Sociology Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Department of Sociology at the University of Virginia is seeking to hire a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate to help conduct research associated with the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) . The FLSP is a multi-year program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture that provides cash grants to agricultural employers in exchange for their commitment to (a) participate in a Know Your Rights and Resources (KYRR) training program, and (b) adopt a package of high-road agricultural practices, which include responsible labor recruitment, fair pay, reliable benefits, safe working conditions, and the possibility of organizing employees through either a worker-driven social responsibility program or a union, for both foreign and domestic farmworkers.

Postdoctoral employment is a yearly contract for an individual who has been awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within the previous five years and who will be involved in full-time research or scholarship at the University. Employment as a postdoctoral research associate is viewed as training and is preparatory for a full-time academic or research career, is supervised by a senior scholar, and allows the appointee to publish the results of their research or scholarship during the training period.

Duties

Duties include spending time in the field collecting and collating qualitative data, as well as drafting required deliverables and academic publications based on data collected. Under the supervision of lead researchers (Dr. Jennifer Bair and Dr. Adam Slez) and in collaboration with partner organizations, the postdoctoral research associate will focus on work that addresses knowledge gaps in the US agricultural labor workforce. All members of the team participate in regular team meetings, policy research, and support the planning and execution of fieldwork trips as well as a series of project-related summits and events. The postdoctoral research associate will be expected to engage with graduate students and research assistants as needed.

In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Requirements
Education: Doctoral degree by the start of the position, anticipated to be June 2025.

Preferred Qualifications

A PhD in Sociology or related field (Economics, Politics, Anthropology). The candidate will demonstrate evidence of high-level language fluency in Spanish (capable of conducting extensive qualitative interviews in Spanish), experience with qualitative techniques (such as qualitative interviewing and analysis), and expertise in labor, migration, agricultural policy, political economy, supply chains, global governance and/or regulation.

The ideal candidate will have experience conducting research with vulnerable populations, comfort working (and conducting research) in rural settings, and experience mentoring and managing graduate and undergraduate research assistants.

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs as well as to conduct research.

Application Instructions: Apply Now . Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile, search Find Jobs and then R0068086. Complete an application online and include the following documents:

• A CV/resume
  
• A cover letter
  

All documents can be loaded into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For questions about the application process, please contact Margaret Weeks , Academic Recruiter. Before a formal offer of employment is extended, the selected candidate will undergo a background check per university policy.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.