Postdoctoral Scholar – Institute of Governmental Studies
Posted: 3/5/2018 (Employment)
Departmental Overview
The Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS), established in 1919, is a medium-sized high profile organized research unit reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Research. IGS supports interdisciplinary research, public service and policy, sponsoring and facilitating academic research activities, student fellowships, awards and internship opportunities, and a variety of programmatic interdisciplinary colloquia, seminars, and conferences. It is home to seven research centers or programs, an affiliated library, a publishing unit, and an active development and fundraising program
Project Background
To strengthen democracy around the world, organizations and activists constantly make strategic choices about how best to inform, engage, and amplify the voices of ordinary people and mobilize collective action. Research often is not available to serve the needs of these actors. We seek to build a university-based center focused on sharpening organizations’ capacity to make these choices by developing a generation of scholars from diverse backgrounds who can do work that simultaneously meets the highest standards of academic rigor and addresses concrete needs of practitioners. To begin developing the vision for this center, we have received an 18 month planning grant to meet with practitioners, co-construct a plan, and begin to develop a program for training graduate students. The postdoctoral researcher will be central to our planning process, and be primarily responsible for managing different parts of the planning grant.
Responsibilities
The postdoctoral scholar’s role will be five main areas:
- Assisting the co-PIs with the conceptual work necessary to identify best practices for engaging in this type of engaged scholarship, including potentially managing the development of white papers in this area;
- Helping to develop and manage a network of scholars who can help lead this work in their disciplines;
- Serving as the main liaison between practitioners and the project, including being in regular communication with them; running webinars focused on the use of research evidence; and assisting in the planning of scheduled convenings;
- In collaboration with the co-PIs, designing and launching a research institute in summer 2019 to pilot a practitioner/researcher training model;
- Working with the co-PIs to design and implement “proof of concept” research projects putting the conceptual frameworks into practice in the field.
We seek candidates that have some experience working with community-based organizations and conducting research “on the ground,” some background in community organizing, and a strong level of cultural competency for dealing with diverse populations.
Basic Qualifications (by the time of application): The minimum qualification required to be considered an applicant for the position is the completion of all doctoral degree requirements except the dissertation in any related social science field (e.g., political science, sociology, ethnic studies, public policy, etc.)
Additional Qualifications (required by start date)
- A PhD or equivalent foreign degree in a related social science field
- Ability to work both independently and in collaboration.
- Knowledge of at least one statistical analysis package or program (R, SAS, SPSS and/or Stata).
Questions regarding this position can be directed to Ciana Gallardo at cianagallardo@berkeley.edu.
Applications can be submitted at https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF01659.
Complete applications will include a cover letter, CV, a statement of research, and the names and contact information for three references.
Deadline: 03/26/2018
Location: UC Berkeley