"Postdoctoral Scholar in Migration and Democracy"

Postdoctoral Scholar in Migration and Democracy

Location: University of Notre Dame

Open Date: 2026-02-23

Deadline:

The Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights in the Keough School of Global Affairs invites applications for a one-year Postdoctoral Scholar position, with the possibility of renewal up to a total of two years based on performance and funding availability. This is a full-time, in-person position based at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2026.

As part of the broader poverty and migration initiatives, this position is designed for a promising scholar with strong data skills who will work directly with Dr. Alexander Kustov, Associate Professor of Migration, on an ongoing research program that is aimed at identifying politically sustainable immigration policies. This program at the intersection of migration and poverty builds on Dr. Kustov's recent book, In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular, which examines under what conditions most people would accept freer immigration.

Using original surveys, experiments, administrative and policy data, and comparative case studies, the program examines how governments and other actors can expand regular migration pathways in ways that are demonstrably beneficial while minimizing public backlash. The postdoctoral researcher will lead components of this research agenda by combining survey and administrative data, refining and testing new research questions and hypotheses, and helping to translate findings into accessible outputs for academic, policy, and broader public audiences. The successful candidate will commit at least 60% of their time to this collaborative research program. The remaining 40% can be devoted to furthering their own research agenda, ideally on related themes of migration, public opinion, poverty, and democratic governance.

Responsibilities will be primarily research-focused and include:

• Collaborating on the research program, including literature review and data analysis.
• Collecting, managing, and analyzing relevant survey and administrative data.
• Conducting and publishing high-quality research and preparing grant proposals in close collaboration with and under the guidance of Dr. Kustov.
• Helping to synthesize and communicate research findings in formats suitable for policy and broader public audiences (e.g., in policy briefs and short explainers).
• Participating in regular project meetings with Dr. Kustov.
• Participating in the broader intellectual life of the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights, Keough School of Global Affairs, and the University of Notre Dame.
• Dedicating time to personal research as part of the position.

The 12-month salary will be up to $75,000, consistent with Keough School postdoctoral policies, and follows the NIH NRSA stipend levels. In addition, the hiring unit will offer a small moving allowance (up to $2,500). The postdoc is a one-year appointment (August 1 - July 31), with the possibility of renewal for up to a total of two years, contingent on satisfactory performance and continued funding.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Political Science, Economics, Public Policy, Sociology, or a closely related field must be in hand by the appointment start date.
• Demonstrated research background and interest in migration, immigration policy, or closely related questions of public opinion and democratic governance.
• Demonstrated proficiency in R and familiarity with agentic AI research tools.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and carry out research projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative research methods and data visualization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively.

Desired Qualifications

• Additional knowledge of Stata, Python, causal inference, and/or survey methodology.
• Familiarity with immigration policies both in the United States and other regions.
• Experience in science communication for broader audiences.

To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/182135