Postdoctoral Research Opportunity: Post-Doctoral Associate in Social Research and Public Policy – New York University Abu Dhabi

Postdoctoral Research Opportunity: Post-Doctoral Associate in Social Research and Public Policy – New York University Abu Dhabi

• Institution: New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)

• Division: Division of Social Science

• Area: Social Research and Public Policy

• Position: Post-Doctoral Associate

• Supervisor: Dr. Luca Maria Pesando

• Interfolio ID: 193571

• Appointment Type: Full-Time Postdoctoral Research Position

• Duration: Up to 3 years

• Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

• Teaching Requirement: None

• Expected Start Date: September 1, 2027

• Salary / Remuneration: Not specified in the posting

• Application Deadline: January 15, 2027 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Overview of the Opportunity

The Division of Social Science at New York University Abu Dhabi invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Associate position focused on Social Research and Public Policy.

The successful candidate will spend approximately:

• 50% of their time on independent research

• 50% on collaborative research with Professor Luca Maria Pesando

The appointment is expected to begin on September 1, 2027, subject to final budget approval, and may continue for up to three years.

Research Focus

The collaborative research will focus on:

• Educational inequalities

• Social stratification

• Learning inequality

• School segregation

• Global South

• Economic development

• Gender inequality

• Welfare arrangements

• Institutional arrangements

The project examines global variation in learning inequality and school segregation and evaluates how these patterns relate to broader social, economic, and institutional conditions.

Key Responsibilities

The Post-Doctoral Associate will:

• Conduct independent research.

• Collaborate with Professor Luca Maria Pesando.

• Work with large-scale assessment datasets.

• Analyse household surveys and census data.

• Conduct applied quantitative data analysis.

• Contribute to academic writing and publications.

• Participate in the broader academic activities of the Division of Social Science.

Eligibility & Qualifications

Applicants should:

• Hold a Ph.D., and

• Be within the first 5 years after receiving the Ph.D., or

• Be close to completing a Ph.D.

Relevant fields include:

• Sociology

• Demography

• International Development

• Public Policy

• Economics

• Closely related disciplines

Required Research Skills

Candidates should have interest or expertise in:

• Global Sociology

• Demography

• International Education

• Economic Development

• Large-scale assessment data

• Household surveys

• Census data

• Applied data analysis

Applicants should be comfortable handling large volumes of data and have strong analytical skills using tools such as:

• R

• Stata

• Python

• GIS

Familiarity with academic writing and publishing is also required.

Preferred Experience

Experience with:

• Fieldwork

• Primary data collection

• Large-scale social or educational datasets

will be considered an advantage.

Teaching

The position does not require teaching.

However, teaching opportunities may be available for additional compensation.

Research Environment

The successful candidate will join a large interdisciplinary academic community within NYU Abu Dhabi’s Division of Social Science, including:

• More than 20 postdoctoral fellows

• Approximately 70 faculty members

The environment supports collaboration across sociology, demography, economics, development studies, public policy, and education research.

Application Checklist

Applicants should submit:

1. Cover Letter

2. Curriculum Vitae

   • Full publication list

   • Contact information for at least 2 referees

3. Writing Sample

Reference letters will be requested only from shortlisted candidates.

Important Dates

• Open Date: September 22, 2026

• Application Deadline: January 15, 2027 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

• Expected Start Date: September 1, 2027

• Review of Applications: Begins as soon as possible

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through Interfolio.

Application Link:
https://apply.interfolio.com/193571

Contact: Professor Luca Maria Pesando
Email: lucamaria.pesando@nyu.edu

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