Post-Doctoral position in Computational Collective Behavior

Position overview

Salary range :

A reasonable salary estimate for this position is $66,373 - $71,769

Application Window

Open date : April 25, 2025

Most recent review date : Friday, Jun 6, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date : Friday, Mar 27, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

We are looking to recruit two postdoctoral scholars for a position in an interdisciplinary NSF-funded research project. The goal is to discover how collectives can be made more creative, intelligent and when they can select the rules governing their interactions. The focus of the position is on designing and running large-scale online behavioral experiments.

We are seeking candidates with strong quantitative and computational training in behavioral, cognitive, or social science. Computer / information scientists with interest in human behavior are also welcome to apply. Scholars will work closely with each other and the project's lead investigators : computational social scientist Seth Frey @ UC Davis, cognitive scientist Nori Jacoby @ Cornell University, behavioral scientist Ofer Tchernichovski @ Hunter College CUNY, and sociologist Dalton Conley @ Princeton University. The positions will be based in UC Davis and Cornell University

The successful applicant will have :

• Excellent research track record.
• Excellent programming skills.
• Experience in computational and statistical methods and analyses.
• A track record of both independent initiative and effective teamwork.
• Clear argument for alignment with career trajectory / goals

Additional qualities that will be valued if available, or on offer during training :

The position will remain open until filled. We will begin reviewing applications starting as early as June 6, 2025. Potential applications should feel comfortable contacting sethfrey@ucdavis.edu and kj338@cornell.edu directly for questions about the call, including its current status.

A reasonable salary estimate for this position is $66,373 - $71,769. with full benefits and union membership.

Submit application materials to : https : / / recruit.ucdavis.edu / JPF07059.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

PhD required. Degree in hand at the time of appointment (applications from students close to completing their degrees considered).

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Cover Letter

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Link to a past project or your portfolio (e.g.Zenodo / OSF / GitHub / etc.) - Please submit a document with a link to a past project or your portfolio (e.g. Zenodo / OSF / GitHub / etc.)

Writing Sample - Article, dissertation chapters, etc.

Writing Sample 2 - Optional second submission

(Optional)

Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements

Apply link :

https : / / recruit.ucdavis.edu / JPF07059

Help contact : sethfrey@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

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The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

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