Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Finance

Proposed Minimum Salary

$5,981.25 monthly

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

What We Want

We are looking for an ambitious researcher who is passionate about developing a successful academic career and contributing to cutting-edge research in finance and economics. The ideal candidate is eager to collaborate on projects examining how federal investments in research and development influence firm innovation, performance, and economic outcomes. They possess strong analytical and communication skills, a commitment to rigorous research standards, and the ability to translate complex findings into high-quality scholarly work. This position offers an exceptional opportunity for a researcher seeking to build a strong publication pipeline, collaborate with leading scholars, and enhance their competitiveness for future faculty and research appointments.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will work with Dr. Andrew Fieldhouse and Dr. Adam Kolasinski (Adam C. Sinn '00 Department of Finance, Texas A&M University) using restricted-use U.S. Census Bureau firm microdata under approved Census Project TX03195.

What You Need to Know

Salary: $5981.25/monthly.

Cover Letter & Resume: A cover letter and resume will assist us in our review of your application materials. These can be uploaded on the application under CV/Resume. 

Other Requirements and Factors:

• The Postdoctoral Research Associate is a 15-month appointment on a funded research project measuring the firm-level effects of federal contract R&D.
• May have to work on weekends and/or after normal hours.
• Funded conference travel is budgeted for presenting the project's papers; may travel as needed.
• This position requires Special Sworn Status (SSS) with the U.S. Census Bureau for work in the Texas Federal Statistical Research Data Center (TXRDC) on the Texas A&M University campus. Candidates who already hold SSS are strongly preferred. All SSS applicants, regardless of citizenship, must have lived in the United States or its territories for 36 of the past 60 months and must pass a federal background investigation. Candidates without SSS will begin the application process as early as possible, potentially before their start date and from their home institution; clearance typically takes about three months, and longer for foreign nationals. Work during that period (code development, literature review, and drafting papers in shared Overleaf projects) does not require TXRDC access and may be performed remotely, subject to university approval, allowing flexibility in timing the move to College Station.
• SSS holders take a lifetime oath to protect the confidentiality of Census Bureau data, including commingled Federal Tax Information; unauthorized disclosure is punishable under Title 13 and Title 26 of the U.S. Code by fines of up to $250,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• PhD in economics or finance, completed or expected to be completed by the start date.
• No prior experience required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Special Sworn Status with the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Prior experience with restricted-use Census Bureau or Internal Revenue Service data.
• Prior experience with firm-level microdata such as BRDIS, SIRD, RADS, or Compustat.
• Research interests in innovation, corporate finance, public economics, or macroeconomics.
• A record of research output, or clear evidence of potential, at the level expected for placement in a research-active department.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong applied micro econometrics, particularly panel instrumental variables and two-stage least squares designs.
• Comfort building and working with large administrative and firm-level datasets.
• Advanced coding skills in Stata or a comparable statistical package such as SAS, R, or Python.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to draft publication-quality text.
• Understanding of, or willingness to learn, Census disclosure avoidance rules and the data. stewardship requirements for Title 13 and Title 26 data.
• Strong attention to detail and high ethical standards.
• Ability to work independently and think critically.
• Consistency maintaining integrity and trust in all professional interactions.
• Exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Essential Duties/Tasks

Research Projects

• Conduct empirical analysis in the TXRDC under approved Census Project TX03195
• Construct or revise firm-level panels linking federal contract R&D to self-funded R&D, patenting, profitability, market share, and stock returns
• Implement the econometric designs, including panel instrumental variables and two-stage least squares estimation, and separate direct effects from spillovers
• Prepare and submit Census disclosure avoidance requests, and respond to Disclosure Review Board feedback
• Retrieve and keep detailed records of data used in research, and maintain replicable code
• Evaluate and summarize estimation results

Writing and Dissemination

• Coauthor papers targeting the top finance and economics journals
• Present results at academic conferences and seminars
• Contribute to project reporting for the funding agency
• Support faculty with short-term research-related tasks.
• These may include, but are not limited to:
  • data retrieval
  • literature reviews
  • paper editing
  • mentoring junior research staff

Who We Are 

Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School is a vibrant learning organization of more than 175 faculty members, 125 staff members, and 6,400 undergraduate and graduate students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing, and supply chain management. Mays Business School’s vision is building a better future through business. To fulfill this vision, our mission is developing leaders of character who make a positive difference in the communities where they live, work, and serve. 

Adam C. Sinn ’00 Department of Finance 

As one of the country’s top finance departments, our goal is to provide students with the theoretical and empirical tools necessary to achieve high levels of expertise in all areas of finance. Our graduates are well prepared to work in both private and public sectors. 

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.  

• Medical,prescription drug,dental,vision,life and AD&D,flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays  

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month 

• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more  

• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee 

• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Our Commitment 

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents& lived experience. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. 

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.  

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.