Postdoctoral Researcher
Position Overview
The Kansas Data Science Consortium (KDSC) is a project housed at the Institute for Policy & Social Research (IPSR), a faculty-driven research center supporting social scientists who focus on social problems and policy-relevant research questions. The KDSC at the University of Kansas invites candidates to apply for a Postdoctoral Researcher position for a 9-month appointment. The position is expected to begin as early as September 1, 2026. KDSC is particularly interested in candidates who aspire to become academic researchers in applied microeconomics (particularly labor and education), environmental economics, or international trade. The Postdoctoral Researcher will work closely with Dr. William Duncan on multiple projects related to data housed in KDSC’s signature program, Community Data Labs. The position offers opportunities for co-authorship on publications. The candidate will also have opportunities to collaborate with IPSR-affiliated faculty. This work is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation.
Job Description
Research: Data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Prepare, test, and document complex datasets for sponsored research: Combine data from multiple sources. Combine data from multiple years to create longitudinal datasets. Test created datasets for consistency, outliers, and missing values. Document code to make updating and revision easier. Perform work as part of a research team.
Scholarly Outputs: Craft scholarly outputs such as conference proposals and peer-reviewed manuscripts. Prepare and present updates on ongoing research, provide written reports on progress, participate in group meetings. Prepare and present technical workshops to the Community Data Labs class and KDSC Research Lab. Collaborate with ARISE theme researchers and present research at ARISE events.
Teaching: Teach data science students and provide feedback and guidance on student data science projects. Provide Support for Data Science Majors and Courses. Provide data science consulting services by request in collaboration with the KDSC Data Engineer.
Required Qualifications
- A PhD in economics, public policy, political science, geography, sociology, or demography, with an emphasis on quantitative methods.
- Experience with programming in STATA, SAS or R and handling large-scale population surveys and administrative records, as evidenced in application materials.
- Strong writing and communication skills, as demonstrated in application materials.
- A proven ability to work independently, as demonstrated in application materials.
Note
To be appointed at the Postdoctoral Researcher title, it is necessary to have the PhD in hand. Appointments made without a certified transcript indicating an earned doctorate are conditional hires and are appointed on an acting basis not to exceed 6-months. Appointment duration will be extended upon final verification of degree.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience with quantitative research related to applied microeconomic disciplines.
- Strong microeconometric skills, as demonstrated by research using these methods.
Additional Candidate Instructions
- In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position: Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications. Resume. List of three (3) professional references. Writing sample.
Contact Information to Applicants
Emma Howard, e.howard@ku.edu
KDSC | Research Project Specialist
Advertised Salary Range: $60,000 - $68,000, commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
Tuesday, August 3, 2026
Anticipated Start Date
Tuesday, September 1, 2026