Postdoctoral Scholar, Mining and Local Development in Zambia

Postdoc: Mining and Local Development in Zambia

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley, seeks an outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar (postdoc) to support a multi-year research initiative evaluating the social and economic impacts of the exploitation of KoBold’s Mingomba copper mine in Chililabombwe, Zambia—the largest high quality copper mine in the world. The project combines large-scale household surveys, a regression discontinuity design to measure the causal effects of mine employment, and historical research on the Copperbelt. The postdoc will report to Berkeley-based CEGA affiliated PI Jonathan Weigel, and work in close collaboration with Co-Investigators Edward Miguel (UC Berkeley), Anja Benshaul-Tolonen (Barnard/Columbia), and Dale Mudenda (University of Zambia).

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge empirical research on resource extraction, labor markets, and community welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa, while engaging with academic and policy audiences.

The position is full-time, based in Berkeley, California.


Description

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is a hub for research, training and innovation headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley. We generate insights that decision-makers can use to improve policies, programs, and people’s lives. Our best-in-class academic network includes nearly 200 faculty, 80 scholars from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—primarily from East and West Africa—and hundreds of graduate students from diverse academic disciplines who produce rigorous evidence about what works to expand education, health, and economic opportunities for people living in poverty. Our business model involves curating policy-relevant research agendas in collaboration with development leaders, overseeing competitive grant-making to answer critical questions, investing in research capacity, and strategically connecting research and ideas to inform decision-making by governments, NGOs, and the private sector.


Key Responsibilities

The postdoc will:

  • Lead the development and implementation of survey instruments for a panel survey of 4,000 households across 400 villages, including sampling design, census operations, and field protocols.
  • Coordinate with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Zambia on field implementation, quality control, and data management.
  • Oversee baseline and endline data collection for a worker regression discontinuity (RD) study, leveraging applicant scoring data from KoBold to credibly estimate the causal impact of mine employment on household welfare.
  • Conduct statistical analysis of panel and RD data using Stata, R, or Python, contributing to both academic outputs and policy-facing publications.
  • Engage with Zambian academic partners, local stakeholders, and international organizations to ensure policy relevance and dissemination.
  • Contribute to grant writing, project administration, and dissemination activities, including presentations at conferences and workshops.
  • Mentor a team of research associates, graduate students, and CEGA fellows (including a University of Zambia PhD/postdoc fellow based at Berkeley), providing technical guidance and support.
     

Required qualification:

  • PhD in Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, Statistics, or a related field at the time of appointment.
  • Strong training in applied econometrics and causal inference methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, panel data methods).
  • Demonstrated experience with large-scale field surveys, preferably in low- or middle-income countries.
  • Proficiency in statistical software (Stata, R, or Python).
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to produce publications and translate technical findings for non-academic audiences.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Research experience in African economic development, natural resources, or labor markets.
  • Familiarity with managing partnerships with implementing organizations (e.g., IPA, NGOs, government agencies).
  • Record of academic publication in development economics, political economy, or related fields.
  • Experience managing research teams and mentoring junior researchers.
  • Capacity to work independently while contributing to a collaborative, multi-institution research team.
  • Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, local communities, and private sector partners.
     

Appointment Duration, Salary, and Benefits

This is a 1.5-year full-time position with possibility for extension pending funding. Starting annual salary for this position is set per the rates below and standard UC Berkeley postdoc benefits will be provided.

Postdoc Step 0 | Level 0 (0 – 11 months)| $88,073

Postdoc Step 1  | Level 1 (12 – 23 months) | $90,631

Postdoc Step 2  | Level 2 (24 – 35 months) | $93,281

Postdoc Step 3  | Level 3 (36 – 47 months) | $96,030

Postdoc Step 4 | Level 4 (48 – 59 months) | $98,880

Postdoc Step 5  | Level 5 (60 – 71 months) | $101,835


 

How to Apply

Submit a CV, cover letter, writing sample, PhD transcript, contact information for three professional references (at least 2 of which are academic) 

Application deadline: Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is reviewed. 

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
Submit