Postdoctoral Associate in Urban Resilience and Real Estate Innovation at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology in United States

MIT Sustainable Urbanization Lab is recruiting a Postdoctoral Associate to work on Resilience and Innovation in Cities and Real Estate. The position is hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and led by Siqi Zheng, Chair Professor and Faculty Director at MIT Center for Real Estate and Director of MIT Sustainable Urbanization Lab.

The research theme centers on the behavioral and economic foundations of urban and environmental policy for sustainable urbanization, with emphasis on urban economics, real estate, urban studies, environmental studies, climate risk, housing markets, and urban policy design. The postdoc will conduct empirical research on resilience strategies in urban, housing, and commercial real estate sectors, including topics such as resilience investment decision-making, behavioral and market dynamics, innovative urban strategy, and policy design.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field and should have strong training in econometrics, statistical modeling, spatial data analysis, and basic machine learning methods. The lab also values demonstrated research output, excellent communication skills, independence, teamwork, and interest in interdisciplinary research. Preferred experience includes causal inference methods and related tools for urban and real estate research.

The appointment is expected to begin in summer/fall 2026 and will run for two years, with possible renewal depending on performance and funding availability. The post is a research appointment within a collaborative lab environment with access to institutional resources and professional development support.

To apply, send a cover letter, CV, up to 3 publications or preprints, and 2 references to Shawn Callahan at [email protected]. Review begins on 2026-05-01 and applications are accepted until the position is filled.