Call for Expressions of Interest: Postdoctoral Researcher in ERC Project LEAD

The ERC-funded project LEAD (Leveraging Early Adolescence for Development: Longitudinal and Experimental Evidence from Ghana), led by Dr. Elisabetta Aurino, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join its research team at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB). This groundbreaking project focuses on early adolescent development, leveraging cutting-edge experimental and longitudinal data to address critical gaps in our understanding of child development in low-resource settings.

Position Details

• Start Date: As soon as possible.
• Duration: 2 years, with the possibility of extension.
• Salary: €34,000–36,000 gross per year, competitive with leading postdoctoral programs in Europe.
• Teaching Duties: None.
• Location: School of Economics, Department of Economic History and Development, Universitat de Barcelona.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to high-impact research on early adolescent development in low-resource settings.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of experts in economics, developmental psychology, and global health.
• Engage in the design, implementation, and analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and longitudinal studies.

 

Your Profile

• PhD in Economics or a related field (e.g., Development Economics, Behavioral Economics, or Experimental Methods).
• Strong research interest in child development, education, health, or related topics.
• Quantitative skills and proficiency in statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, or Python).
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
• A strong publication record or high potential for impactful research.
• Fluency in English (knowledge of Spanish or Catalan is not required).

 

Why Join LEAD?

The LEAD project offers an unparalleled opportunity to work on an innovative study that combines experimental and longitudinal methods to explore adolescent development in Ghana. Researchers will have access to a rich dataset of approximately 2,500 children who have been followed since preschool as part of a prior RCT. This project will test the impact of a parenting skills program and analyze dynamic complementarities between early childhood and adolescent interventions, with a focus on outcomes such as social-emotional and academic skills, health (including biomarkers), and life transitions.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior researchers, including Dr. Elisabetta Aurino, as well as an interdisciplinary team of collaborators from institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, and University of Ghana.

 

Application Process

If interested, please email Dr. Elisabetta Aurino (e.aurino@ub.edu) with the following:

1. Motivation letter describing your research interests and fit for the LEAD project.
2. Full CV.
3. Two writing samples (e.g., published articles, thesis chapters, or manuscripts).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

For more information, contact e.aurino@ub.edu.

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