Postdoctoral Associate

Job Description

The Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR) at Virginia Tech seeks a Postdoctoral Associate to support and advance applied research focused on housing affordability, housing markets, housing policy, and housing program development. Working collaboratively with VCHR faculty, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders, the successful candidate will contribute to research initiatives that inform housing-related decision-making at the local, regional, and state levels.

The position will involve designing and executing applied housing research projects, including collecting, managing, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data related to housing needs, market conditions, housing affordability, and policy interventions.

Key responsibilities include conducting comprehensive literature reviews, evaluating housing policies and programs, and developing evidence-based analyses to support housing studies, affordable housing initiatives, and economic assessments.

Required Qualifications

Doctorate degree in urban planning or equivalent with dissertation on a housing topic. PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.

Background in data analytics and science, housing policies and programs, especially data and methods applicable in housing research, and experience conducting applied housing research.

Demonstrated experience in

• data compilation and analysis relevant to local housing programs and policies
• translating housing data and research findings into clear written, visual, and oral communication for technical and non-technical audiences.
• qualitative research methods and analysis, including interviews, focus groups, and content analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience conducting local and regional housing needs assessments and market analyses. Familiarity with inclusionary zoning (affordable dwelling unit) incentive programs and economic analysis required to support program development. Experience in applied housing research with the ability to perform and improve the efficiency/effectiveness/efficacy of analysis and methods. Experience with data organization and cleaning, including programming skills required to scrape data from documents and websites. Skills and experience with Python, R, and Excel. Experience with and understanding of AI tools.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$63,480

Hours per week

40 hours - regular schedule

Review Date

10/09/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes.A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Sara Phillips at [email protected] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.