Show Listing

Postdoc Description
This exciting, career-building position involves working with an interdisciplinary team of faculty from across Harvard. Primary team members include Professors Jennifer Lerner (social psychology), Thilo Deckersbach (neuroscience) and Andy Nierenberg (psychiatry & neuroscience). Other collaborators around Harvard and around the country will join for specific aspects of the project.



The main research will examine effects of sadness and depression on decision making. Methods will draw from psychology, behavioral economics, and neuroscience. Studies will be conducted on Harvard’s main campus as well as at Harvard Medical School/Mass General Hospital.

No teaching is required in this postdoctoral fellowship. The selected postdoctoral fellow will, therefore, have significant intellectual freedom to pursue research topics of his/her interest. At least 50% of the fellow’s time will be devoted to the study of emotion and decision making.

Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in a social/behavioral science discipline prior to beginning the fellowship, and should have a research, rather than a clinical, focus. Students with a background in behavioral decision research, social psychology, and/or behavioral economics are especially encouraged to apply.

The selected fellow must have outstanding skills in written and oral communication as well as in data analysis. Applications are already being accepted, and will be reviewed as they are received. Applicants should send a cover letter, a CV, a publication (or manuscript in press) and three professional references to Professor Jennifer Lerner (Jennifer_lerner@harvard.edu). The subject line of the Email message with these materials should say, “Postdoctoral Fellowship Application.”

This is a term appointment from July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014, with a possibility of renewal. Commensurate with experience, the fellowship will pay a competitive salary with standard Harvard benefits. Harvard University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer.