Faculty Associate in the Sociology of Agriculture and Food Systems Part-Time

About the role

The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is seeking a Scientist III to work within the Soil Health and Agroecological Living Lab (SHALL) in the Department of Community and Environmental Sociology. This 50% FTE position focuses on a major food-is-medicine (FIM) project, leading efforts to develop a fully integrated approach to FIM, linking farmers with eaters via supply chains for nutritious food.

Responsibilities

• Monitors program budget and approves unit expenditures
• Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials, and disseminates information to appropriate entities
• Conducts and manages community-based research
• Identifies research problems and develops highly complex research methodologies and procedures
• Publishes and presents results to help advance research
• Identifies, writes, or assists in developing grant opportunities, grant applications, and proposals to secure research funding
• May supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit and staff and resolve routine personnel issues
• Assists in the supervision of undergraduate and graduate researchers
• Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information
• Serves as an institutional subject matter expert and liaison with key internal and external stakeholders providing expert-level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area
• Collects and analyzes highly complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional experience in the social dimensions of agroecology, focusing on community-based and participatory action research, supply-chain development, and community collaboration
• At least 3 years of experience with organizing the logistics of local food supply and procurement
• Demonstrated experience in public scholarship in pursuit of the Wisconsin Idea through publications and presentations
• Demonstrated experience in implementing grants in the agroecology sector, including administration and data management
• Demonstrated expertise in community-based and participatory action social science research methods, with the ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in mixed methods projects
• Experience working in the livestock and vegetable sectors across the supply chain, from farm to retail
• Ability to effectively liaise and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders

Qualifications

A PhD in Sociology, Environmental Sociology, or closely related discipline, with an emphasis on agriculture and multifunctionality is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five years of practical experience in farming
• A working knowledge of the context of Wisconsin agriculture
• Experience working with collaborative landscape design
• Experience working with cooperative models of agroecological development, such as food hubs

Benefits

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Additional benefits information can be found at https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf

Pay

The minimum salary for this position is $80,000. However, final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Normal hours are 7:45am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. This is a 50% FTE position.