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Postdoctoral Research Opportunity – Environmental Science and Policy Research and Education

April 27, 2026

This one-year position will help bridge science research, education, and policy at Northwestern. Salary will be determined based on degree and experience. Candidates must be able to start in this position on or, ideally before, October 1, 2026.

Scope of work

At the intersection of environmental science and policy with an emphasis on sustainability-related fields:

  • Conduct benchmarking and gap analysis of national- and university-level research and educational programs that prepare undergraduates and graduate students for careers. This will include aiding in the design of a one-time undergraduate-focused event at Northwestern to gather feedback about gaps in current education, research, and extracurricular opportunities.
  • Support development of educational and other programs at Northwestern to fill gaps including through convening and managing a university working group, designing syllabi for new courses, supporting development of new course materials
  • Undertake and publish a peer-reviewed manuscript that reviews the degree of interdisciplinarity in scholarly research of science and policy and the impact of interdisciplinary scholarship
  • Support proposals to funding organizations related to science policy education and research
  • Address other opportunities and needs as they arise

Successful candidates will:

  • Have a demonstrated track record of research and/or outreach experience at the intersection of science/engineering and policy
  • Have leadership experience including successfully leading student or other organizations
  • Have experience leading the development and successful publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts
  • Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills
  • Facility with social media engagement very welcome
  • Facility with Python desired but not required
  • Work effectively with project management tools including those supported at Northwestern for faculty use: Outlook, One Drive/Sharepoint

Application materials:

Please send the following application materials to Jennifer Dunn with “Science Policy Post-Doc” in the subject line:

  • CV
  • Letter of interest describing why the position is of interest to you.
    • Your letter should contain the names and contact information of two references that we can contact to provide recommendations. We will only request letters for the most promising applicants.

Application deadline:

Friday, May 15, 2026

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.