Postdoctoral Research Associate in Princeton, New Jersey at Princeton University

The Office of Population Research at Princeton University invites applications for multiple Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in demography and population studies, expected to begin on September 1, 2027, as part of a new cohort-based postdoctoral program in Demographic Sciences. Appointments will be made through the Department of Sociology.

OPR is a leading interdisciplinary center for population research, with strengths spanning biodemography, family demography, fertility and reproduction, migration, health and mortality, inequality, aging, education, and population dynamics across the life course. Postdoctoral Research Associates will join a vibrant intellectual community of faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars and will have exceptional opportunities for collaboration across departments and research centers at Princeton.

Program Description

The OPR postdoctoral program is designed to support early-career scholars pursuing independent research in demography or closely related fields while also contributing to collaborative faculty research projects. Postdoctoral Research Associates will be matched with teams of two or more OPR faculty mentors and are expected to maintain an active independent research agenda alongside collaborative work.

Postdocs will be fully integrated into the intellectual life of OPR, including participation in seminar series, workshops, working groups, and professional development activities. The program emphasizes close mentorship, research collaboration, and community building among a cohort of postdoctoral scholars in residence.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Postdoctoral Research Associates are expected to:

• Collaborate on faculty research projects, which may include data analysis, manuscript development, grant proposal preparation, and related research activities
• Maintain an active program of independent research
• Present research in OPR workshops or colloquia
• Participate fully in OPR’s intellectual and professional community
• Serve as a teaching assistant for one semester per year pending enrollments and the approval of the Office of the Dean of the Faculty
• Be in residence at OPR at least four days per week during standard business hours to support collaboration and engagement

Each postdoc and their faculty mentors will develop a mutually agreed-upon work plan during the first month of the appointment outlining collaborative projects, research goals, and expectations.

Appointment Terms

Postdoctoral Research Associate appointments will be for one year, renewable for a second year, based on funding and meeting all other requirements. Postdoctoral Research Associates receive a competitive salary, full benefits, and research support.

When teaching, successful candidates will carry the additional part-time rank of Lecturer, and any teaching opportunities are subject to sufficient enrollments and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty.

These positions are not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing; other visa sponsorships (including H-1B visas not requiring consular processing) may be available, as appropriate.

This position is subject to the University's background check policy. The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University.

Applicants must expect to have completed a Ph.D. by the start date in demography or a closely related field (e.g., sociology, economics, public policy, epidemiology, environmental sciences, genomics and evolution). Scholars with any substantive or methodological focus within demography are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should submit:

• A curriculum vitae
• A research statement describing current and future projects, including how their work aligns with and could contribute to OPR faculty research
• One or two representative publications or working papers
• Three Confidential letters of recommendation

Review of applications will begin on January 5, 2027, and will continue until the positions are filled.