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Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Agricultural and Applied Economics

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 10, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell us about your research on U.S. energy markets. What is the main question you are trying to answer?

What they are checking: Whether they have a focused, high-quality research agenda in the area the department is hiring for.

Tell us about a time someone strongly disagreed with your findings. How did you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they engage disagreement openly and with evidence, which fits the stated goal of intellectual diversity.

How would you advise a graduate student who wants to work on energy markets?

What they are checking: Mentoring readiness, which is part of a faculty role in a doctoral program.

What are your next two or three papers, and where do you plan to publish them?

What they are checking: Whether their research pipeline supports tenure or promotion at a leading economics department.

What would you do

How would you teach an undergraduate course on energy economics to students with mixed political views?

What they are checking: Ability to teach evenhandedly and support the healthy civil discourse the posting mentions.

What public engagement have you done, and how would you share your research with policymakers in Wisconsin?

What they are checking: Ability to contribute to the department's public engagement mission.

About the work

How does your work speak to free-market mechanisms, market liberalization or competition?

What they are checking: Fit with the university-wide cohort theme that this position is part of.

Walk us through the identification strategy in your strongest paper.

What they are checking: Rigor in empirical methods, which a top applied economics department will probe closely.

How do you think about the role of policy in shaping private-sector behavior in electricity or natural gas markets?

What they are checking: Depth on the specific policy question the posting highlights.

What data sources do you rely on, and how would you get access to new ones from utilities or regulators?

What they are checking: Practical research skills, since energy market work often depends on hard-to-get data.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Job Category: Faculty Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Professor Job Summary: The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks applications for a full‑time, 9-month, open rank faculty position (tenured or tenure‑track). We invite scholars with a Ph.D. in Economics, Agricultural Economics, or Applied Economics whose research centers on U.S. energy markets. The position will contribute to a University-wide cohort of new faculty specializing in either (1) the foundations of Western thought or (2) free-market solutions to societal challenges. As such, we seek candidates with a strong emphasis on free‑market mechanisms, market liberalization, competition, and the role of policy in shaping private-sector behavior. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an outstanding research record or exceptional research potential, a commitment to high-quality teaching, the capacity to contribute to UW-Madison’s mission as a leading center for economic research and public engagement, and to advance our University’s commitment to intellectual diversity and healthy civil discourse. Key Job Responsibilities: Research Responsibilities The successful candidate is expected to develop and maintain a rigorous, externally funded and visible research agenda that advances understanding of U.S. energy markets and resources including electricity, oil, natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind and emerging energy technologies through the lens of market-based frameworks. Relevant areas may include, but are not limited to: • Market structure, competition, and deregulation in energy industries, • Price formation, volatility, and investment incentives in competitive energy markets, • The interaction between environmental/energy policy and market behavior, • Private-sector innovation and entrepreneurial responses to energy transitions, • Regional and national energy market integration and transmission policy. Teaching Responsibilities Teaching duties will include undergraduate and graduate courses in energy economics, natural resource economics, institutional economics, and/or related fields aligned with the candidate’s expertise. The successful candidate will supervise Ph.D. dissertations; mentor students pursuing careers in academia, government, and industry; and contribute to curriculum development in areas connected to energy and environmental markets. Excellence in teaching and a demonstrated commitment to inclusive and effective instruction are expected. Service and Engagement Responsibilities The position includes service to the department, college, and university appropriate to rank. The successful candidate is expected to engage in outreach and policy discussions at the regional or national level, fostering dialogue regarding the operation, design, and performance of U.S. energy markets, including the role of market mechanisms, market liberalization, competition, and policy in shaping private-sector behavior. Meaningful engagement with research centers, interdisciplinary initiatives, or industry partners is welcomed. Department: Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences ( https://aae.wisc.edu/ ) Compensation: Negotiable ACADEMIC (9 months) Required Qualifications: Successful candidates will have a record of or demonstrate potential for: • Research in energy and natural resource economics and policy centering on U.S. energy markets, with a strong emphasis on free‑market mechanisms, market liberalization, competition, and the role of policy in shaping private-sector behavior. • Publishing in leading peer‑reviewed journals. • Securing competitive external funding. • Excellence in teaching and a demonstrated commitment to inclusive and effective instruction. • Graduate student training/mentoring. • Commitment to academic service, public engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional integrity. • Strong communication and collaboration skills. Applicants at any rank are encouraged to apply. At the rank of Associate or (full) Professor the selected candidate's qualifications must be sufficient to meet the requirements for tenure in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by the position start date. All requirements must be met by position start date Preferred Qualifications: Preference will be given to candidates whose work uses empirical, theoretical, or mixed-method approaches to evaluate how markets allocate resources and foster innovation in the energy sector. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, Agricultural Economics, or Applied Economics required. About the Department and Institution: The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at UW–Madison is internationally recognized for its research and teaching in agricultural, environmental, community and development economics. Faculty collaborate across disciplines to address complex global and local challenges. UW–Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin—an innovative and vibrant city frequently ranked among the best places to live in the U.S. The university seeks to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment for different viewpoints and values community engagement. How to Apply: Apply online at "Jobs at UW" ( http://jobs.wisc.edu ). Applications must be received through UW-Madison's online application system. Applicants must upload the following information as a single PDF document: 1) Cover letter detailing interest and relevant training/experience for this position (1-page) 2) Curriculum vitae 3) Statements of: • Teaching and mentoring philosophy and experience (1-page limit) • Research experience and interests with a description of current and planned research (3-5 page limit). In addition, applicants will be asked to secure three letters of recommendation. The deadline for assuring full consideration is November 2, 2026; however, the position will remain open, and applications may be considered until the position is filled. Contact Information: For questions about position details please contact: Dominic Parker - Professor - dominic.parker@wisc.edu For questions about application status/updates, or technical assistance please contact: Megan Sullivan - Human Resources - megan.sullivan@wisc.edu Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website . To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .

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