Agricultural Systems Economist

Applications Close : 12 January 2025

Job Description

We are currently seeking a motivated Research Scientist to work at the intersection between biology, farming systems science and economics, within CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food research unit. This is a 3 year specified term, located at Black Mountain, Canberra.   

As the Agricultural Economist, you will work within the Sustainable Disease Management team with the A&F Systems Program.  The Program delivers science that underpins the ongoing productivity and sustainability of Australia’s agricultural industry.

In this position, you will lead and conduct original research across multiple projects to quantify the economic value of integrated pest and disease management strategies in Australian farming systems. You will also contribute to the development of qualitative socio-economic studies investigating barriers and enablers to the uptake of more sustainable crop management tools and practices. You will act as lead economist on a multidisciplinary, externally funded project (Pest READi).

Your duties will include:

• Provide quantitative and qualitative economic skills to inform the development of a digital pest management platform.
• Apply economic approaches to be used:
  • indirectly, by researching the opportunities for digital tools to be developed to assist stakeholders at multiple levels in the system, particularly in cases where (pest) risks are high and preparedness is low; and
  • directly, through encompassing economic modelling to quantify the economic benefits, particularly of more sustainable pest management practices, as a component of the digital tool itself. 
• Develop an agro-economic model to assess the costs and benefits of the deployment of disease resistant but yield limited cotton varieties.
• Lead the development of a conceptual and analytical framework to understand barriers and enablers to the uptake of sustainable, integrated pest and disease management strategies in Australian farming systems. 
• Other duties as directed.

Required Skills

• A doctorate in a relevant discipline area, such as Agricultural Economics, Resource Economics, and Economics with a strong research focus on Agricultural production and productivity.
• Demonstrated skills in data management, experimental design and quasi-experimental design, including proficiency in economic modelling using at least one programming language (e.g. Stata, R).
• Demonstrated understanding of links between natural environments (e.g. pests, diseases, climate and weather) and agricultural production, productivity and farm efficiency.
• Strong knowledge of quantitative data analysis, modelling and interpretation of economic data using advanced econometric approaches.
• Demonstrated experience in publishable systematic literature review (e.g., Meta-analysis).  
• Strong knowledge of quantitative analysis of large farm-level datasets, modelling and interpretation of economic data using advanced econometric approaches.
• A demonstrated understanding of economic methods and their application to agricultural or environmental problems with a particular focus on modelling the micro-level impacts of agricultural innovations.
• High level written and oral communication skills with the ability to represent the research team effectively internally and externally, including the presentation of research outcomes at national and international conferences, and a proven track record of publishing research findings.
• The motivation and discipline to carry out autonomous research demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed agricultural and applied economics journals. 
• A record of science innovation and creativity, including the ability & willingness to incorporate novel ideas and approaches into scientific investigations.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description

For more information about this role, click here.