Job Information
Harvard University Postdoctoral Fellowships--Opportunity Insights in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Details
Title Postdoctoral Fellowships--Opportunity Insights
School Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department/Area Opportunity Insights
Position Description
Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights (https://opportunityinsights.org/) (OI), is seeking applicants for a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on projects with co-Directors Raj Chetty, John Friedman, Nathan Hendren, and other Research Principals. Appointment to begin July 1, 2025, renewable for a second year based on mutual agreement.
OI is a nonpartisan research and policy institute focused on improving economic opportunity. Founded in 2018, OI has become a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the science of economic mobility and in the use of large administrative data to understand and address inequality. OI has published seminal work on national trends in upward mobility (https://opportunityinsights.org/national_trends/) ; racial disparities (https://opportunityinsights.org/race/) ; the role of neighborhoods (https://opportunityinsights.org/neighborhoods/) , social (https://opportunityinsights.org/paper/social-capital-i-measurement-and-associations-with-economic-mobility/) capital, and higher education (https://opportunityinsights.org/education/) in upward mobility; and the use of private-sector data to understand disparate impacts in the recent economic recession and recovery (https://opportunityinsights.org/paper/tracker/) . Much of the team’s ongoing research uses quasi-experimental methods to identify causal effects and test the predictions of economic and sociological models. Examples of current research projects include: long-term impacts of neighborhoods and place-based policies, the role of colleges in upward mobility, using big data to address health disparities, and measuring how social networks affect mobility. OI’s work has shaped policy discussions at the national and local level, with nearly a dozen of its studies covered on the front pages of major media outlets (https://opportunityinsights.org/press/) , such as the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/25/us/race-wealth-gap-economy.html?rsrc=flt&unlocked_article_code=1.H04.fXii.Vmsnyn92bjrP&smid=url-share) , The Economist, The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/30/college-admissions-elite-ivy-rich/) , and the Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-the-safety-net-pays-for-itself-11563800405) , and have been widely cited in policy discussions.
The Postdoctoral Fellow will work closely with OI co-Directors and other Research Principals. Fellows will be invited to work on both OI work as well as have time for their own complementary research.
We invite applications from candidates with a background in applied microeconomic research who would be eager to focus their efforts coauthoring projects with us studying economic opportunity and the determinants of upward mobility in the US. Applicants are expected to have strong analytical skills and also work well in team settings.
We especially encourage applications from backgrounds under-represented in economics. The position is fully funded with no teaching requirements. The salary and benefits are competitive with other top postdoctoral positions in economics.
The position reports directly to Raj Chetty, Nathaniel Hendren, and John Friedman and is located in Cambridge, MA.
Applicants are required to submit a CV, cover letter (letter of interest), up to three research papers, and the names and contact information of three references. Note: All recommendation letters should be from experts at the ladder faculty ranks; it may be appropriate to include highly accomplished senior researchers from corporations or research institutes. The application is complete only when three letters have been submitted.
We encourage candidates to apply by December 19, 2024, but will continue to review applications until the position is filled.
If you have a competing offer and require expedited review or have questions about the application process in general, please contact us at hiring@opportunityinsights.org.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
Basic Qualifications
The successful candidate is expected to have finished a Ph.D. in Economics or related fields by the start date, as noted above.
Additional Qualifications
Special Instructions
Contact Information
Questions regarding details of the position can be directed to: hiring@opportunityinsights.org.
Contact Email hiring@opportunityinsights.org
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.
Minimum Number of References Required 3
Maximum Number of References Allowed 3
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