SSRC Postdoctoral Fellow — MVPF estimates for criminal justice policy

About this program

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) invites applications for a one-year postdoctoral fellowship (beginning summer 2025) to join a University of Chicago– and University of Oregon–led team, in collaboration with MIT’s Policy Impacts initiative, to produce Marginal Value of Public Funds (MVPF) estimates for criminal-justice–related programs such as summer youth employment and cognitive behavioral therapy interventions. The fellow will apply the MVPF framework and codebase to effect estimates, produce an academic paper and practitioner-friendly summaries, and will receive $125,000 annually with full SSRC benefits; the position is U.S.-flexible and may be renewable. Applicants must have a PhD by August 2025 in economics, public policy, political science, computer science, or a related field, with strong econometric and programming skills (Stata/R), excellent communication and project-management abilities, and attention to detail. Apply via the SSRC application portal with a cover letter, CV, up to three research papers, an unofficial transcript, and contact information or letters from three references; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.