"Post-doctoral Fellow (several posts)"

Job Details

Applications are invited for appointments as Post-doctoral Fellow (several posts) in the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality in Asia (SCoSEIA) under the Faculty of Social Sciences and the HKU Business School (Ref: 533637), to commence as soon as possible, on a one- to three-year temporary contract, with the possibility of renewal subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance.

About the Centre

The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality in Asia at the University of Hong Kong is dedicated to the comparative study of income and wealth inequality in Asia. As the first Stone Center in Asia, it connects researchers across disciplines and geographies to understand the nature, causes, and consequences of inequality and to compare Asian experiences with those of North America and Europe. The Center emphasizes rigorous measurement, causal analysis, and clear communication of research findings. The Center is a joint initiative of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Economics Department at HKU Business School. It is co-directed by Professor Tarani Chandola, Professor Uta Schönberg, and Professor Ming Wen.

The Applicant

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher with a PhD degree in economics or a related discipline, specializing in labor economics, trade, development, or political economy. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience working with unstructured data, such as LinkedIn data or job advertisements, as well as expertise in web crawling, large language models, and text analysis techniques. An excellent understanding of causal inference methods is essential to develop rigorous research insights.

Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required; proficiency in both written and spoken Chinese is advantageous. The ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment is crucial.

The appointee will contribute to research projects aligned with SCoSEIA’s core themes:

• Understanding the Nature of Income and Wealth Inequality and Wealth Creation (led by Professor Duoduo Xu)
• Exploring the Effects of Shocks and Policies on Income and Wealth Inequality (led by Professor Bingjing Li)
• Investigating the Networks and Behaviours of the Ultra-Rich (led by Professor Heng Chen)
• Examining the Socio-Economic Impacts of Income and Wealth Inequality (led by Professor Paul Yip)

Key duties include conducting both quantitative and qualitative data analyses, preparing manuscripts for publication in high-impact academic journals, and presenting research findings at research institutions and conferences. Fellows will be paired with a mentor from the center’s leadership team to provide guidance and support. Additionally, they will assist team leaders with project management tasks and contribute to the center’s strategic planning and daily activities to ensure smooth operations.

Inquiries about the post should be sent to stonecenter@hku.hk.

A competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave, medical benefits.

The University only accepts online application for the above post at the University’s Careers site (https://jobs.hku.hk). Applicants should apply online and upload an up-to-date C.V., job market paper, a cover letter stating their research background, and the contact information for three referees.

Review of applications will start from as soon as possible and continue until January 1, 2026, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.

Advertised: Nov 6, 2025 (HK Time)
Applications close: Jan 1, 2026 (HK Time)