The Department of Sociology is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Demography to work broadly in the area of fertility and reproductive behaviour. Applicants with interests in both social and formal demography are welcome to apply. The post holder will join the European Research Council-funded project DIVREP: Diverging Patterns of Reproductive Behaviour within Countries Across the Globe, led by Dr Ewa Batyra (Principal Investigator, ERC Starting Grant). 

 

DIVREP will be the most comprehensive global study of the patterns, trends, and determinants of growing within-country disparities in reproductive behaviour, with a focus on childbearing age and fertility levels. The project will develop a framework to understand global fertility dynamics and the links between reproductive behaviour and socioeconomic inequality. DIVREP involves three broad objectives: (1) assembling data on childbearing age and fertility levels, and estimating novel indicators of variation in reproduction for over 120 countries; (2) using these indicators to examine global patterns and long-term trends in disparities in reproductive behaviour within countries; (3) studying micro- and macro-level determinants of variation in reproductive behaviour, focusing on individual factors (e.g., educational level) and contextual factors (e.g., income and gender inequality). The project will involve working with datasets such as the Demographic and Health Surveys, the Generations and Gender Survey, the International Public Use Microdata Series, and the Human Fertility Database, among others, and linking these data with other databases containing information on various dimensions of social and economic development and inequality.

 

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be expected to engage in advanced independent research within the remit of the project. They will be expected to publish research of an internationally excellent standard and to participate in the academic life of the interdisciplinary research team and the Department of Sociology.  The post is full-time, fixed term for a period of 3 years, commencing as soon as possible.

 

Only applications received before 12:00 midday UK time on 16 September 2026 will be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

 

Further details and selection criteria for this position are outlined in the job description. For informal inquiries about the post, please feel free to contact  ewa.batyra@sociology.ox.ac.uk.