Career Center

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university a great place to work.  

As a community of Dornsife College “we are committed to the creation, preservation, and communication of fundamental knowledge in all its forms…as well as a lifelong passion for learning and a commitment to the betterment of society.”  The academic mission of Dornsife College can only be realized to its fullest potential when we build and protect a representative, equitable, inclusive culture of scholarship for students, faculty, and staff.  This is not done through initiatives but by embedding these values into the everyday interactions, relationships, policies, and practices of the College.  What is required is a seamless integration of the tenets of equity and inclusivity into every facet of academic life.  If we want our scholars, staff, and students to be able to give their very best, we must create an academic environment that portends success.  

Success is possible when every member of the Dornsife community owns their role as a steward of the culture in which we learn, research, and work; when we believe that it is because of who we are that we are able to do what we do: achieve excellence, together. 

Achieving a robust and inclusive academic culture requires more than just the completion of a task, but includes that person’s capacity to contribute positively to the relationships and culture of their office or department.  Therefore, any applicant seeking to advance the mission of Dornsife College should also be assessed on their capacities beyond the technical elements of their work, and demonstrate an understanding of their impact on others, and to articulate how they contribute positively to those around them.

The USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in the Equity Research Institute. This is a one-year scholar ship with the Turpanjian Chair in Civil Society & Social Change, renewable for a second year. The Turpanjian Chair, currently held by Dr. Manuel Pastor, is committed to public scholarship on pressing social issues that combines rigorous analysis with efforts to lift up the often-invisible work of everyday actors in generating social change.  Dr. Pastor also serves as the Director of the USC Equity Research Institute. The Post-Doctoral applicant will be mentored by Dr. Pastor and/or Dr. Jody Agius Vallejo, Associate Professor, Sociology / American Studies & Ethnicity; Co-Director of Graduate Studies, Sociology.  Dr. Vallejo also serves as the Associate Director of the USC Equity Research Institute.

For this fellowship, we seek candidates who will advance the Turpanjian mission, which is to support deepening knowledge of the ways civil society institutions and grassroots actors are transforming the economic and social landscape of the 21st Century.

We invite applicants whose scholarship addresses intersections and tensions in emerging organizing models and active tools for social change. While the focus is on social movements in the US, we also welcome applicants whose scholarship utilizes transnational and comparative analysis to contextualize these movements.  Potential areas of inquiry include, but are not limited to: new forms of social movement organizing, including the role of digital organizing and social media; the interplay between electoral politics and social movements; the tensions and possibilities of organizing across communities, issue areas, regions, and demographics; and new ways of framing and working for economic and racial justice.

Preferred Requirements:

• In addition to conducting independent research, the postdoctoral fellow will be invited and expected to:
• Contribute to cross-campus collaborations; Conceptualize and plan activities (such as workshops or a symposium) that will engage the campus community on issues of civil society and social change
• Teach one course in the department of Sociology.

The fellowship will offer a competitive salary and benefits. The fellow must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree by August 1, 2024. Graduating doctoral students and pre-tenure professors with a doctorate in a social science discipline may apply. Scholars working across disciplines are encouraged to apply.

                                             

Salary range: The salary range for this position is $66,560 - $80,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Review of applications will commence November 2023, with a decision expected by late-January 2024.
• Applications must include: (1) a cover letter, (2) C.V., (3) a detailed description of the nature of the research undertaken during the fellowship period, (4) a relevant writing and analysis sample up to 30 pages, and (5) contact information for three references. Please do not submit your application without these documents.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• Questions about the application process or requirements should be directed to Dr. Kim Tabari at tabari@usc.edu.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.

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About University of Southern California (USC)

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

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