Position Description

The World Food Policy Center (WFPC) is a research unit situated in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. The WFPC conducts interdisciplinary research in the thematic areas of food policy evaluation, food security, inequality in the food system, and resilient food systems strategies. The center is supported through competitive federal research awards and grants from philanthropic foundations. A grant-funded opening for a Research Scientist is available immediately at the WFPC, located in Durham, NC. This position includes backstop funding for a two-year employment period, with potential to extend dependent on additional research funding.

Occupational Summary

The WFPC seeks a full-time Research Scientist to build out a research portfolio in one or more of the following food policy areas: 1) food and nutrition security; 2) food loss and waste; and/or 3) food and sustainability, broadly defined to include strategies to address the impact of climate change on the food system, and food systems resilience. The successful candidate will deepen and expand existing lines of research, with the opportunity to focus on North Carolina and/or U.S. food systems issues. Position responsibilities include co-teaching an upper-division food policy course and mentoring students.

The candidate will be expected to be available to work on campus in Durham, NC. Hybrid work arrangements may be possible, but there is an expectation of on-campus availability. The WFPC hopes to have the successful candidate in position by the start of the spring 2025 semester. 

Experience

Candidates must have demonstrated experience in food policy research. The WFPC is open to researchers with interests in any of its three policy arenas listed above—preference will not be given to one portfolio over another. What is most critical is that the candidate have an established research history.

Quantitative expertise is preferred. This could include causal inference with surveys methods or secondary data or experimental methods (randomized controlled trials, economic experiments, survey experiments, among others).

Candidates with expertise in qualitative or mixed methods may also be considered provided evidence of a publication record in peer-reviewed academic journals.

Preference will be given to candidates who have gained professional experience in academically oriented research settings after the completion of their PhD, e.g., Post Doc positions or other comparable roles (Research Associate, Research Scientist, etc.). The ideal candidate will have experience with grant proposal development and academic publishing.

Experience in university teaching, preferably both undergraduate and graduate level courses, is a plus.  

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

Conduct research and publish in one or more WFPC priority areas of food and nutrition security, food loss and waste, or food and sustainability. Research may include:

• Design, implementation, and analysis of large-scale, national experimental surveys.
• Evaluation of existing food policy.
  
• Mixed methods research design, incorporating the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
  
• Working with WFPC Research Manager and undergraduate/graduate research assistants.
  

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Lead or contribute to the development of new grant proposals in priority areas emphasizing collaboration with other faculty/units at Duke and beyond, and multidisciplinary inquiry. 
• Co-teach a food policy course with the WFPC Director.
• Engage in robust outreach of research findings, such as developing policy briefs or policy change-focused reports, informing social media outreach, participating in podcast interviews, and developing data visualization/communication appropriate for policy makers, food systems advocates, and the public.  

Minimum Qualifications

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