The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) is recruiting highly qualified Post-Docs/Research Scientists, at various levels of seniority, to join the Lab of Digital and Computational Demography.

MPIDR is one of the leading demographic centers in the world. It is part of the Max Planck Society, a network of 84 institutes that form Germany's premier basic-research organization. Max Planck Institutes have an established record of world-class, foundational research in the sciences, technology, social sciences and the humanities. They offer a unique environment that combines the best aspects of an academic setting and a research laboratory.

The Lab of Digital and Computational Demography, headed by MPIDR Director Emilio Zagheni, is looking for candidates with a background in Demography, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, Sociology, Geography, Applied Mathematics, Public Health, Public Policy, or related disciplines.

The successful candidate must have a PhD (or receive it soon) and is expected to conduct cutting-edge research that produces methodological advances in the field of Digital and Computational Demography and/or and addresses relevant questions in the following key substantive areas of demography:

Migration and mobility

Population aging and generational processes

Social and environmental forces and population dynamics

The growing Lab of Digital and Computational Demography brings together methodologists (from areas like Statistics, Computer Science or Mathematical Demography) with experts in areas of the Social Sciences (e.g., Sociology, Geography, Economics, etc.) in order to favor cross-pollination of ideas, to advance methods and theory, and to address pressing societal questions.

Examples of project areas relevant for the Lab include (but are not limited to):

1) Combining traditional data sources as well as those that emerge from the digitalization of our lives to study demographic processes, like migration, health and well-being, intergenerational relationships and gender disparities.

2) Developing innovative forms of data collection for demographic research (e.g., surveys via web and social media advertisement platforms, or data collected via sensors, tracking devices, mobile phone apps, or crowd-source approaches).

3) Developing simulation models of individual choices and population-level processes to produce new insights on demographic dynamics and advance population theory.

4) Evaluating the impact of the digitalization of our lives on demographic behavior and population processes.

5) Modeling, estimating and predicting the relationships between environmental change, demographic processes and disease dynamics.

For more information about the Lab of Digital and Computational Demography, see: www.demogr.mpg.de/go/lab-dcd

Applications have to be submitted online via job portal and include the following documents:

Curriculum Vitae

Letter of interest (Max 1 page) Briefly state why you are interested in joining MPIDR, how MPIDR could foster your professional development and career trajectory, and in which ways your interests fit the research strengths of MPIDR.   

Research Statement (Max 2 pages) Briefly describe your research accomplishments, as well as ongoing and future research plans. Please also describe your technical skills, areas of expertise, as well as the type of advanced training that you would like to receive as a research scientist.

Names and contact information for 3 academic references

One or two writing samples or publications

In order to receive full consideration, applications should be submitted by October 17th, 2019. The starting date is flexible, but no later than Fall 2020. Successful applicants will be offered a 3-year contract with remuneration commensurate to experience (starting from approx. 54,000 EUR gross per year for researchers who have just completed their PhD, up to approx. 70,000 EUR gross per year for more senior scientists), based on the salary structure of the German public sector (Öffentlicher Dienst, TVöD Bund). For inquiries about the positions, please contact sekzagheni@demogr.mpg.de.

Our institute values diversity and is committed to employing individuals from minorities. Individuals with severe disability are especially welcome to apply. Our Institute and the Max Planck Society also seek to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourage women to apply.