Postdoctoral Research Associate – 21st Center

Overview

The 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy invites applications for two Postdoctoral Research Associate positions beginning September 2026. Each carries an initial two-year appointment and offers the opportunity to join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community engaged in cutting‑edge, data‑driven research on Chinese politics, society, international relations, and policy.

• Work closely with faculty affiliated with the China Data Lab (CDL), supporting quantitative or computational projects on Chinese politics and society.
• Contribute to the Center’s broader research agenda on China’s international relations, foreign policy, and international political economy.

The positions require a demonstrated research focus on Chinese politics, society, and/or international relations and foreign policy—particularly as they relate to U.S.–China relations—supported by strong training in quantitative, computational, or other rigorous social science methods and clear evidence of high‑quality, promising scholarly work on China. Appointees are expected to reside in San Diego during the appointment period, actively engage in the intellectual life of UC San Diego and its Center, pursue both independent research and collaborative projects with Center faculty, and maintain a firm commitment to producing policy‑relevant, publishable academic research.