Job Openings at Stanford Asia-Pacific Research Center

Appointment Term

Fixed-term for one year from the date of hire. Hybrid schedule. No visa sponsorship available for this role.

Position Summary

The Japan Program at APARC seeks a highly motivated Research Scholar to collaborate with the Japan Program Director on interdisciplinary research projects focused on Japan and comparative social science. The position offers an opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research that integrates quantitative, computational, and qualitative methodologies, as well as to contribute to the Japan Program's intellectual and programmatic activities.

Key Responsibilities

Research Activities

• Design and conduct collaborative research projects on Japan and comparative topics in the social sciences
• Perform survey research, including experimental design and analysis
• Conduct computational text analysis of media and social media datasets
• Apply multivariate statistical techniques to large-scale datasets from Japan and other countries
• Contribute to innovative methodologies, including AI-assisted field experiments and predictive models
• Carry out qualitative research, including interviews and historical analysis
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in academic journals and present findings at conferences

Program and Event Support

• Assist in the conceptualization and organization of academic events, including conferences, workshops, and speaker series
• Coordinate logistics and execution of program activities
• Engage with visiting scholars, faculty, and external partners
• Contribute to the intellectual community of the Japan Program and APARC

Required Qualifications
 

• PhD in sociology, political science, economics, or a related social science field with a focus on Japan (completed by start date)
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative research methods (e.g., statistical analysis, survey design)
• Experience with computational methods such as text analysis or data science approaches
• Strong research, analytical, and writing skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Proficiency in English; Japanese language skills are highly desirable

Preferred Qualifications
 

• Experience with experimental methods (e.g., survey experiments, field experiments)
• Familiarity with AI or machine learning applications in social science research
• Experience handling large and complex datasets
• Track record of academic publications or working papers
• Experience organizing academic events or programs

Application Requirements
 

• Applicants should submit:
• Cover letter describing research interests and fit for the position
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Writing sample (e.g., published paper or dissertation chapter)
• Contact information for 2–3 references

Projected salary range
 

• The expected pay range for this position is $76,000-$130,000 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) years of applicable experience, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.