The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) is recruiting up to two highly qualified postdoctoral researchers to serve as Research Scientists within the Research Group on Kinship Inequalities. The positions are offered for three years. This group, led by Diego Alburez-Gutierrez, studies how differences in kinship among persons and groups determine individual outcomes and shape social structures. It aims to bring together experts from areas like Demography, Sociology, Anthropology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Biology, etc. to advance the subfield of kinship demography and address pressing scientific and societal questions.

The MPIDR is one of the leading demographic research centers in the world, studying issues of theoretical and policy relevance. These include, but are not limited to, fertility, mortality, migration, aging, health, and the redistribution of work and transfers over the life course. The MPIDR is part of the Max Planck Society, a network of 86 institutes that form Germany’s premier basic-research organization. Max Planck Institutes have an established record of world-class, foundational research in the sciences, technology, social sciences, and the humanities.

The successful candidate(s) must have a PhD (or receive it soon) and are expected to have a profile along one of the following lines:

A social scientist with expertise in at least one of the following areas:

- kinship structure and kin availability;
- family composition and demographic change;
- generational overlap and resource exchange;
- kin loss and bereavement;
- measuring and modelling kinship.

A social scientist with an interest in developing social theory, in particular related to family demography or family sociology.

A methodologist or computational scientist interested in advancing methods and data to study kinship dynamics.

Ability and willingness to work in interdisciplinary teams to conduct cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of population processes, is key.

Applications must be submitted online via https://survey.demogr.mpg.de/index.php/687331?lang=en, including the following documents:

- Curriculum Vitae

- Letter of interest (Max 1 page)
Briefly state why you are interested in joining the MPIDR, how the MPIDR could foster your professional development and career trajectory, and how your interests fit those of the Research Group on Kinship Inequalities.

- Research Statement (Max 2 pages)
Briefly describe your research accomplishments, as well as ongoing and future research plans. Note that we welcome projects studying both lower- and higher-income settings. Describe your technical skills, areas of expertise, as well as the type of advanced training that you would like to receive as a research scientist.
Names and contact information for 3 academic referees

- Two writing samples or publications

In order to receive full consideration, applications should be submitted by Monday, September 19. Interviews with be held on the second week of October. The starting date is flexible, but no later than Spring 2023. The successful applicants will be offered a 3-year contract with remuneration commensurate to experience (starting from approx. 57,241 EUR gross per year for researchers who have just completed their PhD, up to approx. 66,217 EUR gross per year for more senior scientists), based on the salary structure of the German public sector (Öffentlicher Dienst, TVöD Bund). They are expected to be in residence at the MPIDR.

The MPIDR is an equal opportunities employer. Our work atmosphere includes respectful treatment of each other, with gender, nationality, religion, disability, age, cultural origin, and sexual identity playing no role. We aim to have an institutional culture that enables everyone to develop their individual skills and competencies.

The Max Planck Society and the MPIDR offer a broad range of measures to support the reconciliation of work and family. The Society has been awarded the certificate “Work and Family” which is granted to institutions committed to establishing a family-friendly corporate culture by binding target agreements. The MPIDR collaborates with a network of local day-care centers that provides childcare places for the children of Institute staff. The Max Planck Society has contracts with a private family service company that offers services such as arranging child care on short notice in various cities in Germany for parents who attend conferences, care services for children of school age up to 14 years, and support for those caring for family members and relatives. The MPIDR practices flexible working-time models, which include at least one home office day per week, and scheduling meetings only within core working hours. To help accompanying spouses and partners find appropriate work at their new location, the MPIDR works in close cooperation with Dual-Career Partners in regional networks.

We value diversity and are keen to employ individuals from minorities and under-represented groups, including individuals with disabilities. The Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

For inquiries about the positions, please contact Diego Alburez-Gutierrez at alburezgutierrez@demogr.mpg.de.