Postdoctoral Researcher in Demography and Anthropology

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Population Research Institute in the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State University (University Park) seeks a qualified candidate as a Postdoctoral Scholar, to work with Dr. Mary Shenk, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Demography, on the project, "The evolutionary dynamics of religion, family size and child success", funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation.

Role and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will work as part of a multi-institution team which will analyze and write up demographic and anthropological data previously collected by project members. The candidate will take primary responsibility for statistical analysis of data collected in Bangladesh and India, as well as for comparative analysis across all five project datasets in collaboration with research teams analyzing data collected in sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. In addition, the candidate may be involved in the analysis of existing research datasets data from South Asia and other parts of the world.

Education and Experience: This position requires the candidate to have a Ph.D. or an equivalent degree in demography, anthropology, sociology or another field of quantitative social science, before the start date. A background in the statistical analysis of survey data is required, ideally including proficiency in data management and data analysis in R or Stata.

Experience working with a research team is desirable. Experience obtaining research ethics approvals, performing literature reviews, conducting data analyses for scientific articles, and writing and submitting journal articles for publication are all highly desirable. Knowledge of topics including fertility, social networks, religion/religiosity, alloparenting/childcare, and/or maternal and child health are desirable. Experience with qualitative data analysis and/or the ability to speak, read, or write in Bengali/Bangla, while not required, would be helpful. We seek a candidate who is self-motivated, detail-oriented, responsible, team-oriented, and creative, with excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.

Application: Please submit a cover letter describing relevant experience, a current curriculum vita, and contact information (name, current position title, phone number, and e-mail address) for three professional references electronically to psu.jobs.

Appointment: This position will be a one year appointment initially, with the possibility of extension for an additional year if performance is satisfactory. The position will be available October 2024, though the initial start date may be negotiable based on candidate availability. This position offers a flexible work arrangement. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

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Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits/post-doc-apptsfor details regarding benefits for Postdoctoral positions.

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