Robert Curvin Postdoctoral Associate in Urban Studies

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, based on position, which includes:

For detailed information on benefits and eligibility, please visit: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.

The Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies is pleased to announce two Postdoctoral Associate positions in Urban Studies. We are seeking one Associate who specializes in quantitative research methods and one Associate with qualitative expertise. The Associate position will be awarded for a one-year period beginning in September 2026; there is a possibility of a one-year renewal. The position carries a stipend of $74,000 per year, health benefits, and $3,000 in research funds. Very strong consideration this year will be given to candidates with backgrounds in educational research, theory, and practice, but other specialties might be considered.

The Postdoctoral Associate must be committed to using research as a tool for achieving equity. The Associate will primarily work on research in the metropolitan area and state to more effectively support school change and improved youth outcomes. Experience with place-based research, particularly with a local research-practice partnership would be very advantageous, as would familiarity with the design and maintenance of databases. Familiarity with continuous improvement/improvement science models would be very helpful. Practical experience working in an urban or high -poverty contexts is desirable.

The quantitative Associate will work on projects involving large-scale, longitudinal district and state administrative data. Work might also include designing and administering surveys with students, teachers, school administrators, and parents. Strong quantitative skills and experience working with complex datasets from multiple sources are essential. Cornwall quantitative projects are in partnership with various local and state stakeholder groups and focus on numerous topics in K–12 education. The quantitative Associate will contribute to advanced statistical analysis, data visualization and developing public dashboards, writing public reports and research papers, responding to community data requests and planning and presenting at the Center’s research convenings.

The qualitative Associate may work on projects related to high-quality instruction, school and district change, critical or transformative education programs and practices, and improving the high school experience in urban schools. The Associate may oversee and conduct interviews and focus groups, engage in participant observation (e.g., of meetings, classrooms, and professional development sessions), manage transcriptions, clean and archive data, code and analyze findings, design compelling visuals, conduct literature reviews, and draft academic manuscripts and public-facing reports that explain the key findings of the Center’s research and its relevance to stakeholders and the broader public. Some of the work over the next year will center on the analysis of positive outliers among schools serving marginalized populations. This associate may also be involved in supporting the data/research needs of our community partners and in the implementation of research-based youth programming.

As a major public university in New Jersey’s largest city, Rutgers University-Newark provides students with the knowledge and preparation necessary for leadership roles in an increasingly complex society, with particular attention to its public mission and building a civic dialogue. The campus is the most diverse national university in the United States and is ranked twelfth among doctoral degree-granting small universities in the country. Total enrollment is more than 13,000 students. The Cornwall Center is one manifestation of the University’s commitment to building, in partnership with local residents, a more vibrant community. Its specific mission is conducting research and demonstration projects that improve the quality of life in the metropolitan New Jersey, especially for the most vulnerable residents.

For many people in Newark, Robert “Bob” Curvin (1935-2015) was the embodiment of the involved scholar. The New York Times called him a fiercely loyal advocate for Newark who never gave up on his troubled city and devoted a scholarly career to alleviating urban poverty.

To ensure full consideration, candidates should submit: Cover Letter/Letter of

Interest, Curriculum Vitae, a Research Statement, and a single-authored academic writing sample. Questions should be addressed to Kimaada Sills at kimaada@rutgers.edu. Please refer to the School and Campus websites for additional information. (http://www.newark.rutgers.edu; https://www.cornwall.rutgers.edu/)> Position contingent upon funding.