Research Associate / PDRI-DevLab - University of Pennsylvania

The Penn Development Research Initiative and DevLab@Penn (PDRI-DevLab (https://pdri-devlab.upenn.edu/) ) seek to appoint TWO full time PhD-level Research Associates to support PDRI-DevLab’s expanding research portfolio. Candidates will be expected to engage in both independent and collaborative high-quality research, assist in grant proposals, write for both academic and policy audiences, and teach one course annually. Research interests in governance, conflict, migration and forced displacement, climate change and/or computational social science are a plus. Applicants with a strong quantitative background are especially encouraged to apply.



One Research Associate will work on projects across the range of substantive areas described above; many of these involve impact evaluations of international development policies. The other Research Associate will work on a suite of projects cognate to the Machine Learning for Peace (https://web.sas.upenn.edu/mlp-devlab/) project that will involve detecting regime narratives and environmental events in text; the successful candidate for this position would have familiarity with R, Python, and Large Language Models.



These are excellent opportunities to engage with high-level, policy-facing research in a dynamic environment. These are not postdoctoral fellowships. Successful candidates, subject to performance, may be considered for future appointment as Research Assistant Professor. The appointments could begin as early as January, 2025. A PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant social science discipline is expected at the start of the appointment.



Launched in 2020, PDRI-DevLab (https://pdri-devlab.upenn.edu/) brings together Penn researchers and students who seek to identify solutions to core challenges facing low- and middle-income countries. PDRI-DevLab fosters impactful, rigorous international development research by harnessing the expertise of its interdisciplinary, vertically integrated team of faculty, postdocs, graduate students, predocs, and undergraduate fellows. Deploying diverse, cutting-edge methodological approaches, PDRI-DevLab catalyzes extramurally funded research projects that include collaborations with development agencies, international NGOs, local NGOs, and government agencies. PDRI-DevLab also serves as an intellectual hub for Penn scholars researching developing countries.



PDRI-DevLab is housed within Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/) , which comprises 28 academic departments, (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/departments/) the College of Arts and Sciences (https://www.college.upenn.edu/) , the Graduate Division (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/graduate/) , and the College of Liberal and Professional Studies (https://www.lps.upenn.edu/) . Interdisciplinary research and collaboration are supported by the breadth and depth of academic pursuits at Penn (https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/careers-at-penn/penn) as well as the proximity of resources on our contiguous green urban campus (https://facilities.upenn.edu/services/landscape) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We promote and encourage curiosity, intellectual engagement, and discovery among all our students and faculty. University, School, and departmental resources that support full time researchers include but are not limited to: the Offices of the Vice Provost for Faculty (https://faculty.upenn.edu/) and Vice Provost for Research (https://research.upenn.edu/) , PennGlobal (https://global.upenn.edu/) and Perry World House (https://global.upenn.edu/perryworldhouse) , Wellness at Penn (https://wellness.upenn.edu/) , the Center for Teaching and Learning (https://ctl.upenn.edu/) , the Penn Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (https://curf.upenn.edu/) , and Penn Human Resources (https://www.hr.upenn.edu/) .



We seek candidates who share our strong commitment to research, teaching, and mentoring, and to a scholarly community shaped by a commitment to inclusive excellence. The School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania is committed to cultivating and sustaining a community of students, scholars, researchers, and staff that reflects the diversity of our world. We nurture working and learning environments that are affirming, equitable, and inclusive. As a community, we are committed to thoughtful discussions and dynamic interactions as we strive for an environment in which everyone is supported and valued. Please see our School’s Inclusion and Antiracism Initiatives to learn more about our active priorities: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/2020-inclusion-and-anti-racism-initiatives



The successful candidate will have a PhD in political science, public policy, economics or a related field, and be expected to demonstrate potential for high-quality research. The successful candidate will be highly proficient with quantitative research methods, and be expected to support the initiative’s external funding efforts as well as policy engagement efforts. The hired candidates will teach one course per year at the undergraduate or graduate level for the Political Science department’s (https://www.polisci.upenn.edu/) International Development minor and/or the Fels Institute of Government (https://www.fels.upenn.edu/) . They will also provide research advice to graduate students, predoctoral fellows, and undergraduate students who are also engaged in PDRI-DevLab’s research projects.



Candidates should submit a cover letter, a curriculum vita, a research statement, a writing sample, and two letters of recommendation to: apply.interfolio.com/154783



Review of applications will begin on November 14st, 2024, and continue until the position has been filled.




The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to 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. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action (http://www.upenn.edu/affirm-action/) and Equal Opportunity Programs, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).