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Neonicotinoids (a class of systemic insecticides) have been a critical component of insect management in potato production in the United States since the mid-1990s. However, neonicotinoids have come under increasing scrutiny because of their unintended effects on non-target organisms, especially pollinators. Given possible restrictions of neonicotinoids for U.S. potato production, understanding how growers make decisions during times of regulatory uncertainty is key to designing effective, environmentally sustainable alternatives.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate (Social Scientist) will explore the factors that affect U.S. potato growers’ pest management decisions, the barriers and bridges to transitioning from seed-applied neonicotinoids to alternative (often information-intensive) practices, and the impacts of such transitions on growers, the potato industry, and society in general. This work is part of a large, multi-institutional, multidisciplinary project (“Enhancing Integrated Insect Pest Management Strategies for U.S. Potato Production Systems”) funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI).

The Postdoctoral Research Associate in Social Science will work as part of the Socioeconomic Working Group headed by Dr. Katherine Dentzman (Rural Sociologist) in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences . The successful candidate will be willing to travel out of state, with the possibility of overnight stays. The position is a 12-month, full-time position.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D. in rural sociology, sociology, or a closely related social science field by hire date

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of high-quality publications and presentations.

• Experience working in large, multidisciplinary research/outreach teams.

• Familiarity with specialty crop production and/or insect management decision-making.

• Experience with qualitative research methods, survey design, management, and data analysis.

Experience in agriculture, farmer decision-making, diffusion of innovations, environmental impacts of agriculture, and/or sustainability.

Department Unit/Website:

https://soc-cj.iastate.edu/

https://www.cals.iastate.edu/

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