Assistant Professor & E. Koller Chair in Agricultural Management Information Systems

About the Job

This is a tenure track, nine-month, 100% time (50% research and 50% teaching) position. The Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota provides resident teaching, outreach, and extension programs on agricultural business management, including finance, marketing, production, and policy. The department houses several research, outreach, and extension centers including the Center for Farm Financial Management (CFFM), which provides software tools, online benchmarking databases, and online and in-person educational programs to farmers, lenders, and other agricultural professionals.

The Department aims to build on its strengths in these areas by hiring an assistant professor dedicated to developing research, teaching, and outreach programs that enhance the profitability, sustainability, and resilience of farms and the businesses that support them.

We welcome applicants pursuing innovative research agendas in the areas that include, but are not limited to:

• Develop AI-powered management information systems to assist farmers and agribusinesses in making real-time decisions, such as crop selection, input purchasing, risk management, marketing channels, machine and natural capital investments, and ecosystem service provision.
• Investigate the economic impact of digital technologies on farm profitability, resilience, and sustainability through the measurement, recording, and verification of crop and livestock health, and natural capital and ecosystem services.
• Investigate how farmers, agricultural professionals, and supporting businesses utilize digital tools to design more effective financial decision aids and policy interventions.
• Investigate the impacts of technological changes on agri-food value chains and global agricultural trade.

Primary Responsibilities

• Research:
  Develop a nationally or internationally recognized research program in agricultural and food economics. Publish in leading peer-reviewed journals, secure external funding, and advise graduate and undergraduate research.
• Teaching:
  Teach undergraduate courses in farm management, managerial economics, agribusiness finance, or commodity marketing. Teach a graduate-level course in microeconomic theory or applied econometrics. The typical teaching load is 2-4 courses per academic year (6-9 credit hours), averaging 3 courses or 8 credit hours annually. Candidates are encouraged to develop new courses aligned with their expertise, particularly in big data management and analysis, data visualization, or machine learning applications in agriculture.
• Engagement:
  Collaborate with agricultural and food communities, public and policy leaders in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, nationally, or internationally to ensure research relevance and societal impact. Engage with departmental centers (e.g., CFFM and Nat Cap TEEMs) and interdisciplinary research teams to advance programming, teaching, and research, and develop grant proposals.
• Service:
  Contribute to efforts fostering inclusive excellence in the Department, College, University, and profession at large.

Anticipated Starting Date

• September 1, 2026

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in agricultural economics, applied economics, economics, or related discipline by date of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Rigorous training in applied microeconomic theory and applied econometrics.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct high-quality research with potential for publication in top field journals and leading general interest journals in economics and science.
• Evidence of or potential for effective undergraduate and graduate teaching.
• Evidence of exemplary communication skills for professional and non-professional audiences.
• Experience with large data management, visualization, and analysis methods.
• Experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning methods.
• Experience working with business, community organizations, government agencies, or industry.
• Experience with internet-based learning management systems such as Canvas.
• Experience delivering online or hybrid lectures or seminars.
• Commitment to working collaboratively with faculty peers and advisees.
• Experience securing or working on…