Stanford Graduate School of Business

Position Title/Short Description

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Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University

The Initiative for Financial Decision-Making is looking to hire a postdoctoral fellow. The position is based at the Stanford Graduate School of Business under the supervision of Professor Annamaria Lusardi, faculty director of the Initiative. The fellowship begins in the summer of 2024 (no later than 9/1/2024) and is appointed for one year, with an option to renew assuming performance at or above expectations. A two-year term is strongly preferred. The position is in person with a salary range of $80 - $95K.

The core of the work focuses on empirical research on financial literacy and financial decision-making. The new Initiative for Financial Decision-Making leverages and builds on more than 10 years of research by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC), which Professor Lusardi founded. Since its inception in 2011, GFLEC has pioneered breakthrough tools to measure financial literacy, spearheaded the research field, and developed and advised financial educational programs in the US and around the world. More information about the work done so far can be found on this website: https://gflec.org/

The new Initiative for Financial Decision-Making is advancing the existing work with a strong and cutting-edge research agenda. The research work uses data, economic theory, and analytics to understand what drives households’ financial literacy and money management. Planned projects include, for example, the analysis of (i) financial fragility levels among U.S. adults over the past twelve years; (ii) risk comprehension and its consequences among investors; (iii) the effect of financial literacy on households’ financial situations and behavior; and (iv) the effect of educational interventions on financial knowledge and behavior.

The postdoctoral fellow is expected to produce academic research from the Initiative’s agenda and will work closely and directly with all members of the Initiative, including the director, co-authors of academic papers, PhD students, and other postdoctoral fellows. This is a dedicated research community with plenty of interaction and the expectation of both working collaboratively in smaller groups but also independently on projects. Progress on the research is required to be presented regularly to a broader group of stakeholders of the Initiative. The fellow is expected to be actively involved in the Initiative’s intellectual community by participating in meetings, research lunches/colloquia, and potentially joint projects. The fellow is also encouraged to integrate with the broader research community at Stanford by attending seminars and other events.

The primary criterion for acceptance is research excellence in household/personal finance or applied economics and a clear interest in contributing to the Initiative’s research. The position requires someone with a strong background in the field, i.e. a PhD in Economics or Finance. A focus on household finance or program evaluation is preferred. If necessary, Stanford will provide a J1 visa, or you can use Optional Practical Training, if applicable.

Further inquiries about the position can be directed to GSB Postdoc Affairs: gsbpostdoc_affairs@stanford.edu.

For full consideration, please submit application materials by April 22, 2024. Rolling applications will be reviewed up to April 26, 2024.

You will be asked to submit:
1. A research statement summarizing your research, future research plans, and your interest in the Initiative for Financial Decision-Making’s postdoctoral position
2. A current CV
3. Up to two working papers/publications/work in progress.
4. Arrange for at least three letters of recommendation to be submitted by the deadline. Further letters up to five are permissible.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our mission at the GSB. We believe we will best enact our educational and research missions when all members of our community are able to leverage the experiences and ideas of others, embrace different viewpoints, feel that they belong, and know that their contributions are valued.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford welcomes applications from all who would bring additional dimensions to the University’s research, teaching and clinical missions.

Please apply by submitting your materials to gsbpostdoc_affairs@stanford.edu