Principal Economist – Commodity Markets and Policy Analysis

The Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC) at North Dakota State University invites applications for a career-track position as Principal Economist, Commodity Markets and Policy Analysis. This appointment offers an exciting opportunity for an individual passionate about advancing applied agricultural policy research and strengthening the Center’s analytical capacity in market disruption analysis, agricultural trade, commodity markets, and policy evaluation. The successful candidate will contribute to ARPC’s mission by producing timely, rigorous, and policy-relevant research and applied market analysis that informs agricultural policy in the United States, particularly during periods of market stress and disruption.

The Principal Economist will work closely with ARPC Leadership to shape the strategic direction of the Center’s market disruption research agenda. This collaborative role involves identifying emerging market risks, developing empirically grounded research projects, and generating evidence on how trade policy, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical shocks, input cost pressures, and other market disturbances affect producers, agribusinesses, and rural communities. The successful candidate’s contributions will be integral to the Center’s mission to inform U.S. agricultural policy with data-driven insights relevant to stakeholders and decision-makers.

A vital part of this position is collaborating closely with the ARPC Leadership to design and execute projects on agricultural trade, commodity market volatility, policy responses to market disruptions, and related issues in applied agricultural economics. The successful candidate will lead peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, stakeholder reports, presentations, and other research products that translate rigorous empirical analysis into practical guidance for policymakers, industry leaders, commodity organizations, and producer groups. In this role, the successful candidate will help bridge the gap between high-quality academic research and the urgent policy questions facing agriculture in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

The successful candidate will provide leadership in economic modeling, impact assessment, and collaborative project development, while contributing to a supportive environment that encourages high-quality applied policy research. The successful candidate will also mentor junior staff and students, help develop externally funded projects, and support the long-term growth of ARPC initiatives in market disruption analysis. This position offers a unique opportunity for a motivated individual to expand the reach and relevance of ARPC’s work through impactful research at the intersection of agricultural policy, commodity markets, trade, and economic resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Help shape ARPC’s research strategy on commodity markets, market disruptions, agricultural trade, and related policy issues in collaboration with Center leadership
• Lead applied research on commodity markets, trade, supply chain resilience, price volatility, and other emerging challenges affecting U.S. agriculture
• Design and conduct empirical analyses using appropriate quantitative methods, economic models, and market, trade, farm-level, and policy data
• Produce timely and policy-relevant research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, technical reports, market intelligence reports, presentations, and extension-style publications
• Monitor developments in commodity markets, trade policy, input costs, and other economic shocks, and translate those developments into actionable analysis for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and producers
• Build and sustain interdisciplinary collaborations, external partnerships, and stakeholder engagement to enhance the relevance, visibility, and impact of ARPC research
• Support the development of externally funded research projects and contribute to the long-term growth of ARPC’s research initiatives

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in agricultural economics, economics, or a closely related field by the start date. Alternatively, candidates with a master’s degree and at least five years of professional experience conducting applied economic analysis in agricultural policy, commodity markets, agribusiness, or related sectors may be considered
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated expertise in agricultural commodity markets, agricultural policy, agricultural trade, market disruptions, price analysis, economic modeling, impact assessment, or closely related areas
• Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively convey research results to academic, policy, and stakeholder audiences
• Experience producing extension publications, market outlook reports, commodity market commentary, or other applied research products targeted to producers, commodity organizations, or policymakers
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary, policy-oriented research environment and to provide leadership in applied research initiative

Preferred Qualifications:

• A record of peer-reviewed publications, policy reports, extension publications, market analyses, or related outputs in agricultural economics, trade, commodity markets, risk management, or closely related fields
• Familiarity with U.S. agricultural policy frameworks, trade policy, market assistance programs, and agricultural risk management strategies
• Demonstrated experience analyzing agricultural commodity markets, price dynamics, supply chains, or trade flows affecting U.S. agriculture and translating those analyses into applied policy or market intelligence outputs
• Experience using modern computational tools, including AI-assisted coding tools, large language models, or automated data workflows, to support economic modeling, market monitoring, and applied policy analysis
• Candidates with experience producing applied commodity market analysis or extension-style economic publications are especially encouraged to apply