Postdoctoral Fellowship

Postdoctoral Associate Position

The Yale Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS) invites postdoctoral students and junior scholars to apply for its Democratic Innovations Fellowship. Democratic Innovations is a new interdisciplinary ISPS program, led by Alan Gerber, Helene Landemore, and Adam Mierowitz. The program brings together social scientists from a variety of fields to think about the factors that affect government policy and decision-making and to analyze novel democratic institutions that might support improvements in representation, citizen inclusion, and government performance. To further the study and dissemination of novel ideas for political representation and decision making, the program will aim to answer questions such as:

  • What changes to our political institutions will promote efficient, evidence-based decisions?
  • What changes to our political institutions can make them more representative, inclusive, deliberative, and participatory?
  • How do ideas and knowledge spread and what institutions can catalyze faster social learning and elevate fact over misinformation?
  • How can we build democratic political institutions founded on a realistic view of citizen engagement?
  • How can we attract dedicated and talented people to government and promote public engagement that contributes high-quality participation to the political system?
  • What new possibilities for government, representation, and citizen participation are introduced by modern technologies, including artificial intelligence?
  • What lessons can we learn about factors affecting government performance from history and social science?
  • How can we test our ideas scientifically and how can we work to put proven good ideas into practice?

QUALIFICATIONS

We are interested in theoretical and empirical scholars doing basic or applied research on these and related questions. We are also interested in scholars who are experts in novel systems of representation and decision making, especially any innovations in voting, citizens’ assemblies, or other political reforms that have been introduced recently and take advantage of advances in communication or computation. 

Fellowship positions are open to those who have recently completed their Ph.D. (in the last 6 years), or to those who currently hold a faculty position as long as it is without tenure. Junior scholars are generally supported at a standard postdoctoral level for a period of one year beginning July 1, 2024 and are expected to be in residence during the academic year. In some cases, the fellowship may be extended to a second year. Fellows are expected to be actively engaged with the activities of the Democratic Innovations program and present their research at least once per semester. Salary is negotiable depending on qualifications and may, in some cases, include minimal teaching responsibilities.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send cover letter, research statement, current C.V., one writing sample, and two letters of recommendation. A copy of graduate transcripts is also required for postdoctoral applicants not currently holding a faculty position. We will begin reviewing applications February 1, 2024 and continue reviewing applications until the search is complete. Please apply on Interfolio at this link.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Yale values diversity among its students, staff, and faculty and strongly welcomes applications from women, persons with disabilities, protected veterans, and underrepresented minorities.