Location: The University of Chicago’s campus in Chicago, IL, USA

Department: Department of Comparative Human Development, University of Chicago

Employment type: Postdoctoral, full-time (40 hours/week)

Duration: This position is planned to be 12 months, from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, though we have some flexibility on the timing. Please indicate your availability in your cover letter. Reappointment might be possible dependent on satisfactory performance, the availability of funding, and the candidate’s continuing eligibility for postdoctoral training.

Application deadline: Applications are strongly preferred by July 15, 2025, though the position will remain open until filled or the search is closed.

Responsibilities and expected outputs:

• The Postdoctoral Scholar will collaborate with Professor Guanglei Hong on research funded by the Spencer Foundation related to causal inference theories and methods with applications to the social sciences, education and training, and human development. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and evaluation of cutting-edge analytic methods and will participate in dissemination efforts including manuscript preparation and software development.
• You will have time to carry out your own research projects.

• You will be encouraged to participate in the intellectual life of the Department of Comparative Human Development, the Committee on Education, the Committee on Quantitative Methods in Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, and the University of Chicago more broadly, by attending their workshops and events and contributing to intellectual conversations.
• The Postdoctoral Researcher must be based at the University of Chicago’s main campus in Chicago, IL, though the work schedule can be flexible.

 

Skills and qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biostatistics, computational social sciences, econometrics, education statistics, political methodology, public policy, quantitative methodology, quantitative psychology, social statistics, applied statistics, or adjacent disciplines
• Solid training in mathematical statistics, causal inference, multilevel modeling, and longitudinal data analysis
• Critical and independent thinking;
• Experience with large-scale data analysis and with computer programming for Monte Carlo simulations
• Familiarity with R and Stata
• Strong work ethics
• Excellent communication skills.

 

What we offer:

• 12-month employment at the Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago
• $75,000/year salary
• Up to $5,000 in research funds
• A shared workspace (office) in the Department of Comparative Human Development
• This position is benefits-eligible, and information regarding benefits can be found here.

 

Application instructions:

Your application package should include:

• A 2-3 page cover letter explaining your research interests and experience, and your expected focus for this project
• An up-to-date CV
• Two academic writing samples (e.g., chapter of doctoral thesis, articles, working papers)
• Two letters of recommendation submitted by the letter authors to the email address below

Please send your application electronically, in PDF format (either as one single file or as separate PDFs) to ghong@uchicago.edu. Please use the subject line: Postdoc Application from (Your Name). Inquiries about the position and project can be addressed here as well.

 

Application deadline: Applications are strongly preferred by July 15, 2025, though the position will remain open until filled or the search is closed.

Interviews with shortlisted candidates: July 23-25, 2025.

Starting date of position: September 1, 2025 (with some flexibility).

 

Equal Employment Opportunity statement:

“The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.”