Cities, Communities, and Social Infrastructure

The Institute for Public Knowledge’s (IPK) is searching for two postdoctoral research fellows to work on an ambitious, comparative project on how social infrastructure shapes cities and communities, with a focus on climate change, equity, belonging, and civic life. The positions are for one-year appointments, with the possibility of an extension for a second year. Social infrastructure refers to the physical places and organizations that shape conditions for collective life. In the public sector, libraries, parks, playgrounds, schools, swimming pools, athletic facilities, and senior centers are prominent forms of social infrastructure. In the private and nonprofit sectors, social infrastructure includes the YMCA, religious organizations, coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. Social infrastructure can be inclusive or exclusive, fostering in-group bonding or cross-group bridging, and is therefore a public good that can be beneficial or harmful. The research fellows will be part of a multidisciplinary team (including social scientists, policy analysts, urban planners, and designers) that will work to advance theories about social infrastructure and also establish better empirical evidence about its role in contemporary American cities and communities.

The postdoctoral fellows will be expected to do original empirical work assessing the state of social infrastructure in New York, to contribute to the IPK’s collective project on social infrastructure, and be part of the life of the institute. Fellows should expect to spend some time on extended research trips in different parts of New York. (IPK will cover travel expenses.) We are open to fellows with a range of skills and will consider applicants with backgrounds in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The position is open to candidates with doctoral degrees in the social sciences, humanities, urban planning, and public policy. We will consider all applications but are especially interested in applicants interested in cities, communities, climate change, inequality, democracy, design, race and ethnicity, and class.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the search is successful. The position could begin as early as October, 2024, and no later than January, 2025.

The Institute for Public Knowledge, a provostial institute, was founded in 2007 to align scholarship with major public issues. The Institute selects and develops topics for consideration and discussion in an effort to bring together academics, social researchers, and organizational leaders around issues of public concern. To further these investigations, the Institute forms working groups, which include organizational representatives, graduate students, faculty, and IPK Visiting Scholars from various organizations and academic institutions who share an interest in IPK’s topics and concerns.

Additional Information: In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the compensation for this position is $70,000-$85,000 USD. A New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/nyugreen.EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

As part of this application please submit the following:

• Your most recent CV/Resume

• A statement of interested

• 2 references sent to ipk.info@nyu.edu with the subject Line: Reference for "[Full Name]"

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NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability