Food Systems Resource Economics Fellow

The Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy (ENRLP) Program at Stanford Law School and the Climate and Energy Policy Program (CEPP) at Stanford's Woods Institute for the Environment within the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability invite applications for a Food Systems Resource Economics Fellow. The research fellow will join a thriving team based at the Law School, reporting to ENRLP and CEPP leadership.

This full-time fellowship is crafted for early-career scholars with a strong interest in the economics of domestic food systems, agricultural sector pollution, and related policy issues. The fellow will join our growing Sustainable and Humane Food Systems initiative, which is dedicated to promoting a sustainable, humane, and climate-friendly modern food system. The initiative focuses on policy-informed research and regulatory/legislative processes to improve outcomes for animals, the environment, and agriculturalists in California and beyond. It builds on Stanford's track record of policy engagement and deep partnerships with community and policy stakeholders. We engage directly with external partners in government, industry, and the non-profit sector to provide high-quality, balanced, and practical policy analysis and academic research to support evidence-based food and climate policy.

The fellow will develop research and analysis to evaluate and quantify implicit, explicit, direct, and indirect subsidies for meat and dairy production in the U.S. and will assist with a comparative analysis of alternative protein sources. We seek a natural resources or agricultural economist with a focus on industrial organization for agricultural markets (we prefer experience in R and/or Python). A background in statistical analysis and machine learning is a plus. Ideally, this candidate will be proficient in causal inference and advanced econometrics. This position will begin Fall 2025.

Applicants should have:

• A Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in economics, natural resource economics, environmental economics, agricultural economics, resource economics, applied economics, or similar field
• Strong academic credentials, excellent writing and editing abilities, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and a collaborative spirit
• A commitment to community engagement and service
• Strong organizational/management skills, attention to detail, self-motivation, and aptitude for working with students and diverse policy stakeholders
• Sound judgment and exceptional ethical standards in serving as a trusted source for evidence-based analysis and policy engagement
• Experience working with large databases
• Experience with machine learning methods
• Experience working across disciplines with subject matter experts to create actionable outputs

Applicants should submit a cover letter summarizing their interest in this position and relevant experience, a resume, a writing sample, a list of three professional references, and a transcript through http://stanfordcareers.stanford.edu/, referencing job number 106903. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible and will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

This position is for a one-year fixed term, with possibility for renewal. The fellow is expected to work primarily in person at Stanford Law School in order to interact with team members and graduate students.

The expected salary range for this position is $72,000 - $80,000 per annum.