The Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow in the Beliefs & Decision Making Lab (PI: Dr. Andras Molnar) to begin in Summer 2025 (anticipated start date: August 1, 2025; earlier start is possible if the successful candidate has completed the requirements for a Ph.D. prior to August 1, 2025).  The position provides a salary of $61,000-$65,000 per year (a higher salary may be offered based on the selected candidate's experience) and is benefits-eligible.  The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of extension for up to two more years, dependent upon performance.

To be considered for the position, applicants should submit their application materials to Dr. Andras Molnar (andrasm@umich.edu). Please include: 
 - Cover letter
 - Curriculum Vitae
 - Research statement
 - Three writing samples (e.g., recent publications, working papers)
 - Three reference letters (submitted by the letter writers to andrasm@umich.edu)

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

The Beliefs & Decision Making Lab, led by Dr. Andras Molnar, is an interdisciplinary research group that integrates insights from psychology, cognitive science, economics, and related disciplines. Our research focuses on motivated preferences for information and the role of beliefs in social interactions, especially those that involve substantial uncertainty and limited attention. We study situations in which people have non-instrumental reasons to care about what they and others believe, as well as the implications of these motives to theories of decision-making, organizations, and public policy. At the heart of this work lies the idea that people are often motivated to hold (or avoid) specific beliefs (or to ensure that others hold specific beliefs), for their own sake, even if these beliefs cannot help them to make better decisions (or, at times, lead to worse decisions). In our research, we apply this concept, belief-based utility, to a range of topics that are relevant to both theory and practice, including but not limited to: curiosity and information avoidance, political and affective polarization, revenge and forgiveness, information disclosure, and impression management. Our lab uses mixed methods: incentivized behavioral experiments, hypothetical vignette scenario studies, NLP and computational analyses of observational data, qualitative surveys, and ABM simulations.

In addition to continuing their independent research, the research fellow will be expected to collaborate with the PI and other lab members and conduct empirical research in the topics outlined above. Successful candidates must have completed the requirements for a Ph.D. prior to the starting date, and must demonstrate a strong interest in, and commitment to, interdisciplinary research, and willingness to explore cross-disciplinary and emerging research methods (e.g., LLM / Generative AI).

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Conduct collaborative research with the PI and other members of the BDM Lab, including:
  • Identify and generate new research ideas;
  • Conduct critical literature reviews;
  • Develop novel hypotheses and conceptual frameworks;
  • Develop new research protocols and/or software;
  • Collect data and conduct statistical analyses;
  • Prepare and revise presentations, posters, and manuscripts to be presented at academic forums and published in peer-reviewed academic journals;
• Assist the PI in preparing grant proposals;
• Assist the PI in mentoring graduate students and other lab members;
• Participate in lab meetings, departmental seminars, professional developmental workshops, and other events organized at the University of Michigan;
• Other duties as determined by the PI.  

While it is expected that the fellow will be in residence in Ann Arbor throughout the duration of the appointment, occasional travel may be necessary (e.g., to domestic or international conferences, workshops, invited symposia, or panel presentations).

The fellow is expected to have:

• Ph.D. in Cognitive or Social Psychology, Cognitive Science, Behavioral Economics, or a related field (e.g., Behavioral Decision Making, Organizational Behavior, Consumer Behavior, etc.); 
• Strong background in experimental design and quantitative research methods; 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; 
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment.

Applicants are expected to have met all doctoral requirements before the start of the fellowship.

• Experience with large-scale online behavioral experimentation (e.g., Prolific / MTurk);
• Experience with advanced survey research methods (e.g., interactive Qualtrics surveys; longitudinal surveys; ESM; surveys with integrated third-party services);
• Familiarity with programming (e.g., Python, C++, Java);
• Familiarity with agent-based models (ABM) of social behavior;
• Familiarity with LLM-based research methods.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

The salary range is $61,000 - $65,000. Please note a higher salary may be offered based on equity and the selected candidate's experience.

This is a 12-month term-limited position with the possibility of renewal. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2025. 

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from the posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.