Summary

The Detroit Partnership for Education Equity & Research at Wayne State University is seeking a candidate with a strong background in qualitative and/or mixed research methods for a postdoctoral research associate. The candidate will work closely with Sarah Lenhoff, Ph.D., in part on a research study sponsored by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) Equity Initiative and the W.T. Grant Foundation.

The study explores links between housing policy and educational opportunities by examining the implementation of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) in the Detroit neighborhood of Corktown and its impact on school diversity and community integration. The research team includes co-principal investigators Kara Finnigan, University of Michigan; DeMarcus Jenkins, University of Pennsylvania; and Huriya Jabbar, University of Southern California.

The postdoctoral fellow will collaborate with Lenhoff, research faculty, and doctoral research assistants at Wayne State University, and the broader research team. The position can begin as soon as January 1, 2025, or in Spring or Summer 2025. We strongly prefer candidates who are based in or near Detroit, Michigan. If the candidate is not based in the Detroit area, they will be expected to travel to Detroit regularly for field work and research presentations. This is a two-year position with an annual base salary of $66,000.

Required qualifications

• An earned doctoral degree in education policy, sociology, or a related social science field is required, as is a developing record of relevant publications.
• The successful candidate should have excellent qualitative data analysis skills, including experience working with qualitative coding software, extensive experience and excellent knowledge of education policy, and an interest in desegregation and/or housing policy.
• The candidate should also have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Expertise in social network analysis is especially desired, as is experience working on mixed-methods research teams.

Required application materials

Applicants should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, example of a recent publication or writing sample (e.g., journal manuscript, manuscript in preparation), and the names and email addresses for three references deeply familiar with the candidate’s skills and record to Sarah Lenhoff at sarah.lenhoff@wayne.edu with the subject line Detroit PEER Postdoc.