Student Researcher

Job Description

About company

Farmer Mac operates with a “Presence with Purpose” work environment, offering flexibility in work location while also facilitating purposeful in-office collaboration at its Washington, DC office. The company values collegiality and collaboration, and successful candidates are expected to share these values.

Job description, detailed

This is a student opportunity reporting to the Senior Economist within the Strategy, Research, and Analytics (SRA) Department.

Key Responsibilities and Learning Opportunities:

The student will gain experience and learn about diverse research and business initiatives, including but not limited to:
• Economic condition monitoring and research across various commodities and regions.
• USDA guaranteed loan data analysis and modeling.
• Research into trends in agricultural lender portfolios.
• Strategic issue research focusing on data centers and renewable energy finance.

Technology and Skill Development:
The position offers the chance to learn and develop data reporting tools such as R, Python, and PowerBI.

Work Environment and Expectations:
The role requires the ability to balance competing priorities with deadlines within a high-stakes environment.

Team and Collaboration:
• You will work closely with the Senior Economist and the broader SRA team, which includes the Chief Economist, Senior Data Scientist, and Senior Data Analyst.
• The role also involves interaction with various departments across the organization, such as Business Development, Enterprise Risk, and Credit Policy.

Work Location and Hours:
• The position is available as remote or hybrid.
• Any in-person work will be conducted at Farmer Mac’s Washington, DC office.
• Work may be performed during core business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
• The commitment is for a minimum of 20 hours and not to exceed 40 hours per week.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:
• A strong interest in agricultural markets.
• Knowledge of or interest in lending practices.
• Solid MS Excel skills are essential, with experience in R, SQL, VBA, or MATLAB preferred.
• A strong educational record of achievement combined with an equally strong desire to learn.
• Must be self-motivated and capable of working effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail are a must.
• Successful candidates must align with Farmer Mac’s values and demonstrate an ability to work collegially and collaboratively.

Education and Experience Requirements:
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate (rising junior or senior in Fall 2026) or a graduate-level student.
• Pursuing a degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Finance, Data Science, Data Analytics, or other quantitative disciplines.
• A minimum GPA of 3.4 is required.
• The application must include a transcript.

Compensation:
• Undergraduate students will receive an hourly pay of $16.
• Graduate-level students will receive an hourly pay of $20.