Post-doctoral Fellow, GIRL Center

Population Council • New York, NY

27d

About The Position

The Population Council’s GIRL Center is seeking a Post-doctoral Fellow focused on adolescent research. The Council is embarking on the development of a bold new social science research institute that will be poised to tackle some of the world’s most pressing existential questions with demographic underpinnings. The Council’s global and interdisciplinary researchers will collaborate across the fields of demography, epidemiology, biomedicine, economics, public health, and sociology. Colleagues across the Council conduct rigorous science, generate high quality evidence and innovative data products, and communicate evidence strategically to influence social, economic and health policies and investments at national, regional and global levels. The Population Council’s Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center is a cross-cutting research hub that brings together today’s leading scholars in adolescence to generate, synthesize, and translate evidence effectively for decision-making. The Center envisions a gender-equitable world where girls and boys make a healthy and safe transition into adulthood and reach their full potential. We contribute to this vision by: 1) generating evidence on adolescence, 2) convening key stakeholders and communicating evidence to drive evidence-based policy and practice and 3) growing current and future talent and networks of adolescent researchers and scholars. The Center has made critical contributions to the field, from leading innovative and critical research on child marriage to studying causal pathways between education and health to exploring the experiences of child domestic workers in multiple countries. We have also launched a series of tools including the Evidence for Gender and Education Resource , the Adolescent Data Hub , and the Adolescent Atlas for Action . The Center has also convened – in person and online – researchers, donors, advocacy groups and policy makers to examine the evidence and think critically about what girls need as well as what works and what doesn’t to improve their lives. The Post-doctoral Fellow will conduct innovative, rigorous, and relevant research on one or more of the GIRL Center’s current thematic focus areas: adolescent economic empowerment (including care work), adolescents in the digital world, adolescent mental health, or adolescents in humanitarian settings. The Fellow will work under the leadership of the Director of the GIRL Center and the supervision of a GIRL Center researcher, in collaboration with other Population Council researchers. The fellow will be closely mentored by senior GIRL Center staff to ensure they build pertinent research skills and contribute effectively to the Center’s research agenda. The Fellow will also be involved in disseminating research findings and project development.

Requirements

• Recently completed PhD in economics, demography, public health, sociology, or other social sciences/relevant disciplines
• 3-5 years pre-doctoral work experience in a research organization
• Track record as lead writer and/or co-author on scientific publications and/or grant applications
• Experience working with under-resourced populations, especially marginalized adolescents.
• Fluency in quantitative data management and analysis (using STATA or other data analysis software) and demonstrated analytic capability using large, complex, and multiple datasets, including comparative analyses
• Strong knowledge and application of quantitative research design and methodology on an adolescent-focused research topic
• Experience in supporting or writing research grants and proposals (track record of winning research grants is desirable)
• Experience in interacting with external partners (e.g., policy makers, researchers, advocates, donors, practitioners) to use data and evidence to effect change
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders (strong record of scientific writing/publications is desirable)
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Highly developed skills to influence and persuade; ability to quickly and effectively build relationships with team members and stakeholders
• Excellent computer proficiency (e.g., MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook, other software)
• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary assistance to internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments within given parameters
• Strong attention to detail, with a proven ability to handle multiple responsibilities at one time, successfully prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Flexible, self-motivating with a team player attitude
• A strong interest in building capacity of research staff
• Result-oriented and committed to excellence
• Fluency in English (verbal and written).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in supporting or writing research grants and proposals (track record of winning research grants is desirable)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders (strong record of scientific writing/publications is desirable)
• French language skills a plus

Responsibilities

• Work with the Center’s leadership to define, conduct, and manage cross-country research on a particular priority adolescent-focused research topic
• Assess the current research gaps and conduct research to address these issues through various techniques (e.g., systematic reviews/meta-analysis and secondary analyses of existing data sets, including from experimental studies).
• Collaborate with internal and external researchers to develop and execute research that aligns with Council priorities.
• Develop and manage technical partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Produce academic and non-academic publications that effectively communicate the Center’s research to internal and external audiences.
• Represent the Center and the Council at external meetings.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the Center’s leadership.

Benefits

• Fellowships include a monthly stipend to cover cost of living expenses and individual health insurance coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree