Social Science and Law Postdoctoral Fellow
The Justice Collaboratory is an interdisciplinary group of scholars at Yale University and beyond. Co-founded by Professors Tracey Meares and Tom Tyler. We envision a future where science and scholarship provide the foundation for justice system transformation, where people and communities feel and experience equity, respect, and trust in the justice system. Historically, much of our work has involved researching public trust in legal authorities and the popular legitimacy of the criminal legal system.
We are currently inviting applications for a 2024-2025 postdoctoral fellowship. This position is intended for individuals who are interested in an academic or policy career working on the intersections of social science and law, with a particular interest in conducting research that informs improvements in outcomes and legitimacy of the criminal justice system. Especially encouraged to apply are candidates whose work is empirically grounded, rigorous, and interdisciplinary. Candidates should hold a doctoral degree (PhD in Psychology, Criminology, Sociology or other social science field, JD or MD), and their research interests may combine different elements of behavioral science, social science, and the study of legal institutions. For example, research interests may include or be related to: the perceived legitimacy of legal actors or legal processes; legal authorities’ discretion; or evaluation of impacts of recent/current criminal legal policies, among other related topics.
Candidates must have familiarity with a range of research methods and strong quantitative skills. Experience with policy research is a plus.
Postdoctoral fellows will become integral members of The Justice Collaboratory. They will participate in Yale’s vibrant academic community, receive mentoring from our senior faculty and have the opportunity to share ideas, gain research experience and produce manuscripts for publication. Fellows will be expected to be involved in and contribute to ongoing and upcoming research projects led by the Justice Collaboratory. Responsibilities will include collaboration with the writing of grant proposals, as well as the collection, management and analysis of research data.
Additionally, there is an opportunity to actively engage with the broader Yale community, attending seminars and events as appropriate. Postdoctoral fellows will be chosen based on demonstrated academic merit, rigor of their research and likelihood of future success collaborating with The Justice Collaboratory team.
This is a full-time, 12-month appointment located in New Haven, CT (appointees may have their contracts extended for an additional year, upon mutually agreed terms). The salary range for this position is between $62,000 - $70,000 and access to Yale’s top-tier employee benefits program.
Candidates should submit a cover letter explaining their interest in this position (of two pages or less), a CV, and full contact information for three references. Please collate these documents into a single PDF file. Applications should be addressed to Caroline Nobo and sent to the care of our program coordinator, Molly Aunger [email protected] no later than March 30, 2024.
Select candidates will be asked to submit a writing sample, academic transcripts, and reference letters.