Postdoctoral Researchers in Mathematical and Statistical Modeling of Food System Tipping Points and Computational Sociology/Social Network Dynamics Politecnico di Torino in Italy

Politecnico di Torino is recruiting two postdoctoral researchers for the ERC-funded TIP-FRESH project (Social Tipping Points for Freshwater Sustainability in the Global Food System), hosted at the Department of Environment, Land, and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI).

The project is led by Prof. Marta Tuninetti and involves joint supervision with Princeton University (Prof. Simon Levin) and Politecnico di Torino (Prof. Francesco Liao / Prof. Luca Ridolfi, depending on the position). The research is highly interdisciplinary and focuses on food systems, freshwater sustainability, social tipping points, mathematical modeling, statistics, computational sociology, and social network dynamics.

Position 1: Mathematical & Statistical Modeling of Food System Tipping Points. The work includes historical diagnosis of food-system evolution from 1961 to 2025, statistical methods such as quantile regression and trend analysis, state-transition models (e.g., Hidden Markov Models), early-warning indicators, and new quantitative frameworks for social tipping points in food consumption patterns.

Position 2: Computational Sociology and Social Network Dynamics. The work includes quantitative frameworks and food-related metrics, modeling dietary behaviors and norms spreading through social networks, complex contagion, threshold effects, reinforcement, social influence, and scaling from niches to system-wide tipping points.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold a Ph.D. in applied mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, network science, computational sociology, or a closely related quantitative field. Strong modeling skills, a strong publication record relative to career stage, and excellent English communication skills are required.

Funding: both positions are full-time postdoctoral appointments for 12 months, extendable subject to performance and funding availability. The annual gross salary is €39,224.29.

Application window: submit applications via the Politecnico di Torino careers portal by 30 May 2026 at 3 pm CET. Informal inquiries can be sent to [email protected].