The Multi-observatory of science, technology and innovation dynamics (MultiObs) (www.multiobs.org) is a project based at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Funded by FAPESP’s São Paulo Excellence Chair (SPEC) program (FAPESP ID 2025/05419-7, https://bv.fapesp.br/pt/auxilios/118973), it is led by Principal Researcher Dr. Rodrigo Costas (UNICAMP/Leiden University).
MultiObs is now offering 8 postdoctoral fellowship (PD) opportunities. We are seeking researchers holding a PhD who are interested in working on one of the specific research profiles and workplans presented below. The working language of the project will be English.
The positions are for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension depending on performance and project priorities.
Requirements and profile
Successful applicants must hold a doctoral degree in the areas explicitly listed in the following profiles. Regardless of the specific position, a strong background in the socio-economic aspects of science, technology, and innovation (STI) studies and robust analytical skills are required. Preference will be given to candidates whose training, skills, and research interests align and reinforce the work of MultiObs faculty members.
Responsibilities include conducting research within the proposed research lines and associated ongoing grants and projects, contributing to theory development, data collection and analysis, and co-authoring papers and reports for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The role also involves active participation in seminars and working groups, as well as collaboration on research grant and contract applications. Additional duties encompass supporting the organization of international workshops and conferences within the MultiObs project framework, and contributing to project management activities.
Eligibility:
Candidates must have successfully defended their PhD thesis no more than seven years prior to the application date. Given the project's strong international orientation, excellent English-language communication skills are expected of all candidates.
Benefits:
All rules regarding FAPESP’s postdoctoral fellowships, including the full remuneration package (monthly stipend and research contingency fund/technical reserve), can be found at: https://fapesp.br/en/postdoc. The postdoctoral fellows must develop their work from the State of São Paulo (Brazil). Given the strong international focus of the MultiObs project, selected candidates will be encouraged to apply for supplementary funding to support research stays with collaborating institutions abroad and foster active engagement in international networks.
Application Process:
This round of applications is open until 20 June 2026. Decisions will be announced by the end of July 2026.
Applications must be submitted via: Application form
Required documentation for submission:
Cover Letter: Clearly stating which workplan(s) the candidate is applying for, as well as their professional interests, skills, and perspectives on contributing to the MultiObs project.
Curricular Summary (Súmula Curricular): Must follow the FAPESP model found at: https://fapesp.br/6351/instructions-for-the-elaboration-of-a-curricular-summary.
Two Letters of Reference: From professionals with consolidated experience in the fields of STI studies who have worked with you in the previous 5 years.
Selection Criteria:
The selection process consists of two stages:
Stage A: Comparative analysis of the C.V. and submitted documentation. Applications will be scored from 1 to 10 based on their adherence to MultiObs project objectives.
Stage B: Online interviews for candidates ranked within the top quartile (highest 25% of scores).
Applications must be submitted to the application form above and letters of reference should be sent by the referees supporting your application to: applications@multiobs.org
Any doubts can be addressed to: info@multiobs.org
Project workplans and related profiles expected from candidates
Prospective applicants are kindly requested to review all available workplans carefully and select up to two workplans (see list below) that align with their research interests. Candidates are also encouraged to consider alignment between their own training, skills, and research interests and those of the prospective supervisors when selecting a workplan.
List of workplans (WP) for the MultiObs project:
WP1 - Living Lab: 2 positions
WP2 - Data Infrastructure: 2 positions
WP3 - Diversity and inclusion, and funding dynamics: 1 position
WP4 - Technology & Innovation and regional STI dynamics: 1 position
WP5 - STI diplomacy and science-policy dynamics: 1 position
Workplan 1: Living Lab [PD1, PD2]
The Multi-Observatory Living Lab workplan represents one of the central components of the MultiObs project, as an open innovation ecosystem for the co-creation of STI analytics, metrics, and monitoring approaches. This workplan brings together project members and stakeholders (including industry, funders, and research managers) to combine data, theoretical frameworks, experimentation, and participatory methods in developing more reflexive STI monitoring solutions. We invite applications for two postdoctoral fellowships (PD1 and PD2) within the Multi-Observatory Living Lab. The central aim of both positions is to design, develop, and test co-creation procedures and approaches that bring together researchers, policymakers, funding agencies, and diverse societal stakeholders to collectively produce meaningful STI monitoring tools. Activities include engaging these stakeholders through workshops, focus groups, and interviews; identifying their needs and limitations in accessing and using STI indicators; and proposing new indicators, data sources, tools, and solutions relevant to their needs. The work combines theoretical and empirical approaches in close collaboration with project team members, stakeholders, and international partners across the MultiObs network. Candidates should be comfortable with the objective of building novel STI indicators and monitoring systems that foster cooperation and exchanges between science and society. Familiarity with how research organizations, funding organizations and societal stakeholders engage with STI indicators is also desirable. An interest in how participatory and inclusive approaches can strengthen trust and dialogue between science and society, and familiarity with STI policy and diversity and inclusion, are a plus. The postdocs will be jointly supervised by Dr. Germana Barata (UNICAMP) and Dr. Rodrigo Costas (UNICAMP/Leiden University) [PD1] and Dr. Adriana Bin and Dr. Sergio Salles-Filho (UNICAMP) [PD2].
The ideal candidates hold a PhD in communication, information science, sociology of science, science policy, or a related social science field. A strong background in one or more of the following is highly desirable: science communication, policy design, evaluation and planning, citizen science, STS studies, or data science. Experience in designing or implementing participatory and co-creation approaches is particularly valued, as is a critical understanding of the limitations of existing STI indicators.
Workplan 2: Data Infrastructure [PD3, PD4]
The Multi-Observatory Infrastructure workplan covers the data and infrastructural elements of the MultiObs project. It is a fundamental component of the project that supports all research and monitoring activities across the project, providing the data, tools, and technical solutions upon which the other workplans operate. By combining open data sources, advanced computational methods, and a strong commitment to the democratization and federation of research infrastructures, the Infrastructure aims to develop robust, accessible, and interoperable STI monitoring solutions that serve both the research community and a broader range of societal stakeholders. We invite applications for two postdoctoral fellowships (PD3 and PD4) focused on data infrastructure for STI monitoring within the MultiObs project. The central aim of both positions is to study, develop, and maintain the data infrastructure that underpins the project's research and monitoring activities. This includes assessing the diversity and availability of existing STI data sources and researching their integration, curation, and accessibility for innovative STI monitoring solutions. The postdocs will also research the concepts of democratization and federation of data sources, provide access through SQL and interactive interfaces, develop documentation around infrastructural developments and monitoring solutions, and deliver training on the use of the data infrastructure. Given the connecting role of these postdocs across the other workplans, close collaboration with other team members and stakeholders will be central to the workplan. The postdocs will be supervised by Dr. Rodrigo Costas (UNICAMP/Leiden University) and Dr. Alysson Mazoni (UNICAMP) [PD3] and Dr. Sergio Salles-Filho and Dr. Adriana Bin (UNICAMP) [PD4].
The ideal candidates should have a PhD in computer science, engineering, statistics applied to social studies, econometrics, or a related field with a strong technical background and interest in data science. Experience in scientometrics, data analytics, cloud computing, programming, and quantitative studies is highly desirable, as is familiarity with open data, visualization tools, AI applications for data science, disambiguation algorithms, and monitoring approaches. Given the bridging role of these two postdocs across the project, strong communication skills are essential. An interest in training, capacity building, and the democratization of open research infrastructures would be a plus.
Workplan 3: Diversity and inclusion, and funding dynamics in STI [PD5]
This workplan concentrates on the role that research funders play in promoting a more inclusive scientific workforce and greater epistemic diversity, shaping scientists' choices of research problems, and determining STI responses to global and local challenges (e.g. climate change, COVID-19, the Zika virus, and agrifood needs). This postdoctoral fellowship (PD5) addresses these themes by studying the fundamental challenges of analysing the STI workforce and its epistemic choices in relation to the incentives created by funders and their programmes, bringing together research on inequalities and disparities in the STI ecosystem — including gender, academic, and epistemic dimensions — with research on funding instruments and the role of funders in knowledge creation, with particular attention to the Global South. The work will involve both theoretical and empirical research and will be undertaken under the joint supervision of Dr. Ismael Ràfols (INGENIO-CSIC-UPV) and Dr. Adriana Bin (UNICAMP).
The ideal candidate should hold a PhD in sociology of science, science policy, research on research, or related social sciences with a good technical background. Previous experience in science policy analyses or STS from a diversity inclusion perspective will be highly appreciated. Interest in STI policy and diversity and inclusion would be a plus. Experience in data analytics, particularly funding data, will be valuable.
Workplan 4: Technology & Innovation and regional STI dynamics [PD6, PD7]
This workplan focuses on the dynamics of innovation and technological change in a rapidly reconfiguring global economy. Research work in the context of this workplan will mainly concentrate on Global value chains in the new reconfiguration of the global trade system, how regional science, technology and innovation dynamics with particular emphasis on innovation ecosystems, clusters, science parks, drive local and national STI development, and how knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship and industrial and technology policy interact to shape competitive advantage. Although with an international perspective, emphasis will be given to strategic sectors for Brazil such as energy, information and communication technologies, transportation (especially automotive and aerospace), agrobusiness, and knowledge-intensive business services. We invite applications for two postdoctoral fellowships (PD6 and PD7) combining theoretical and empirical analysis, supervised respectively by Dr. Sergio Queiroz (UNICAMP) [PD6] and Dr. Nicholas Vonortas (UNICAMP/George Washington University) [PD7].
Successful applicants should have a doctoral degree in industrial economics, business management, sociology, or other relevant disciplinary or interdisciplinary subject areas such as STS studies. Strong background on the socio-economic aspects of technological advancement and innovation and in STI policy is highly desirable. Candidates must have a demonstrated record of individual initiative in research, and strong analytical skills.
Workplan 5: STI diplomacy and science-policy dynamics [PD8]
Drawing on scientometrics and metascience, this workplan focuses on the mechanisms through which scientific knowledge shapes — and is shaped by — policy and governance structures at national and international levels. A particular emphasis is placed on the strategic role of evidence-informed policy making in strengthening STI systems and their relationship with broader governance frameworks, including the field of science diplomacy. Recent developments in methodologies and data sources for tracking policy documents and monitoring policy engagement with science open new avenues for this new research area. We invite applications for one postdoctoral fellowship (PD8) with the aim of developing operational definitions and frameworks for science-technology-and-innovation diplomacy, examining how scientific knowledge is integrated into governance structures, studying metascience organizations and initiatives that support science-policy interactions. The work will be undertaken under the supervision of Dr. Cassidy Sugimoto (Carnegie Mellon University) and Dr. Sergio Salles-Filho (UNICAMP).
The ideal candidate holds a PhD in STS, political science, economics, international relations, or a related social science field, with a strong technical foundation and interest in data science and quantitative methods. Experience in tracking science-policy interactions, STI diplomacy, and policy impact is highly desirable. Familiarity with the role of research institutions, governments, and international organizations in shaping STI policies is a strength, as is an interest in global governance of science and the development of metrics for assessing science-policy engagement.
How to Apply
Ready to join MultiObs?
Send your CV and a brief motivation letter to the address below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Submit your application