"Research Associate (Postdoctoral Fellow) - Center for Place, Culture & Politics"

Research Associate (Postdoctoral Fellow) - Center for Place, Culture & Politics

GENERAL DUTIES

Conducts academic research in connection with CUNY programs; may assist faculty, staff, and students in conducting research and lead research efforts involving others.

• Develops research plans and proposals and participates in acquiring funding
• Collects, analyzes, and assures validity of data
• Writes progress reports; writes and publishes findings
• Collaborates with internal and external colleagues
• Adheres to standards for safety and hygiene and ethical conduct as defined by the University and relevant outside parties

CONTRACT TITLE

Research Associate

FLSA

Exempt

CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The Graduate Center (GC) is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at the City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university. With over 35 doctoral and master’s programs of the highest caliber, the Graduate Center fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. The Graduate Center’s commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), a 200,000 square-foot facility in upper Manhattan, designed to promote collaboration among scientists in five areas of global research and innovation: nanoscience, photonics, structural biology, neuroscience, and environmental sciences.

The Graduate Center (GC) benefits from highly ambitious and diverse students and alumni-who in turn teach hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year. Through its public programs, the Graduate Center enhances New York City’s intellectual and cultural life.

The Center for Place, Culture and Politics at the GC has an open position for a Research Associate (Postdoctoral Fellow) for academic year 2026-2027, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The Center seeks applicants who work on issues related to the theme of "Radical Imagination: Temporalities and Geographies of Struggle." We invite candidates from any disciplinary or interdisciplinary training. Please visit https://pcp.gc.cuny.edu for details on the Center and theme.

The role of the Research Associate (Postdoctoral Fellow) is integral to the yearly running of the Center. In addition to conducting their own research, the Research Associate (Postdoctoral Fellow) will be expected to attend and contribute to the weekly seminar at the Center. Duties will also include active involvement with other Center initiatives, such as organizing conferences and symposia, and liaising with community organizations and scholars.

Founded in 2000 by Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Neil Smith and led by renowned scholars such as David Harvey and Ruth Wilson Gilmore, the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics has a global reputation as a research institute grounded in critical and abolitionist politics and geographies, with the goal of advancing scholarship and fostering dialogue to understand, critique and challenge racial capitalism. We provide an intellectual forum for the discussion of a wide range of issues relevant to both the academic and public interest, and center the concept of praxis, as both "action about" and as "knowledge toward." To this end, we bring together those at the intersection of organizing and scholarship to share strategies for effectively linking knowledge production and political action.

Each year, we select CUNY faculty and graduate student fellows from diverse disciplines to explore a specific theme through a weekly seminar, guided by the core principle of developing collaborative interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary bases for radical knowledge and practice. We welcome visiting scholars from around the world to participate in the seminar and the activities of the center. To further our mission, we organize and host public presentations and lectures by prominent national and international scholars, organizers, artists, and activists, along with symposia, workshops, and working groups.

The incumbent will report to the Director of the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics. They will also be affiliated with an appropriate program at the Graduate Center.

All full-time and part-time CUNY staff are expected to work in-person 80% of their work time. This hybrid work schedule is subject to change.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Doctoral Degree in a related field and demonstrated research ability.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

A preferred candidate should have demonstrated scholarship or achievement related to the theme "Radical Imagination." The candidate should also have the ability to cooperate with others for the good of the institution. Candidates should have their doctoral degree in hand by August 2026 and have completed their dissertations within the last five years.

COMPENSATION

$81,761/year

BENEFITS

CUNY offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents based on job title and classification. Employees are also offered pension and Tax-Deferred Savings Plans. Part-time employees must meet a weekly or semester work hour criteria to be eligible for health benefits. Health benefits are also extended to retirees who meet the eligibility criteria.

HOW TO APPLY

Please click on "Apply Now" which will bring you to the registration screen. If you are a new user, you must register to apply. If you already have a user ID, please use your existing ID to apply.

Please make sure to submit the below application materials as one PDF or Word file:

1. Letter of application describing your relevant research
2. Names and contact information for two references (name, title, organization, email, and phone #)
3. CV
4. Writing sample of not more than 20 pages, including notes

CLOSING DATE

All applications must be submitted no later than March 5, 2026 for consideration.