Postdoctoral Research Associate I

Cultural Evolution Society; Tucson (AZ); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

The SPECIEs Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona is recruiting one Postdoctoral Research Associate. The postdoc will help administer studies, analyze data, and lead publications from two cross-cultural projects.

Start date Spring 2027 (best May 2027), 2–3 year appointment, in Tucson, AZ with a salary of $65,000/year and full benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD in social/cognitive psychology, evolutionary anthropology, or related field.
• Strong quantitative skills with advanced statistical methods.
• In-person work in Tucson and willingness to collaborate across projects.

Responsibilities

• Administer studies and collect data for projects.
• Analyze data and contribute to publications.
• Lead publications stemming from the projects.
• Co-mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

Skills

Quantitative skills

Multi-level modelling

SEM

Network analysis

Education

PhD in social/cognitive psychology or related field

Tools

R

Job description

The SPECIEs Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona (directed by Diego Guevara Beltran) is recruiting one Postdoctoral Research Associate. The postdoc will help administer studies, analyze data, and lead publications stemming from two projects: (1) links among sources of interdependence (e.g., kinship, shared meals, labor; see figure below), perceived shared fate, cooperation, social integration, and physical (e.g., BMI, blood-level glucose, food insecurity) as well as mental (i.e., loneliness, anxiety, depression, happiness, life satisfaction) well-being among the Mayangna of Northern Nicaragua, an indigenous people who rely primarily on horticulture for subsistence. (2) A large cross-cultural survey examining links among sources of interdependence, perceived shared fate, and cooperation across relationships. Together, these projects aim to uncover the cognitive architecture of positive fitness interdependence, its cross-cultural generalizability/variability, and its potential consequences for well-being. The postdoc will also collaborate on other ongoing projects, gain mentorship and professional development, as well as co-mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

Minimum qualifications: PhD in social/cognitive psychology, evolutionary anthropology (or related field), and strong quantitative skills (e.g., multi-level modelling, SEM, network analysis).

Preferred qualifications: Fluent in Spanish, willingness to conduct fieldwork, and knowledgeable in the Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences.

Start date and duration: Spring - Fall 2027 (preferred date is May 2027), 2-3 years.

Location and compensation: In person (Tucson, Arizona, US), $65,000/year (full benefits eligible).

Questions/contact: [e-mail] (lab website).