Postdoctoral Fellow

The School of International Service at American University (AU) invites applications for an eighteen-month Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE) Postdoctoral Fellow in Civic Environmentalism. The Post-Doctoral fellow will work on the Addressing Climate Through Our Nation’s Service Corps Program under the project’s Principal Investigator, Professor Dana R. Fisher. We seek a junior scholar with a deep knowledge about civic engagement and activism, and a strong background in both survey and interview research methods to join the project’s research team. In addition to working with the team to collect and analyze data, and write-up the research findings, the post-doctoral fellow will support our new DataCorps Fellowship Program, which will train graduate students to evaluate civic programs that are springing up across the US to support climate work. Although the post-doctoral fellow will support DataCorps Program as fellows conduct evaluations over the summer, there are no teaching responsibilities.

We welcome applicants who possess a broad and big-picture understanding of civic engagement and environmental challenges, and the ability to engage with research and scholarship from multiple disciplines. Preference will be given to applicants with experience working on actionable research and strong intrapersonal skills, with a record of published research.

We especially encourage applications from individuals from sectors of the population historically underrepresented on the professorial faculties of U.S. colleges and universities. The position begins on January 1, 2025, with the possibility of renewal for additional time.

The postdoctoral fellow should reside in the D.C. metropolitan area and be an active participant in SIS’ vibrant intellectual community. Other fellowship expectations include contributing to the day-to-day activities at the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE), including coordinating environmental events, hosting guests, writing for the CECE Clearinghouse, and providing other administrative support (for up to 25% of the fellow’s time).

Applicants should hold a PhD or the highest equivalent degree in any discipline connected to the social sciences by the start date, though ABD applications will be considered. Annual salary: $70,000 plus benefits. Review of applications will begin on November 4, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Workday application system (https://american.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AU/job/Main-Campus-Washington-DC/CECE-Postdoctoral-Fellow_R1982). Applications should include the following:

• Cover letter detailing the applicant’s research background and expertise
• Curriculum vitae
• Sample publications
• Brief research statement including research agenda
• Statement describing past examples of your contributions to diversity and inclusion in your scholarship, the classroom and/or in other professional settings.
• The names and email addresses of three references (the Workday system will contact them for a confidential letter of recommendation) and whom the committee may contact.

Queries about the search may be sent to Professor Dana Fisher (drfisher@american.edu). Queries about the online application system may be sent to SIS faculty affairs manager Alissa Iwaniuk (aiwaniuk@american.edu).

American University is a private institution of higher education in the nation’s capital (Please visit www.american.edu for more information). American University’s School of International Service (SIS) is a top-ten school of international affairs with 3,000 students, 120+ full-time faculty and more than 20,000 alumni worldwide. SIS faculty produce transformational research and our prime location provides opportunities for collaboration with professionals in government, the private sector, and think tanks and other non-profits. Learn more about SIS at www.american.edu/sis.

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively “Protected Bases”) in its programs and activities.

American University is a tobacco and smoke free campus. To ensure the health and safety of our community, American University requires that all faculty and staff are vaccinated for Covid-19. To learn more about American University’s health and safety directives please click here. https://www.american.edu/hr/how-we-work/vaccinations.cfm

Hiring offers for this position are contingent on the successful completion of a background check.