Postdoctoral Scholar, Psychology and Economics of Poverty
Posted: 2/18/2020 (Employment)
The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley, seeks an outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar (postdoc) to support its Psychology and Economics of Poverty (PEP) Initiative. In collaboration with the PEP Co-Scientific Directors, Drs. Supreet Kaur (Economics) and Mahesh Srinivasan (Psychology), the postdoc will engage in planning and carrying out original interdisciplinary research on the psychology and economics of poverty. To inform this research, the postdoc will conduct and publish an in-depth review of the literature at the intersection of psychology and economics, outlining key findings, knowledge gaps and promising avenues for further research. Both the research projects and review paper will focus on cognitive and behavioral effects of poverty and will serve to hone the research agenda for CEGA’s growing PEP initiative.
In collaboration with the Co-Scientific Directors, the postdoc will help conceptualize and conduct research focused on how poverty affects cognition, decision-making, health, and early childhood development outcomes. To establish a framework for exploring emerging domains of interest in research on poverty, the postdoc will also undertake and publish a thorough review of relevant economics and psychology literature. Some potential lines of inquiry may include: 1) how poverty impacts cognitive load, decision-making, social cognition, mental health, aspirations, or economic and/or health outcomes; 2) belief formation, the relevance of belief-based utility, effective adaptations to poverty, and the role of the “psychological immune system” 3) the psychological consequences of resource stability or volatility, 4) the influence of cultural context and social norms on outcomes related to the above topics.
This is a one-year full-time position with possibility for extension. Salary range is commensurate with experience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until April 1, 2020 or until the position is filled. The anticipated start date of the position is September 1, 2020. To apply, include your most recently updated Curriculum Vitae (required), a cover letter (required), and three professional references (required) to the Psychology and Economics of Poverty Postdoc Submittable page.
Deadline: 04/01/2020
Location: UC Berkeley