Missions

The UMR IDEES research center offers a post-doc position for 2 years as part of the SPATIO-FAMILY project. The researcher will conduct statistical analyses of the spatial dynamics of family changes, and will disseminate the results to the scientific community (publication and communication).
A strong background in quantitative/statistical methods, including spatial analysis is required.
A very good level of English is expected. French language is not a pre-requisite, but could be an asset.

Activités

- Consistently expanding knowledge in the field of family changes to inform project development, and refine empirical studies
- Disseminating research findings through publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
- Communicating results at international conferences
- Designing data processing for analysis
- Performing quantitative and spatial analysis
- Engaging actively in regular collaborative team meetings
- Assisting in the development of proposals to secure funding from research grant agencies

Compétences

Attainment
The candidate should have a PhD in quantitative geography, (spatial) demography or other relevant quantitative social science with a spatial analysis component.
The position is open to recent graduates.

Essential skills
- A high proficiency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in French is not required for this position
- Extensive knowledge of the literature on family changes
- Working knowledge of Excel and statistical software (such as R, STATA, SPSS)
- Ability to apply advanced quantitative methods in social sciences
- Ability to work individually and as part of a team
- Ability to clearly present research results to an academic audience
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills

Desirable skills
- Familarity with population studies is an advantage
- Experience of spatial analysis methods and spatial modelling (spatial autocorrelations, spatial regression models…)

Contexte de travail

Research center presentation
The UMR IDEES is a research center of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). It is based in 3 towns in Normandy : Rouen, Le Havre and Caen. It bring together more than 120 researchers and academics from different disciplines, particularly in the field of quantitative geography and socio-territorial changes. The post holder will be attached at the Rouen site.
The post holder will be part of a team of 4 peoples, and will work closely with Yoann Doignon, principal investigator of the SPATIO-FAMILY project.

Project presentation
Funded by the Normandy region, the SPATIO-FAMILY project aims to analyse the spatial dimension of contemporary family change in four European countries (France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland). This project is driven by two principal aims:
(1) To spatially delineate family change in order to understand their geographical diffusion patterns.
(2) To identify the factors influencing these spatial dynamics by integrating various socio-demographic theoretical frameworks from the literature.

The research will span an international scope, with the analysis being conducted at the granular level of local administrative units within the respective countries. It will encompass an extensive temporal scope beginning from the 1960s. It will investigate multiple dimensions of family behaviors, including nonmarital births and cohabitation, nuptiality, divortiality, and the age at which individuals have their first child

To fulfill its objectives, the SPATIO-FAMILY project will use a methodological approach that is empirical, quantitative, and spatially oriented in its modelling. The project will harness empirical data derived from a multitude of sources, including population censuses, vital statistics, and population registers. Analytical techniques will encompass both conventional methods—such as cartography, descriptive statistics, exploratory analyses, and regression models—as well as spatial methods, which include spatial statistics and spatio-temporal regression analyses.

Working environment
- Place of work: University campus of Mont-Saint-Aignan (city very close to Rouen, Normandy)
- The post holder will be part of a team of four people working on the project
- Entitlement to 44 days of annual leave
- Work-life balance : enjoy flexible working hours, possibility of remote working (to be defined at a later date)
- Internal further training & Coaching : Opportunity to deepen your skills on an ongoing basis (free of charge)
- Good public transport connections : Your workplace in the center is easily accessible by public transport
- Equal opportunities for everyone