Postdoctoral Research Associate - Natural Resource Analysis Center - School of Natural Resources and the Environment

About the role

The Natural Resource Analysis Center (NRAC) at West Virginia University (WVU) seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to support interdisciplinary research focused on land-use change, sustainable agriculture, land management, spatial analysis, regional development, and environmental sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interdisciplinary research related to land-use change, agricultural sustainability, natural resource management, and regional development.
• Apply GIS, spatial analysis, and statistical methods to evaluate environmental and socioeconomic drivers of landscape change.
• Aid in developing externally funded research proposals to federal agencies, foundations, and other funding organizations.
• Publish research findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaborate with NRAC faculty and external partners on applied natural resource projects.
• Develop and manage large spatial, environmental, and socioeconomic datasets.
• Support research initiatives related to land conservation, farmland abandonment, carbon management, rural revitalization, and sustainable development.
• Assist with outreach and engagement activities involving state and federal agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research projects.
• Participate in interdisciplinary research teams across WVU and collaborating institutions.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. in Land Management, Natural Resource Management, Geography, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Science, Regional Planning, Sustainability Science, or a closely related field is required.
• Demonstrated research experience in land-use and land-cover change, land management, agricultural sustainability, resource economics, or related areas.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Experience with GIS and spatial analysis software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, R, Python).
• Record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary research teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting spatial analyses of environmental and socioeconomic systems.
• Expertise in land economics, land governance, cadastral systems, policy analysis, or regional development.
• Experience working with large geospatial and survey datasets.
• Knowledge of sustainability assessment, carbon accounting, or agricultural resource management.
• Experience securing or supporting externally funded research projects.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor students and collaborate across disciplines.
• International research experience or collaborative research networks.
• Research Areas of Interest: Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas are especially encouraged to apply:
• Land-use and land-cover change modeling
• Agricultural sustainability
• Farmland abandonment and preservation
• Land economics and land policy
• Natural resource planning
• Carbon emissions and climate mitigation
• Regional economic development
• Land governance and cadastral systems
• Sustainable rural development
• GIS and spatial decision support systems

Application Instructions

To apply, please visit https://careers.wvu.edu/career-opportunities. Upload the following:

1. Cover letter describing research interests and qualifications.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Statement of research accomplishments and future research goals.
4. Contact information for three professional references; and
5. Representative publications or writing samples.

The screening process will begin immediately and continue through December 31, 2026. For further information, please contact Michael Strager at mstrager@mail.wvu.edu.