Job opening in the Lab: Postdoctoral Fellowship (2 years)

The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab at Brandeis University invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to begin in March 2021. We seek an enthusiastic and team-oriented social scientist with expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods to collaborate on a large national project about the supply and demand of chaplains / spiritual care providers in the United States. The postdoctoral fellow will play a key role in this project with primary responsibility for qualitative data collection and analysis and collaboration on quantitative data collection and analysis. The fellow will also be responsible for non-financial aspects of administrative project management. We estimate the overall breakdown will be 75% research and 25% administrative.

Terms:

• Duration: 24 months with the possibility of a 12-month extension. The position will begin in March 2021
• Location: in-person at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA when offices open post-pandemic. Occasional travel to professional meetings required.
• Salary range: $60-65,000 based on experience
• For more information about the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab please visit: https://chaplaincyinnovation.org/.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborating with the PI with design, data collection and analysis of data about the theological schools, clinical training programs, professional associations and other entities training chaplains and spiritual care providers in the United States today. Much of this “supply-side” data will be gathered in interviews.
• Collaborate with a team to design a national-survey of people who have had contact with a chaplain in the last two years (i.e. “demand-side” data).
• Contribute to academic papers and public facing writing (op-eds, blogs, ebooks) based on the supply-side data gathered.
• Provide non-financial project management for this three-year project including managing the timeline, supporting the PI to manage a large advisory committee, attending relevant professional meetings, and planning and organizing regular project team meetings.
• Undertaking other tasks including literature reviews and report writing as needed.

Qualifications:

• PhD in the social sciences in hand by July 1, 2021. Preference given to PhDs in Sociology or Religious Studies with dissertations based on primary field data.
• Demonstrated research and writing skills evident in scholarly publications.
• Experience designing, conducting and analyzing in-depth interviews. Knowledge of Atlas-TI. Knowledge of basic survey design including data manipulation in SPSS or Stata.
• In-depth knowledge of the American religious landscape and willingness to learn about aspects of theological education, chaplaincy, spiritual care, etc.
• Strong organizational skills. Self-driven work ethic and interest in collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team.

Application:

• Interested candidates should send to Darra Sweetser (dsweetser@brandeis.edu) in attachments to a single email:
  • A brief cover letter indicated your interest and experience for the position. Please include details of your research experience, your organizational skills, and your work on project teams. If your PhD is not in hand, please specify how many chapters are drafted and include the name and contact information for your advisor who can verify a defense date by July 1, 2021
  • An academic CV
  • Two writing samples – ideally one for an academic audience and one for a broader public audience
  • The names and contact information of two references. We will request letters from short-listed candidates.
• Review of applications will begin on January 18, 2021.
• Questions about the position can be directed to Darra Sweetser (dsweetser@brandeis.edu)

At Brandeis, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential components of academic excellence. Brandeis University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating equitable access and opportunities for applicants to all employment positions. Because diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of Brandeis’ history and mission, we value and are seeking candidates with a variety of social identities, including those that have been underrepresented in higher education, who possess skills that spark innovation, and who, through their scholarly pursuits, teaching, and/or service experiences, bring expertise in building, engaging, and sustaining a pluralistic, unified, and just campus community.

Land Acknowledgment: We acknowledge that Brandeis University, where we teach, research, and reside, occupies Nipmuc and Massachusett homelands and territories.