Predoctoral Research Jobs at Princeton

Based in Princeton’s School of Public & International Affairs, in collaboration with and housed in the Department of Economics, the Research Program in Development Economics (https://rpde.princeton.edu/) carries out economics research on the causes and consequences of global poverty, with the goal of informing policy-making and thereby improving the lives of people living in low- and middle-income countries. We seek to hire talented and motivated predoctoral research specialists to assist several Economics faculty members working at RPDE.  Predocs will work with one or more of our faculty members, economists Pascaline Dupas, Thomas Fujiwara, Allan Hsiao, Seema Jayachandran, and Mica Sviatschi (along with their co-authors). This position is ideal for graduating seniors or master’s degree students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics or related fields. RPDE strongly encourages candidates with experience in low- and middle-income countries to apply though we welcome applications from all qualified candidates. This is a one year term position with the possibility of renewal for one year. Successful applicants will start in summer 2024. The position is in-person, based in Princeton, NJ.

A full-time Research Tech position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Yibin Kang at the Department of Molecular Biology. We use molecular biology approaches and mouse models of cancer to study cancer metastasis.

The LIMmunity (Lab of Infant and Maternal Immunity) seeks a highly motivated, organized Lab Manager for a full-time position within the Department of Molecular Biology. Our lab aims to establish a mechanistic understanding of how maternal infection impacts offspring’s long-term tissue immunity and, reciprocally, how maternal immunity adapts to physiological changes during pregnancy and lactation. We pledge to foster an inspiring and collaborative lab environment that values and supports each other, makes science enjoyable, fosters growth to become a better scientist, and improves women’s and children’s health together. We welcome applicants who share our collaborative philosophy and enjoy working in a team-orientated setting. Attention to detail, precision, good record-keeping, organization, time management, and communication skills are essential. The work performed by the successful candidate will be central to the core projects of the lab and will result in co-authorship on high-impact publications.    The position is available immediately with a negotiable start date. Although the initial appointment is for a one-year term, it is renewable and contingent on the candidate's satisfactory performance and/or career plans. To apply, please submit a resume/CV, a cover letter describing your research interests and career goals (~1-2 pages and your GPA if you are a recent graduate), and contact information for three professional references. More information about LIMmunity can be found at Limmunity.com, or please get in touch with Dr. Lim by email at aiinglim@princeton.edu.

We are seeking an experienced researcher and clinical coordinator for the Rutgers-Princeton Center for Computational Cognitive Neuroscience. The position involves recruiting participants with mental health conditions, as well as healthy controls, for behavioral studies; administering clinical assessments, cognitive batteries and self-report instruments to the study participants and running the behavioral tasks. Additional responsibilities include working with researchers at Princeton and Rutgers to identify and design new studies that could be run at the Center, writing and updating study protocols for these studies for review by the Institutional Review Board, and coordinating the Center seminar series and workshops. This is a one-year term position with the possibility of extension contingent upon satisfactory performance and/or continued funding.

The successful candidate will be part of a team that is responsible for supporting experimental research activities in audio and acoustics. Candidates must have working knowledge of digital processors and networking, digital signal processing, audio transducers, microphones, amplifiers and analog audio systems. Programming in C, C++. Working knowledge of Unix and Mac OS are a plus. Ability to solve problems, support research and work with students on projects. Duties include purchasing, maintaining the lab infrastructure, tools and equipment, repairs, and overseeing lab safety.

Aligned with Princeton University’s mission to serve all nations and humanity, and in partnership with the Rita Allen Foundation, the Graduate School seeks a Graduate Student Professional Development/Civic Science Fellow as part of a joint commitment to creating equitable pathways to opportunity for Ph.D. students at Princeton and across the country. The Fellow will participate in the Rita Allen Foundation's Civic Science program cohort designed to bring together post-doctoral fellows, organizations, and institutions who are committed to investing in talent and community by generating and connecting research and practice. The Fellow will engage, as part of a cohort, in a comprehensive professional development program sponsored by the Rita Allen Foundation while carrying out pioneering work to co-create pilots, partnerships, knowledge, models, and programs that foster greater collaboration between science and society.  Reporting to the Associate Dean for Professional Development & Director of GradFUTURES and collaborating with the entire team, the Civic Science Fellow will assist with several projects designed to demonstrate the importance and impact of offering holistic and transformative professional development for graduate students. These special projects and analyses will assist the Graduate School in producing reports regarding the impact of its professional development initiatives for all graduate students and identify recommended ways to expand and refine those efforts. Through sharing some of the aggregate findings and trends in select external publications, the Graduate School can serve the field with important insights to help advance professional development at other graduate institutions around the country and the world. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the professional development of doctoral students to expand the impact of the Ph.D. and to create a strong and supportive network of civic-minded leaders across organizations, disciplines, and communities, explicitly focused on ways to enhance social impact. The Fellow will collaborate closely with staff across campus and on the various teams at the Graduate School (Academic Affairs, Admissions, Student Affairs, and Access, Diversity, and Inclusion), and other partners. The Civic Science Fellow will also contribute to other events and programs to ensure the overall success of the GradFUTURES initiative and the priorities of the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School. This is an 18-month appointment.

The Krienen Lab (krienenlab.org) at Princeton University is looking for an experienced research technician to work as a full-time Research Specialist. Research in the lab focuses on understanding genetic influences that shape the development and evolution of the mammalian brain.Research Specialist responsibilities include using and developing cutting edge technologies such as cellular barcoding and single cell genomics to reveal conservation and innovation during mammalian brain development. This position provides an excellent opportunity to further develop research skills in neurobiology, genomics-based technology development and computational analysis. This is a one-year term position with the possibility of renewal, starting in the spring of 2024.

The Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP) is an interdisciplinary center at Princeton University. The center is a nexus of expertise in technology, engineering, public policy, and the social sciences on campus. In keeping with the strong University tradition of service, the center’s research, teaching, and events address digital technologies as they interact with society. The goal of the CITP Emerging Scholars program is to train scholars who have completed their undergraduate studies but require more coursework or research preparation to improve their chances of admission to highly competitive Ph.D. programs or another competitive career path, such as impactful placement in government, nonprofits, or the private sector. The program provides intensive research and/or work experience, coursework, and mentoring. The Emerging Scholars program is for people who have received a bachelor's degree (or will receive one by the time of appointment) in fields such as computer science, sociology, economics, political science, psychology, public policy, information science, communication, philosophy, and other related technology policy disciplines.  The CITP’s Emerging Scholars program participants are hired as salaried research specialists for a period of two years to work for CITP and will receive all benefits associated with their status as regular University staff.  Applicants must apply online here. Candidates are encouraged to apply by January 12, 2024 for full consideration. Interested applicants must submit:- CV- Transcripts (official or unofficial)- Applicants should provide the contact information of two references, and one should be an academic reference, if possible. References will only be contacted if the candidate is short-listed.- Statement of purpose: Applicants must provide information about:(1) how their background and training has prepared them for this position (2) projects they might want to work on if accepted (to learn more about research and policy work at CITP please visit our website, and to learn more about projects potential mentors are working on, please visit the mentor's webpage)(3) what they hope to gain from the program in terms of their long term and short-term career goals. CITP is committed to building a culturally diverse community and strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in this field. If you have any questions about this position or the application process, please feel free to contact us at citp@princeton.edu. 

Connectome Annotation Manager OverviewThe Seung & Murthy Lab at Princeton Neuroscience Institute aims to make discoveries by mapping the brain. The Lab is using high-throughput serial electron microscopy (SEM) to completely image multiple brains and nervous systems. The massive data sets will be utilized to reconstruct neuronal circuits, ultimately culminating in the complete connectome—or wiring diagram—of the brain. The connectome will provide the most complete anatomical description of a complex nervous system to date in an organism uniquely suited to combine this anatomical information with functional imaging, electrophysiology, quantitative behavioral assays, precise genetic manipulation of identified cell types and computational modeling. Thus we expect these circuit-level reconstructions to inform specific biological experiments, enabling dramatic leaps in our understanding of brain function.We are seeking a talented individual to assemble, train, and lead a group of approximately six on-site neuron tracing staff and over thirty off-site personnel, with the potential for a significantly larger effort based on the established success of the initial team. In order to be successful, the manager must have research experience in neuroanatomy, preferably in the application of electron microscopy to elucidate neurobiological function. Knowledge of Drosophila and/or mammalian brain, and/or software for reconstructing objects from serial section images is strongly desired. The manager will collaborate with scientists (at Princeton and elsewhere) whose research is targeted toward understanding of specific circuits and functions in the Drosophila and/or mammalian brain, guiding their team of highly trained specialists to identify, trace, and annotate specific collections of neurons from the vast data being produced. The manager will also collaborate closely with the project teams producing the SEM data and developing the algorithms and tools that enable the work of their team. Thus, the ideal candidate for this position must have a biological background, the ability to translate scientific concepts into clear communications that are easily understood and the ability and willingness to learn and grow into the role.

Based in Princeton’s School of Public & International Affairs and headed by Prof. Atif Mian, the Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance promotes research and teaching at the intersection of finance, macroeconomics and policy. We seek to hire talented and motivated predoctoral research specialists to assist several economics and finance faculty working with the center. This position is ideal for graduating seniors or master’s degree students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics or Finance. Previous research specialists have been accepted to top Ph.D. programs including at Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Northwestern, London School of Economics, Columbia, NYU, Barcelona GSE, and U. of Maryland. This is typically a two-year term position renewable after the first year. Successful applicants will start in summer 2024. The position is based in Princeton, NJ.

The International Economics Section (IES) has an opening for a Research Assistant (i.e., Senior Research Specialist). This position offers an ideal transitional job for recent graduates who are interested in international economics and are considering further studies in economics. It offers the opportunity to see what a career doing frontier academic research involves. The successful candidate will gain experience working with some of the world’s leading researchers in international economics. They will be expected to assemble and manage data sets, to program and simulate non-linear models, and to assist faculty members in all aspects of their research. This is a one-year term position with the possibility of renewal for a second year, contingent upon continued funding and satisfactory performance. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2024; end date is dependent on start date, which may vary.

The Akey Laboratory in the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics seeks applicants for a Research Specialist I / Research Specialist II. We study the evolutionary, functional, and phenotypic consequences of DNA sequence variation in yeast, dogs, and humans. We leverage a wide variety of experimental methods including DNA and RNA sequencing, functional genomics, tissue culture, and gene editing. We seek a motivated and highly organized individual to contribute to functional genomics projects and various support activities in the lab. Examples of current projects include studies to determine the functional consequences of genetic variation in humans that was inherited by hybridizing with archaic forms of humans such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, long-read sequencing of dog DNA to develop higher quality genome assemblies, and genetically dissecting complex traits in yeast. Additionally, if interested, there will be opportunities to develop independent projects. This position will also involve ordering and maintaining laboratory equipment. The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, detail oriented, thinks critically about experimental design, and seeks continued professional development. The position has significant potential for the advancement of skills in sought after research technologies. The rank and salary will be commensurate with experience. Salary will include the full benefits package. The position is open and review of applications will begin immediately. This is a one-year term position, with the possibility of renewal based on available funding and satisfactory performance.

About the Organization: The Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) is a non-partisan research initiative that tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States.  BDI supports efforts to grow and build local community resilience through elections and other periods of heightened risk, laying the groundwork for longer-term to bridge the divides we face as a nation.  We do this by 1) producing action oriented and responsive research to fill existing gaps and empower local leaders; 2) enabling cross sector collaboration, so individuals and organizations are better prepared to mitigate risk and response to crisis when it does arise; and 3) helping to drive the policy and community response. Over the last two years, BDI played an essential role in supporting a wide range of actors preparing for and responding to political violence and democratic crisis. Our data, analysis and tools continue to help a diverse coalition of national and local decision makers better target their interventions. BDI is based at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), co-hosted by the Empirical Studies of Conflict. Please visit https://bridgingdivides.princeton.edu/ for more information. OverviewBDI seeks multiple Senior Research Specialists/State Leads in Arizona and Wisconsin to monitor/analyze political violence, build partnerships and networks, and support state-based coalitions and coordination tables. The person in this position will help to build out and further develop BDI’s state-based research and monitoring efforts by producing regular Situation Reports (SitReps), as-needed issue briefs, and conflict analyses. Research and monitoring efforts will support state-based partners who might encounter instances of political violence in their work. Collaboration with these partners ensures that BDI’s efforts are successfully integrated into the broader mitigation and resilience environment in the state. The SRS/State Lead will be a member of the BDI State Lead team – currently a four-person team of State Leads who work in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina – and will report to the Collaboration Director.  This is a full-time, fully remote position based in the state where we are hiring (Arizona and Wisconsin). The role is envisioned as a one-year minimum engagement, with opportunities for renewal. 

The Pritykin lab in the Computer Science Department and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics seeks applicants for Research Specialist I / Research Specialist II. The rank and salary will be commensurate with experience. We seek candidates with computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, machine learning, statistics, data science, applied math and/or other quantitative backgrounds who are enthusiastic about bringing their expertise to addressing fundamental problems in biology and medicine using cutting-edge technologies. The Pritykin lab (http://pritykinlab.princeton.edu) uses applied statistics, machine learning, and efficient algorithms to address fundamental problems in biology and medicine by integrative analysis of multi-dimensional data. We develop and apply computational methods for design and analysis of high-throughput functional genomic assays and perturbations, with a focus on single-cell, spatial and genome editing technologies. We are driven by questions in regulatory genomics, cancer immunology, and genome editing. For this position, we are seeking motivated and highly organized individuals interested in learning about and getting fully embedded into one or more of specific scientific directions of our lab. Successful candidates will be expected to be able to read scientific literature to obtain the necessary biological background and become familiar with one or more data modalities (bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, Hi-C, CRISPR screens) and datasets we and others have generated for our projects. In addition, the person in this position will need to become familiar with the computational methodology and pipelines to analyze such data.

The social cognitive lab of Uri Hasson at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute is seeking a full-time Research Specialist to contribute to our project to create a big database of video and audio recordings of family life. The project is a collaborative study with Princeton’s Baby-lab and will involve scholars from various disciplines including developmental psychology, and computer science. The Research Specialist will work closely with Dr. Hasson as well as with a full-time postdoctoral research associate and other members of the study team. They will be an integral member of this scientific team and will have opportunities to network, earn authorship on publications, and present posters at scientific meetings. Ideal candidates should be highly motivated, driven, and work well in a team. Candidates with a strong background and in Computer Science, electrical engineering, physics, statistics, or math, and who have experience in programing, software engineering, signal detection, and machine learning are highly encouraged to apply.

The Princeton Neuroscience Institute (PNI) is a premiere research institute within Princeton University’s campus, dedicated to solving problems at the forefront of neuroscience. Faculty members, research staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate , and undergraduate students work together in a collaborative and creative environment, reflecting Princeton’s reputation for excellence. We seek an instrumentation engineer who will help design, build and test commercially unavailable instruments for neuroscience research. The engineer will work with PNI principal investigators and other researchers to understand their instrumentation needs, troubleshoot design issues, and then execute a technical plan. The goal is a close collaboration throughout the process, from concept to completion. This individual will also help with repair of existing equipment and coming up with creative solutions to modify existing approaches to suit the changing needs of researchers.

The Ayroles laboratory in the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University seeks applicants for a Senior Research Specialist I position. Our group takes a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the genetic basis for variation in complex traits addressing broad questions in evolutionary and medical genetics. We work with various Drosophila species as well as humans. We are looking for a highly motivated individual to supervise and carry out large-scale genomics projects and to oversee various lab activities. The Senior Research Specialist will also be responsible for the development and execution of research projects (which can lead to authorship on scientific publications). The ideal candidate is one who seeks professional development as a scientist and is therefore interested in becoming familiar with the current scientific literature. The candidate will take ownership of their project and work semi-autonomously under the guidance of the PI and other group members. We also welcome the pursuit of an independent research project. The position is open, and review of applications will begin immediately. The position will start as soon as possible. Salary will be commensurate with experience. This position offers a competitive salary plus a comprehensive suite of benefits including health, retirement, and life insurance. This will be a one-year term position, with the possibility of renewal contingent upon continued funding availability and satisfactory job performance.

Civil and environmental engineering research at Princeton addresses fundamental questions associated with the built environment, the natural environment, and interactions between the two. Focus areas include design of civil engineering systems; water resources and the hydrologic cycle, civil engineering materials, environmental and structural monitoring; air quality and water quality; urban environments, including smart cities; the impacts of climate change on water resources and natural hazards; impacts of energy technology on the environment; and structural art and design.

The Gould lab, a neuroscience lab that studies brain plasticity in experimental animals in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute at Princeton University, seeks a full-time Research Specialist to assist with on-going experiments. We are looking for an enthusiastic and hard-working individual with excellent organizational skills and ability to work well with others. The successful candidate will have a willingness to learn and acquire new skills.This is a one-year term position with the possibility of extension,contingent upon successful performance and continued funding.