Office of the Dean of Faculty
Help

Application for Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Behavioral Science for Policy Lab (BSPL) and the Rapid Switch Initiative are seeking an outstanding researcher for a Postdoctoral Researcher Associate or a more senior researcher position starting in the Spring of 2024 or sooner. BSPL is an interdisciplinary center that facilitates research and understanding on consumer behavior, the implications of decision making on public policy, and the neurological underpinnings of judgment and decision making. The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment and the Rapid Switch Initiative are focused on resolving critical challenges to securing a sustainable energy and environmental future. 

The researcher will report to BSPL's Director Elke Weber and Rapid Switch lead Chris Greig and will collaborate with other lab and center researchers, postdocs, and graduate students across disciplines. The researcher will contribute to the design and implementation of an applied research project to increase the speed and scale of the ongoing sustainable energy and net-zero carbon transition by identifying and removing critical barriers to change.  The barriers to be addressed in this work are (a) a deficit of trust between civil society and the private and public sector, and (b) overconfidence among experts and decision-makers that influence and implement energy transition plans and trajectories, including their reliance on (necessarily incompletely specified) models.  This requires knowledge of the literature on organizational change and the psychological literature on individual and social change as well as on trust and confidence. Previous research or professional experience in the renewable energy sector and sustainability would be valuable. Tools will include web-based surveys, online lab and field studies, AI assisted text analysis, and agent-based modeling.  The postdoc will be expected to employ a combination of approaches, from the identification and analysis of existing real-world data sets arising as the result of natural experiments, to the design and analysis of field or lab intervention studies that collect process and outcome measures related to decision making in various domains.  We are particularly interested in candidates with computational modeling and strong statistical skills.

Other duties include contribution to other ongoing center projects, preparation of and participation in workshops, and drafting reports and papers for publication.

Required qualifications:
 *   Ph.D. in psychology (cognitive, social, or other relevant subdisciplines), sociology, behavioral economics, decision sciences, or another relevant discipline.
 *   Familiarity with normative and descriptive theories of decision making, individual and social change, diffusion of innovation, and organizational change.
 *   Skilled in the use of laboratory-based experiments.
 *.  Some familiarity with qualitative/interview/field work.
 *   Computational or agent-based modeling experience.
 *   Data analysis and modeling skills using statistical software packages (preferably R) and econometrics.
 *   Proficiency in web-based computer programming (online experimentation and surveys).

Desired qualifications:
 *   Relevant publications
 *   Experience working as a member of interdisciplinary teams.
 *   Previous research or professional experience in energy and sustainability related change.
  
The Term of appointment is based on rank. Positions at the postdoctoral rank are for one year with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding; those hired at more senior ranks may have multi-year appointments.

Applicants must apply online at https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/33421 and submit a CV, cover letter, two publication or writing samples, and contact information for two references. 

The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University. This position is subject to the University's background check policy. Please reach out to ayasalim@princeton.edu with any questions.

Requisition No: D-24-ENE-00011

*Required information is denoted with an asterisk.

How to Apply

The form below must be completed to submit your application for this position.

It is recommended that you read through the entire application and gather the required application materials before beginning your application. You will not be able to save or return to edit a partial application. Only complete applications will be accepted for consideration and the application form must be completed in its entirety before it can be submitted.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address that you provide in your application. In some cases, your references may be contacted using the email address that you provide for them and may be asked to provide their recommendation via a web-based form similar to the application form.

Be sure to provide the correct email addresses for you and all of your references to ensure that communications from Princeton University are properly delivered.

For more information send an email to ayasalim@princeton.edu.

Personal Information

Address

Advanced Degree Information

Current Affiliation

References

Please provide 2 references. Those listed may be contacted either immediately upon submission of your application or at a later stage determined by the academic unit.

Documents

Please attach the following documents.
Only PDF documents are allowed, with a max size of 10MB each.

No Document Selected
Browse...
No Document Selected
Browse...
No Document Selected
Browse...

Self Identification Data

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

If you are a qualified individual with a disability and you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Jobs at Princeton system as a result of your disability, you can request a reasonable accommodation by calling The Office of The Dean of The Faculty at 609-258-8989 or by sending an e-mail to dofjobs@princeton.edu.

The voluntary information requested below is used to assist us in our compliance with Federal / State Equal Employment Opportunity record keeping and reporting. Your response is voluntary and will not be used in any way to determine your eligibility for employment.

*Required information is denoted with an asterisk.

Gender
*Ethnicity

Please indicate if you are of Hispanic or Latino[a] culture or origin including Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin (including Spain) regardless of race.

Racial Identity
In addition, select one or more of the following racial categories to describe yourself. If you choose not to disclose, do not select a racial category.
Click for Category Definitions
Voluntary Self-Identification of Veteran Status Click for Voluntary Self-Identification of Veteran Status Definitions

Voluntary Self Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 4/30/2026



Why are you being asked to complete this information?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

Before responding, please read the full Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability form by clicking here.

*Required information is denoted with an asterisk.

How do I know if I have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.

Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Do you have a disability:

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal Law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

Section 503 of the rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. For more information about this question or the equal employment obligations of the federal contractors, visit the U.S. Department of Labor's office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Current Employment At Princeton

Are you currently employed by Princeton University?

Work Eligibility

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
Do you now, or will you in the future, require immigration sponsorship for work authorization?

By submitting my application for employment to Princeton University, I certify that:

  1. all information I provide to Princeton University is accurate, complete, and true;
  2. my conduct and performance of my previous responsibilities pertinent to my prospective employment at Princeton (including, if applicable, my conduct as a graduate student) have complied with governing/applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and laws, and have conformed to the community standards of institutions such as Princeton University (including standards related to ethical and respectful behavior and academic integrity); and
  3. I understand Princeton University expects all applicants to exhibit the highest level of integrity and ethical conduct, and that my concealment of any information, or my provision of misleading or false information, the University considers to be relevant will constitute grounds for it to cease the consideration of my employment or, if I am selected or hired, to withdraw or rescind my job offer or to terminate my employment, as applicable.

Please click the "submit" button once. Depending on the size of your uploaded file(s), this step may take a few minutes. You will be sent to a confirmation page when the application is complete.