Job Description

PPC Postdoctoral Research Scholar
The University of Iowa Public Policy Center (PPC) and University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center (IPRC) welcome applications for a full-time, one-year Postdoctoral Research Scholar position. This position is an excellent opportunity for a highly qualified and motivated scholar to join a research program in the areas of crime and violence, policing, court processing, and firearm ownership and safety. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work directly with faculty and staff within the PPC and the IPRC, and will acquire core skills in research methods; report, manuscript, and grant writing; and project management.
This position is available immediately and the start date is flexible. The initial appointment is a postdoctoral position for one year, with the possibility to extend to a second year, subject to performance and funding availability.
Position responsibilities:
The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will work under the supervision of the Interim Research and Operations Manager at the PPC. This position will provide support to faculty and staff within the PPC and IPRC conducting social science and public health research in the areas of crime and violence, policing, court processing, and firearm ownership and safety. Primary responsibilities will include managing and analyzing quantitative data and conducting literature reviews. The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will also be expected to assist with preparing grant and contract proposals, manage funded research projects, meet with project stakeholders, and assist with dissemination efforts. Specific responsibilities include:
Data collection and analysis: Collect and curate relevant data related to crime and violence; criminal justice processing; and firearm ownership, storage, and use. Utilize statistical methods and software (such as R, SPSS, or Stata) to analyze large datasets. Explore patterns, trends, and correlations in data to inform research questions and project objectives.
Literature review and synthesis: Conduct comprehensive literature reviews on topics related to crime, violence, criminal justice processing, and firearms. Synthesize existing research findings and identify gaps in the literature. Stay up to date with the latest scholarly publications and research reports.
Collaboration and interdisciplinary work: Collaborate with other PPC-affiliated researchers and community stakeholders. Engage in interdisciplinary discussions to address complex issues related to crime and violence, criminal justice processing, and firearms. Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars to share research findings and learn from others.
Grant writing and proposal development: Assist in writing grant proposals to secure funding for research projects. Clearly articulate research objectives, methods, and expected outcomes.
Dissemination and communication: Prepare reports for funded projects. Present findings at academic conferences. Prepare research manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Communicate research results to practitioners and the general public through reports, briefs, and presentations.
Ethical considerations and data privacy: Adhere to ethical guidelines in research involving human subjects. Safeguard sensitive data related to crime victims, offenders, and firearm ownership. Maintain confidentiality and protect research participants’ privacy.
About the PPC: The PPC is an interdisciplinary research center in the Office of the Vice President for Research. We support a large intramural research program and a university-wide research development program, emphasizing, but not limited to, the social sciences. PPC researchers investigate some of the most important problems facing society at the local and national level. https://ppc.uiowa.edu
About the IPRC: The UI IPRC is an interdisciplinary research center located within the University of Iowa College of Public Health and receives institutional support from the Office of the Vice President for Research. The UI IPRC has been continuously funded since 1991 as an Injury Control Research Center (ICRC) by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a rural institution, the UI IPRC focuses on the understudied area of rural injury and violence, but has active programs locally, nationally, and internationally that address rural to urban populations. The UI IPRC engages approximately 70 faculty and research scientists in 30 departments and nine Colleges across the UI campus. These collaborations allow us to train current and next generation researchers and public health professionals. https://iprc.public-health.uiowa.edu/
About the University of Iowa and Iowa City: The University of Iowa is one of the nation’s top public research universities and is known around the world for its balanced commitment to the sciences and humanities. A member of AAU and the Big Ten conference, the University of Iowa is home to one of the largest and most acclaimed medical centers in the country as well as the famous Iowa Writers’ Workshop (uiowa.edu/homepage/about-university-iowa). The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, a community built around higher education, with vibrant cultural opportunities and a long history of international connections, leadership, and accomplishment. Iowa City is consistently voted one of the best places to live in the country, from Outside Magazine to the American Institute for Economic Research (www.thinkiowacity.com/)
Position requirements:
Required:
• PhD in the social sciences, public health, or related field within the last twelve months; or, anticipated completion of the PhD within the next six months; or currently serving as a postdoctoral scholar/fellow
• Experience in conducting quantitative research in criminology, sociology, criminal justice, public health, or related area
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Stata, SPSS, or R
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
Desirable:
• Project management experience
• Grant preparation experience
• Experience working with large administrative data sets
• Experience with GIS software and/or managing and analyzing spatial data