"Post-Doctoral Associate in the Division of Social Science - Drs. Luca Maria Pesando and Raul"

NYU Abu Dhabi is pioneering a new model of higher education for a global world, dedicated to excellence in teaching and research and to advancing cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. Drawing on the strengths of the NYU global network, it offers an outstanding liberal arts and sciences education to students from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and around the world, with a distinctive focus on intercultural understanding and leadership. It supports innovative research and graduate education programs that push forward the frontiers of knowledge and respond in powerful and interdisciplinary ways to vital global and local challenges.

We are inviting applications for a Post-doctoral Associate in the Division of Social Science at NYU Abu Dhabi from individuals who have or will soon receive a PhD in demography, economics, sociology, public policy, health policy, or a closely related field. The appointment will begin September 1, 2026, subject to final budget approval and is available for up to three years.

The post-doctoral associate will spend half their time on independent research, and half their time on collaborative research with Professors Luca Maria Pesando and Raul Santaeulalia-Llopis. The collaborative research will be focused on fertility and reproductive choices (including through Assisted Reproductive Technologies), childbearing decisions, human capital, and employment trajectories. The project will employ existing surveys, newly collected surveys, and randomized experiments. The project will be comparative, with case studies from Denmark and UAE (and potentially other countries pending budget availability).

We seek a candidate with interest in fertility, family studies, economic demography, and family economics, and expertise with online surveys, field experiments, RCTs, and applied data analysis. Ability to handle large volumes of data and familiarity with household surveys are required, alongside solid data analysis skills (R, Stata, Python, etc.) and familiarity with academic writing and publishing.

The position does not require teaching, but it may be possible to get teaching experience for compensation. You would join a group of over 20 post-doctoral fellows and 70 faculty in the Division of Social Science.

For consideration, applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae with full publication list and contact of at least two referees, and writing sample. Letters of reference will be solicited for shortlisted candidates only. If you have any questions, please email Professor Pesando at lucamaria.pesando@nyu.edu and/or Professor Santaeulalia-Llopis at rs8561@nyu.edu. Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2026 but review will start as soon as possible.

Working for NYUAD: To help Post-doctoral Associates and faculty thrive, we offer a comprehensive benefits package. This starts with a generous relocation allowance to ensure a smooth transition to Abu Dhabi. It includes a competitive salary; housing and transportation allowances; educational assistance for your dependents attending school in the UAE; and access to health and wellness services. Click here for more information on benefits for you and your family.

About NYU Abu Dhabi: NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 30 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest-ranked university in the UAE and MENA region. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from over 120 countries and speak over 100 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.

NYU Abu Dhabi is committed to upholding a culture of non-discrimination, anti-harassment, dignity, and mutual respect; providing equal access and opportunity; and fostering academic excellence in learning, research, and teaching. UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications: (As described in the content). Application Instructions: (As described). Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

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