Penn Identity & Conflict Lab Postdoctoral Fellowship
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The Penn Identity & Conflict (PIC) Lab, led by Professor Nicholas Sambanis at the Department of Political Science of the University of Pennsylvania, is looking to fill a Postdoctoral Fellow role for 2022-23. Please note that applications are now closed.
The Lab addresses a broad range of critical questions focused on inter-group conflict and identity politics. The Lab prioritizes research in three key areas: how social identities shape individual behavior, how conflict affects identities, and what interventions are effective in reducing inter-group conflict. Both violent and non-violent forms of conflict are considered, ranging from bias, discrimination, and protest to ethnic violence, secessionism and war.
The Lab has ongoing work in several different areas, including: (1) native-immigrant conflict in several countries; (2) gender bias and discrimination; (3) effects of sports competition on social preferences and attitudes; (4) causes of nationalist policy preferences; (5) strategies to induce intergroup cooperation; and (6) mechanisms underlying the violent escalation of group claims for self-determination. A variety of methods are used to study these topics, including surveys, survey experiments, lab and field experiments, and analysis of observational data. The Lab seeks to integrate substantive and methodological knowledge across the social and behavioral sciences to better understand these topics.
Fellows will split their time between their own research and work with Professor Nicholas Sambanis on one or more of the Lab’s ongoing projects. Innovative new project proposals by fellows can be considered for funding by the Lab.
Job responsibilities will vary depending on the strengths and interests of the successful applicant. Fellows will be expected to conduct quantitative data analysis to support ongoing Lab projects; co-author papers and reports with the Lab Director and affiliated faculty; assist with drafting grant proposals; prepare IRB applications; compile reports to share with funders; program surveys; collect/clean survey-based data; prepare replication files for published studies; provide summaries of ongoing work for public outreach purposes; prepare slides for public presentations of Lab projects; help manage the Lab website and seminar series.
Successful applicants will have excellent training in quantitative methods with an emphasis on statistical analysis, survey methods and experimental methods. Programming skills are highly desirable. Applicants should have outstanding organizational and communication skills and prior experience using large databases and different statistical software (including Stata, R, and Qualtrics). Applicants should be intellectually curious, ambitious, energetic, and self-motivated; they should be able to work independently, but also as part of a team; they should be able to multi-task and willing to travel for fieldwork if conditions allow. Training in behavioral economics and/or social psychology is a plus as several of the Lab’s projects cross disciplinary boundaries.
There is no formal teaching requirement. Fellows will be expected to help organize the PIC Lab workshop, which will meet bi-weekly; they will give at least one presentation on their research at the workshop and/or as part of the Perry World House Seminar Series; and will be expected to help organize the Lab’s annual conference.
All postdoctoral fellow positions pay a stipend of $60,000 plus relevant fees and health insurance. The position also provides $2,000 in research support.
Applications are welcome from scholars who have received their Ph.D. or equivalent degrees since June 2020, or who expect to complete their degree by June 2022. Applications will be reviewed starting January 4, 2022. To receive full consideration, application material should be received by that date.
To apply, please go to: http://apply.interfolio.com/96857. Applicants will be asked to upload a cover letter, CV/resume, one-page research statement, writing sample, and unofficial PhD transcript (only required for current graduate students). We will also ask for the name and email address of a letter writer who can submit a letter of recommendation.
The University of Pennsylvania is strongly committed to Penn’s Action Plan for Faculty Diversity and Excellence and to establishing a more diverse community at Penn (for more information see: http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v58/n02/diversityplan.html).
If you have questions, please email pic-lab@sas.upenn.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, Sansom Place East, 3600 Chestnut Street, Suite 228, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).
