Postdoctoral Scholar, Criminal Justice Research Center

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Criminal Justice Research Center (CJRC) and the Department of Sociology and Criminology to begin in Fall 2026, with flexibility. The successful candidate will collaborate with Dr. Miranda A.

Galvin on a mixed methods study addressing pretrial detention, charge bargaining, racial and contextual disparity, and sentencing. Applications are welcomed from current Ph.D. candidates or recent Ph.D.

Qualifications

• PhD in social or behavioral sciences by appointment time is required.
• Preference for advanced training in statistics and experience with large administrative datasets.
• Interest in prosecution, pretrial, courts or sentencing; knowledge of Stata, multilevel modeling, decomposition analysis, or semi-structured interviews.

Responsibilities

• Collaboration with faculty across multiple universities
• Descriptive and multilevel analysis
• Performing site visits and conducting interviews with stakeholders
• Preparation of local summary briefs and policy outreach
• Assisting in data collection and data management
• Preparing grant proposals, manuscripts, and conference presentations
• Participating in graduate student mentoring

Skills

Advanced statistics

Semi-structured interviews

Education

PhD in social or behavioral sciences

Tools

Stata

Multilevel modeling

Decomposition analysis

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Criminal Justice Research Center (CJRC) and Department of Sociology and Criminology at The Pennsylvania State University invite applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position to begin in the Fall of 2026, with flexibility. The CJRC supports innovative criminal justice research focused on the connections between research, policy, and practice.

The successful applicant will collaborate with Dr. Miranda A. Galvin in the Department of Sociology and Criminology on an ongoing mixed method study pertaining to pretrial detention, charge bargaining, racial and contextual disparity, and sentencing.

Applications are encouraged from both current Ph.D. candidates and scholars who have completed the Ph.D. within the past two years. Note that an earned doctorate in the social or behavioral sciences by the time of appointment is required. Preference will be given to candidates with advanced training in statistics, experience working with large administrative datasets, and/or an exemplary interest in applied research, and to those with research interests in prosecution, pretrial, courts or sentencing and with a knowledge of, or practical experience with Stata, multilevel modeling, decomposition analysis, and/or semi-structured interviews.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaboration with faculty across multiple universities
• Descriptive and multilevel analysis
• Performing site visits and conducting interviews with stakeholders
• Preparation of local summary briefs and policy outreach
• Assisting in data collection and data management
• Preparing grant proposals, manuscripts, and conference presentations
• Participating in graduate student mentoring

In addition to grant-specific projects, the scholar will have flexibility to conduct independent research related to pretrial, prosecution, and sentencing, access to data and opportunity to develop relationships and opportunities for research collaboration with Penn State faculty.

The CJRC (https://cjrc.la.psu.edu) has an outstanding portfolio of faculty affiliates, seed funding opportunities, and externally funded ongoing research projects. The Department of Sociology and Criminology is ranked among the top in the nation and provides graduate and undergraduate programs focused specifically on crime and the criminal justice system.

Interested candidates must submit an online application and should include a letter of interest and CV. If selected as a finalist for the position, recommendation letters will be requested.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

Background Checks/Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Campus Security Crime Statistics

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines

There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our 100,000 students and 40,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom – it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. Our ideals stem from our origins as Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant institution, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters – more than half a million strong – driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities. At Penn State, passion is met with collaboration in an environment that is rooted in shared pride for the accomplishments of our fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Penn Staters cheer each other on to build a culture committed to service and engagement. Our University values represent our core ethical aspirations for all our daily activities and actions as students, faculty, staff, and volunteers at Penn State. Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.