Virginia Tech Recruitment 2026 | Research Associate / Scientist in Agricultural Economics & Remote Sensing

Virginia Tech Recruitment 2026 | Research Associate / Scientist in Agricultural Economics & Remote Sensing

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech is inviting applications for the position of Research Associate or Scientist to join an interdisciplinary research team led by Dr. Elinor Benami. The position focuses on the application of agricultural economics, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and geospatial analytics to address challenges in agriculture, insurance, conservation, and environmental policy.

This annually renewable position offers an excellent opportunity to collaborate with leading organizations including NASA Harvest, USDA, the Gates Foundation, and Microsoft AI for Good while contributing to impactful research at the intersection of data science and agriculture.

Position Details

• Institution: Virginia Tech

• Department: Agricultural and Applied Economics

• Position: Research Associate / Scientist

• Research Area: Agricultural Economics, Remote Sensing, AI, Geospatial Analytics

• Location: Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

• Appointment: Annually renewable (subject to continued funding)

• Expected Joining: Summer or Fall 2026

About the Research

The selected candidate will work on interdisciplinary projects that leverage Earth observation and remote sensing technologies to improve:

• Agricultural index insurance design

• Insurance premium estimation

• Conservation agriculture assessment

• Agricultural finance and policy analysis

• Environmental and land-use research

The research integrates economics, AI, geospatial analysis, and sustainability to support evidence-based decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Prepare and analyze geospatial and administrative datasets.

• Apply statistical and causal inference methods to research problems.

• Develop visualizations and communicate research findings.

• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

• Present research to academic, policy, and practitioner audiences.

• Collaborate with government agencies, industry partners, and NGOs.

• Contribute to grant writing and ongoing research projects.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with backgrounds in the following disciplines are encouraged to apply:

• Agricultural Economics

• Applied Economics

• Finance

• Remote Sensing

• Environmental Science

• Earth System Science

• Computational Social Science

• Geography

• Data Science or related quantitative disciplines

Preference will be given to applicants with:

• Experience working with remote sensing data and geospatial analysis.

• Strong quantitative and causal inference skills.

• Interest in applied policy research.

• Knowledge of agricultural markets, agricultural finance, or soil and water conservation policy.

Research Collaborations

The research team collaborates with several renowned organizations, including:

• NASA Harvest

• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• Gates Foundation

• Microsoft AI for Good

• Public agencies, private organizations, and non-governmental organizations

Work Location

• Primary Location: Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

• Occasional domestic and international travel may be required.

• Limited remote work may be permitted through mutual agreement.

Why Join Virginia Tech?

This position provides an exceptional opportunity to work on globally relevant research combining artificial intelligence, remote sensing, economics, and sustainability, while collaborating with internationally recognized research institutions and policy partners.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application through the official Virginia Tech careers portal with all required documents, including a CV, cover letter, and any additional materials specified in the official advertisement.

Official Notification

Applicants are advised to review the complete official recruitment announcement for detailed eligibility criteria, application requirements, appointment terms, and submission instructions before applying through the official Virginia Tech careers website.

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