



Qualifications 

The candidate must holda Ph.D. in applied economics, public policy, retail management, or any similarbusiness or entrepreneurship-related fields. Consideration will also be givento doctoral students with planned completion dates before the start of theposition.  Applicants need to demonstrate interest ingaining insights into the effectiveness ofdigital retailing and marketing tools for rural businesses in Oklahoma. They must have an understanding of basic statistical andquantitative methods (e.g., data cleaning and regression analysis) and strongqualitative research skills (e.g., focus groups and in-depth interviews). Preferencewill be given to those individuals with strong verbal and written communicationskills. It is important to be able to engage effectively with diversestakeholders, including business owners, community leaders, and residents. Creativedesign and implementation capabilities for workshops and e-commerce traininginitiatives are expected. A valid driver's license and the capacity to drive upto 3 hours one-way to reach rural Oklahoma communities is required. Apersonal vehicle is preferred with reimbursement for mileage, but campus fleetvehicles are also available for all program-related travel.



Employment Conditions 
This position is to be filled by August 1, 2024. The position is an 11-month,non-tenure track position. The salary for this post-doctoral fellow position will be up to$75,000 per year, plus benefits (excludes retirement; compensation iscommensurate with experience and qualifications).  There are lots of greatreasons to work at OSU.  Check outour competitive benefits and eligibility at https://hr.okstate.edu/prospective-ee.html.  Grant funds are alsoavailable for travel to meet with rural retailers and present at 1-2conferences. Post doc appointments are made for a term of one year or less.Reappointments for a total period of not more than three years may be made.
 

About the Department 

The Department ofAgricultural Economics consists of 30 tenure and non-tenure track faculty, twoarea agricultural economists, one post-doctoral fellow and three extensionspecialists. Ten tenured faculty currently hold endowed chair or professorpositions. The County Government Training Program resides in the departmentwith ten professional staff members. Over 570 undergraduate students havemajors in Agricultural Economics or Agribusiness. Approximately 50 Ph.D., M.S.and M. of Ag. students are in the department. The department has a strongcommitment to excellence in teaching, research, and extension. For moreinformation about the department go to https://agriculture.okstate.edu/departments-programs/agecon/

 
Application 

Formal applications are viaelectronic submission at https://jobs.okstate.edu; search for req17204. To apply,candidates should submit: (a) a letter of application describing how theiracademic preparation-including research, teaching, and outreachexperiences-qualifies them for this postdoctoral position; (b) curriculumvitae; and (c) names and contact information of three professional references.Questions can be directed to Dr. Andrew Van Leuven (andrew.vanleuven@okstate.edu). For best/full consideration, please submit allmaterials by April 1, 2024. Review of applications will begin April 15, 2024and will continue until suitable candidates are selected.  To learn more about OSU Agriculture and Stillwater, visit thesewebsites. 
https://agriculture.okstate.edu
https://agresearch.okstate.edu  
https://extension.okstate.edu  
https://www.okstate.edu  
https://www.visitstillwater.org  
https://www.stillwaterchamber.org  
 

Equal Employment Opportunity 
Oklahoma State University,as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal andstate laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action.  Oklahoma StateUniversity is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individualsand does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, nationalorigin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression,disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programsand activities, and/or admissions.  For more information, visit https:///eeo.okstate.edu