Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Department of Sociology (sociology.princeton.edu) at Princeton University is seeking a Postdoctoral or more senior Research Associate to collaborate on our STEM Du Bois Data Visualization Project funded by the National Science Foundation. The project will develop curricular materials to teach scientific reasoning and data visualization across a range of STEM courses by using the foundational work social scientist, W.E.B. Du Bois. Du Bois pioneered data visualization techniques that are still considered state of the art across science disciplines. In partnership with our collaborators at Fisk University (where Du Bois earned his first degree) and the University of California at Merced, we will test curricular materials in STEM courses across our three institutions. We will use quantitative analysis of course survey and administrative data to assess curricular impacts on students.

Qualified candidates with a Ph.D. in Sociology, Education, or other related fields are invited to apply. We are seeking associates who have quantitative training in data analysis (e.g., R or Python) and data visualization. Scholars of race, sociology of science, and inequality are also encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be expected to work in collaboration with the principal investigators, including Frederick Wherry in Sociology and Jeffrey Himpele, the director of the VizE Lab in Anthropology. The postdoctoral associate will help to: (1) co-develop, deploy, and link course surveys to student administrative data, (2) conduct computational analyses, (3) author and issue briefs, papers, and code to disseminate results, and (4) consult and engage with relevant policy actors. The associate will be encouraged to also develop their own research agenda and will enjoy professional development and incorporation into departmental life at Princeton. This is a full-time, 12-month academic position and is anticipated to start as early as September 2026. The term of appointment is based on rank. Positions at the postdoctoral rank are for one year with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding; those hired at more senior ranks may have multi-year appointments.

These positions are not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing; other visa sponsorships (including H-1B visas not requiring consular processing) may be available, as appropriate.

The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University. This position is subject to Princeton University's background check policy.

Required Qualifications
• Ph.D. in Sociology, Education, Sociology of Science, or other related fields.
• An ability to work in Stata.
• Strong methodological and data analysis skills.
• A demonstrated the ability to conduct independent and collaborative scientific research.

Preferred Qualifications
• Fluency in R or Python.
• Prior research on race and/or racial disparities in the US context.

• Background expertise on the scholarship of W.E.B. Du Bois.
• Willingness to mentor and supervise graduate research assistants.
• Experience working on team-based quantitative research.

Applicants should submit:

• Cover letter: include a brief description of your relevant experience, training, and career goals
• Curriculum vitae
• Research statement: Two pages max, single-spaced (1-inch margins)
• List of 3 professional references with contact information including mailing address, phione number, and email address (reference letters will be automatically requested upon application submission)
• 2 writing samples (publications, dissertation chapters, or policy briefs)