Postdoctoral Fellow in Globalization and City Development

The University of Notre Dame is more than a workplace! We are a vibrant, mission-driven community where every employee is valued and supported. Rooted in a tradition of excellence and inspired by our Catholic character, Notre Dame is committed to fostering an environment of care that nurtures the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Here, you will find a deep sense of belonging, a culture that prioritizes well-being, and the opportunity to grow your career while being a force for good in the world. Whether contributing to world-class research, shaping the student experience, or supporting the University’s mission in other ways, you will be part of a dedicated team working to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond. At Notre Dame, your work matters, and so do you!

Applicants must apply through Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/180496. Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered. This position is posted on the Notre Dame Careers website for visibility purposes only.

The Pulte Institute for Global Development, an integral part of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, combines the existing world-class teaching and research faculty of Notre Dame with a dedicated staff of experienced international development professionals, administrators, and researchers in order to address global poverty and inequality through policy, practice, and partnership.

The Pulte Institute for Global Development is hiring a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to contribute to research related to globalization and city development. The research builds upon projects led by Dr. Helge Marahrens that examine city development from a network perspective. Key research areas include global city networks, patterns of urban centrality, functional specialization among cities, and the changing geography of economic development, particularly in the context of deglobalization. The research draws on approaches from network science, urban sociology, geography, and computational social science to analyze large-scale relational data on firms, cities, and transnational connections.

The position involves collaborative data collection and analysis and will include close cooperation with scholars conducting cross-city research. The postdoctoral fellow will have opportunities to contribute to theoretical debates on global city systems, develop and apply innovative methodological approaches to the study of urban networks, and strengthen their scholarly publication record through work aimed at leading journals in sociology, urban studies, and related fields.

This is a full-time position. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will be expected to live near South Bend and will have a hybrid work arrangement (partly remote, partly in person) to be agreed upon with the Principal Investigators. The preferred start date is the fall semester of 2026. The position is for one year, with a possible second year extension, depending on performance and availability of funding. The position will be supervised by Dr. Helge Marahrens. The hiring committee will begin reviewing applicants on February 8th, and will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

• Familiarity with global cities literature
• Strong theoretical and analytical skills
• PhD in hand by the starting date in sociology, urban studies, geography, economics, political science, policy studies, or a related field

Quantitative and computational social science skills, including familiarity with Python and R, are a plus but not required.

Applicants must apply through Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/180496. Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered. This position is posted on the Notre Dame Careers website for visibility purposes only.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.