New York University

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The New York University Development Research Institute (DRI) is devoted to rigorous, scholarly research on the economic development and growth of poor countries. For AY21-22, DRI is offering a competitive postdoctoral fellowship to promising young scholars working in development economics. The position is renewable for one additional academic year (2022-2023). Postdoctoral fellows will be in residence at DRI’s offices at NYU.

The fellowship provides opportunities for recent PhDs to focus on their individual areas of research, prior to taking on the full responsibilities of a faculty position. It also offers collaboration with NYU faculty members, including DRI’s co-directors, Rajeev Dehejia, William Easterly, Yaw Nyarko, and DRI-affiliated faculty. Postdoctoral fellows will be asked to devote a fraction of their time working on ongoing DRI studies, but will also pursue their own research interests; candidates whose projects overlap with DRI's work have a greater chance of being selected.

For AY21-22, the DRI project is investigating the potential for expert opinion of academics, policymakers, and participants to provide guidance on selecting new sites for, and determining the viability of, a previously successful microfinance intervention. The project involves working with a team of field researchers from a partner NYU institute and possible field work. Strong substantive interest in development along with empirical methodological interests and knowledge will be an advantage.

Additional responsibilities include helping to organize seminars for the NYU community to share and discuss current development research, which also serves as a platform for fellows to showcase their work. In addition to producing papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals, fellows will be asked to contribute to the DRI website.

We are seeking candidates not only of exceptional scholarly promise but also orientation towards informing and engaging in public debate and discussion on development issues. Although the Institute has its roots in economics, DRI recognizes that development is an inter-disciplinary field and encourages applications from scholars whose work reaches into related disciplines. DRI is committed to encouraging the work of scholars with backgrounds outside the US and Europe.

The projected stipend is competitive with similar positions. Final confirmation of appointment is subject to budgetary approval.

Candidates for the fellowship beginning in AY21-22 should complete their PhD between May 2021 and September 2021.