Postdoctoral Scholar in Poverty and Social Policy

The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at the Columbia University School of Social Work focuses on poverty and social policy issues in the United States. The center is seeking a postdoctoral scholar with a PhD in economics, public policy, demography, social work, sociology, or a related discipline, to conduct analyses of policy proposals related to poverty, inequality, economic security, hardship, and mobility. The postdoc will work primarily with Jane Waldfogel and Christopher Wimer, as well as other faculty and staff to analyze data on trends and levels of poverty and related outcomes and to evaluate the impact of current and proposed social policies, with an emphasis on vulnerable population subgroups.

Cutting across the work is a focus on racial inequalities and structural racism, in particular the need to better understand the impact of anti-Black racism on poverty and social policy and how to develop and implement anti-racist social policy in the United States. The postdoctoral fellowship is for two years, with the option to renew for a third year contingent on performance and funding. Start date is flexible but ideally would be in Fall 2023.

We highly encourage candidates from groups that are historically underrepresented in academic research to apply.

Review of applicants will begin immediately. Priority deadline for applications is November11, 2022, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Applications can be submitted through a google form (which requires a google account to upload application materials) or can be sent in through email at cpsp@columbia.edu with the subject line “postdoc app: applicant name"

APPLY: GOOGLE FORM

Please submit the following materials:

• CV or resume

• Cover letter

• Sample paper or publication

• List of three references to be contacted for written recommendations 

Each application will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• The degree of fit of research interests

• How the postdoctoral training will help to further the postdoctoral scholar’s research trajectory

• Demonstrated record of work with quantitative data

• Demonstrated quality of writing

• Strength of letters of support (in the final round)