The University of Nebraska Public Policy
Center (Lincoln, NE), in partnership with the National
Center for State Courts (Williamsburg, VA), is seeking a
postdoctoral fellow based in Lincoln to serve as a key
member of our Interdisciplinary Trust and Confidence
research project. The fellowship is a two-year appointment
and is funded by the Law & Social Science Program of the
National Science Foundation. The overarching goal of the
project is to advance the understanding of trust and
confidence in institutions of authority by incorporating
relevant research and perspectives from diverse disciplines
into theoretical models. These models will be tested using a
variety of empirical methodologies and sophisticated
statistical techniques.
In addition to joining ongoing research
activities examining trust and confidence in governmental
institutions (e.g., courts, municipal government, regulatory
agencies) and science generally (e.g., agricultural
biotechnology, climate science, nanotechnology, and
virology), the fellow will assist with the development of
new research efforts, coordinate workshops (including a
Nebraska Symposium on Motivation to take place in the spring
of 2014 focused on trust and confidence), and supervise
independent research by undergraduate and graduate students.
The fellow also will spend four weeks a year at the National
Center for State Courts (NCSC), learning about field
research on trust and confidence. Funding is available to
attend one national research or professional conference
annually.
The postdoctoral fellow will join a team
currently representing social, community, and educational
psychology; political and policy science; sociology; and
law. The team is set to expand to include contributors from
additional disciplines in the social and natural sciences,
including academic colleagues from Africa interested in
trust/confidence in the contexts of agricultural
biotechnology and food security.
A candidate’s doctorate can be in any
field, providing the candidate has an interest in
trust/confidence in governmental institutions; however, we
prefer experience in and knowledge of social science
theories and methods. Supervision experience is preferred.
The postdoctoral fellow will be mentored by Public Policy
and National Center researchers on grant writing,
publishing, and other research-related activities, and s/he
will be able to take coursework to supplement existing
expertise, if desired, at the University of Nebraska.
Starting date is flexible and can be as early as January
2013. Salary is $51,799 for the first 12 months, and $53,353
for the second 12 months.
Review of applications will begin
November 30, 2012 and continue until position filled or
search closed. To be considered for this position go to
http://employment.unl.edu,
requisition #120890 and complete the Faculty/Academic
Administrative form and attach curriculum vitae, statement
of research interests, a writing sample and contact
information for three references. If you have any questions
please contact Alan Tomkins, Director, University of
Nebraska Public Policy Center, at
atomkins@unl.edu
or 402-472-5688.
