Duke University, Social Science Research Institute
Position ID:
Duke-SSRI-CAHPOSTDOC [#31618, 51212972]
Position Title:
Postdoctoral Associate
Position Type:
Postdoctoral
Position Location:
Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States of America
Subject Areas:
Appl Deadline:
(posted 2026/02/02, listed until 2026/06/28)
Position Description:
Position Description
A Call for Postdoctoral Position in Behavioral Economics and Applied Behavioral Science at DukeHost: Professor Dan Ariely, Duke University (Center for Advanced Hindsight)
Description:
We invite applications for a one-year postdoctoral position (with the option for renewal, potentially up to 3 years) in Professor Dan Ariely’s lab at Duke University. The position focuses on designing, implementing, and analyzing behavioral experiments that aim to understand and improve real-world decision-making.
The postdoctoral researcher will work on projects that may include (but are not limited to):
• Designing field, online, and lab experiments to study issues such as motivation, dishonesty, cooperation, financial decision making, health behaviors, and habit formation
• Developing and testing behavioral interventions and “nudges” in collaboration with external partners (e.g., companies, nonprofits, policy organizations)
• Using advanced data analysis methods to extract interpretable patterns from large, messy, real-world datasets (e.g., panel data, clickstream data, intervention data, survey and psychometric data)
• Contributing to theory development in behavioral economics and social science by connecting empirical findings to broader conceptual frameworks
The postdoctoral fellow will join a highly interdisciplinary environment, collaborating with researchers from economics, psychology, data science, public policy, and related fields. Mentorship will focus on research development, publication, and preparation for academic or industry careers in behavioral science.
Training and Skills Required
Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field by the start date of the appointment, such as: Behavioral economics, psychology, cognitive science, decision sciences, or related social sciences.
Essential skills and experience:
• Strong background in experimental design and/or causal inference (lab, field, or online experiments)
• Extensive experience with data analysis (e.g., R, Python, or similar)
• A clear record (or strong potential) of writing academic papers efficiently and independently
Desired but not required:
• Experience with survey design, psychometrics, or longitudinal data
• Background in applied statistics
• Experience collaborating with organizations outside academia (industry, government, or NGOs)
Professionally, the successful candidate should demonstrate:
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team
• Capacity to manage projects and timelines independently
• Comfort giving and receiving feedback in a fast-moving, idea-rich environment
Timeline: The postdoc can begin as early as possible, with flexibility for later start dates depending on the candidate’s situation. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
Teaching
The position does not require teaching, but there may be opportunities for teaching, guest lecturing, and mentoring students if the candidate is interested in gaining additional pedagogical experience.
Application and Contact
Interested applicants should submit and email dandan@duke.edu the following documents:
1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. A brief statement of research interests and how they relate to behavioral economics and the lab’s work
3. One or two representative publications or working papers
4. Names and contact information of three referees who could provide letters of recommendation if requested.
Duke is an 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, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military 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.
Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Interest
- Publications or Working papers
- Three Reference Name and Contact Infos
And anything else requested in the position description.
Further Info: