Postdoctoral Scholar - Child Wellbeing

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Sarah Font, Associate Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at Penn State, is recruiting a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar with interests in child wellbeing, child welfare services, justice systems, and related topics.

Applicants with interests or experience working with administrative data (e.g., electronic child welfare system, health care, clinical service, or justice system records) are particularly encouraged to apply. The intended start date is July 1, 2024.

About the position: This position involves work on two projects, one focused on the experiences and outcomes of maltreated children within the child welfare system (NICHD R01 HD095946) and the other focused on the effects of parental incarceration on children (NICHD R01 HD107154). This position offers extensive opportunities for training in the conduct of applied, systems-focused research, innovative methodologies, and manuscript and grant development.

This is a hybrid, limited-term position for one year from the start date, with excellent possibility of renewal for an additional one-year term, contingent on performance.

Education and Experience: Applicants should possess a Doctoral degree or equivalent in human development, social welfare, psychology, or a related social and behavioral science and have strong methodological training in quantitative data analysis with large datasets. Applicants should have successfully defended their dissertation and completed all requirements towards their PhD, before beginning this post-doctoral position. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in statistical analysis and excellent writing skills. The position provides salary and benefits based on those for NIH postdoctoral fellowships.

The successful applicant must have the ability to collaboratively and independently plan, carry-out, and report findings from empirical research using advanced quantitative methods for analyzing secondary and administrative datasets. The successful hire must also have the ability to collaborate effectively with members of interdisciplinary research teams. The postdoc will also play a primary role in the production and dissemination of research findings (e.g., manuscript development and scholarly conference presentations). Excellent organizational, writing, and verbal communication skills are required.

Application: To be considered for this position, please submit a completed application as one pdf file the following materials in the following order:

• A brief (3 pages max) cover letter
• A short (3 pages max) statement of research interests and methodological training
• A current curriculum vitae
• An example of scholarly writing
• Contact information for three professional references (name, position, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address)

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

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