"Postdoctoral Scholar- Sociology and Demography"

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

Position Specifics

The Population Research Institute (PRI) at Penn State seeks TWO highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholars to work with Liying Luo, Associate Professor of Sociology and Demography, on an NIH-funded project on social determinants of later-life cognition and health conditions. Applicants with experience in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply: (1) causal inference, mediation analysis, multilevel modeling, and/or administrative data (e.g., Medicare data), (2) health inequality among sociodemographic groups and across national contexts. The intended start date is September 1, 2025, but an earlier starting date is possible.

About the position: The Postdoctoral Scholars will collaborate with Dr. Luo and an interdisciplinary research team to develop a multilevel framework and use it to understand the heterogeneous effects of socioeconomic factors, particularly education including cognitive skills, educational attainment, and educational contexts, on cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and the related biopsychosocial factors. Candidates will contribute to data analysis and co-authorship of research articles.

This position is funded for one year from the start date, with the expectation of a second year contingent on progress, and potentially a third year pending funding availability. This is a hybrid position, but for training and engagement purposes, preference will be given to candidates who are willing to work on campus.

The position provides salary and benefits based on training and expertise. The Postdoctoral Scholars will have office space in the Susan Welch Building and engage in PRI's professional development activities. Applicants may be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. International candidates may be sponsored on J-1 Research Scholar visas.

Preferred and Required Qualifications

Education and Experience: Applicants must have a Ph.D. in sociology, demography, public health, economics, or a related field. One ideal candidate will have a strong methodological training and expertise in causal inference, mediation analysis, and multilevel modeling. The other ideal candidate will have interest and experience in examining (mid- and later-life) health and health inequality among sociodemographic groups and/or across national contexts.

Successful applicants must have the ability to collaboratively and independently plan, carry-out, and report findings from empirical research using advanced causal inference methods for analyzing longitudinal and administrative datasets. The successful hires must also have the ability to collaborate effectively with members of interdisciplinary research teams. The Postdoc Scholars will also play a primary role in the production and dissemination of research findings (e.g., manuscript development and scholarly conference presentations). Excellent organizational, writing, and verbal communication skills are required.

Application Details

Application Materials: To be considered for this position, please submit a completed application as one pdf file with the following materials in the following order:

• A brief (2 pages max) cover letter
• A short (3 pages max) statement of research interests, experience, and methodological training
• A current curriculum vitae
• An example of scholarly writing
• Contact information for 3 professional references (name, current position title, telephone number, and e-mail address)

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Background Checks/Clearances: Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Benefits: Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.