POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE

This position is fully grantfunded

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Post-Doctoral Associate

Religion and Social Change Lab

Duke University

Start Date: July 1st, 2025

The Religion and Social Change Lab (RaSCL) at Duke University is seeking a postdoctoral research associate. You will join a team of researchers studying religious leaders, with a particular emphasis on seminary training. You can read more about our team and our research on our website. RaSCL is closely allied with the Duke Clergy Health Initiative and the Duke Divinity School.

Description of Duties

The position will entail writing original research articles and stakeholder reports broadly on clergy formation, the dynamics of politics and polarization in Mainline Protestant churches, clergy health, and the religious trends impacting churches and those who lead them. In addition, the successful candidate can devote a small portion of their time to publishing research from their dissertation. We expect the successful candidate to publish in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to stakeholder reports.

Responsibilities will include qualitative data collection, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and writing. It will also involve developing research protocols, participant interactions and scheduling, manuscript preparation, IRB submissions, and the supervision of students and research assistants.

Applicants must have completed a PhD in sociology or psychology prior to the start date.

Position Specifics:

The initial appointment will be for one year. A second year will be offered to candidates showing high levels of productivity. Review of candidates will begin immediately until the position is filled.

The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025. The position will require relocation to the Raleigh/Durham area and participation in the intellectual life of RaSCL and the broader clergy research collaborative. The position may involve occasional travel to conduct fieldwork in North Carolina and/or around the Southeastern USA. Funding is provided to present research at disciplinary conferences.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• Applicants must have experience doing qualitative data analysis using software such as NVivo.
• Applicants must be able to relocate to the Research Triangle.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and deliver consistently high-quality outputs on time.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, with demonstrated ability to set priorities and goals with adherence to project timelines required.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively both independently and collaboratively on research projects and papers.
• Experience researching Christian religious communities; Familiarity with Mainline Protestant denominations and/or seminary education is highly desired.
• Experience doing mixed-methods and/or quantitative research; Experience with quantitative data analysis in R is desired.
• Experience conducting fieldwork and/or with ethnographic methods.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.