Center for Institutional Studies (Moscow). Postdoctoral research positions. Deadline: March 25, 2014

The Higher School of Economics, the Center for Institutional Studies (CInSt) invites applications for postdoctoral research positions in the project 'Social networks and peer effects in education' under the supervision of Maria Yudkevich.

The focus of this project is on the impact of social networks on student academic achievements, their behavior, and life choices. We study the role of peer group effects in student achievements and decisions, longitudinal dynamics of student networks as well as network formation in educational environments.

We use longitudinal data on student social networks of friendship and advice ties and student online social networks as well as data on student academic achievements, psychological traits, decisions, and socioeconomic background. The data allows us to conduct cross-sectional as well as longitudinal analysis of peer effects transmission through the networks.

The job requires involvement with this research project both in empirical and theoretical fields. Teaching is not required.

Topics of interest include but are not restricted to:

• Peer effects transmission in online and offline networks;
• Peer effects in different educational systems;
• Social networks and student psychological traits;
• Social networks and student dropout.

CInSt has access to several datasets which contain information on student present and previous achievements, socioeconomic background, psychological traits, and behavior. It is also possible to construct a new dataset on student social networks related to research topic.

Required qualifications:

We are looking for highly motivated and independently working researchers with interest in social networks research. Applicants should have a strong theoretical and empirical background in economics, sociology or psychology (a PhD degree in Economics/Sociology/Psychology from a recognized university). Proficiency in spoken and written English is mandatory.

General conditions for Post-Doctoral Research positions can be found here. Appointments will be normally made for one year.

A CV, research statement and two letters of recommendation should be sent to fellowship@hse.ru by March 25, 2014.

The HSE is a young, dynamic, fast-growing Russian research university providing unique research opportunities.