TISCH COLLEGE OF CIVIC LIFE: POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN CIVIC SCIENCE

Description

Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life offers a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Civic Science for the 2023-24 academic year (September 1, 2023- August 31, 2024) with the possibility of renewal for an additional year. This position is offered in partnership with the Rita Allen Foundation in Princeton, NJ and involves remote work with the Rita Allen Foundation, the Civic Science Fellowship, and their partners as well as full-time employment at Tufts. Some in-person work in the Boston area is preferred, although remote-only employment can be considered.

The position is open to applicants who hold PhDs.

The Tisch College Civic Science initiative, led by Dr. Peter Levine and Dr. Samantha Fried, aims to reframe the relationships among scientists and scientific institutions, institutions of higher education, the state, the media and the public. It also asks about the relationships and distinctions among those institutions, historically and today.

The Rita Allen Foundation invests in early-stage research and practice in biomedicine, Civic Science, and philanthropic practice. In its work on Civic Science, the foundation fosters networks that expedite learning, promote inclusion, and generate impactful outcomes to ensure that science and evidence help to inform solutions to society’s most pressing problems.

The Civic Science Fellowship program, an initiative of the Rita Allen Foundation and other philanthropic partners, is committed to positioning emerging leaders of diverse backgrounds within organizations that operate at the intersection of science and society. Fellows are entrusted with a range of multidisciplinary projects that link Civic Science research to evidence-based practice and facilitate the interaction between scientists and communities. Such projects may entail the creation of innovative media, the design of strategies for community engagement, and/or the exploration of optimal practices for collaboration with specific demographic groups. Additionally, Fellows contribute to strengthening the culture of Civic Science across various networks by forging connections and creating shared resources.

Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in investigating the intersections of science and civic matters as the focus of their postdoctoral fellowship.

Civic Science is interdisciplinary, and this fellowship is open to specialists in any relevant field.

Qualifications

A scholar with a Ph.D. in any relevant discipline who is not yet tenured.

Desirable qualifications include, but are not limited to, the following:

• A background, degree, or certificate in a STEM –– or STEM-adjacent –– field, OR
• Work on strengthening, designing, or evaluating democratic processes, OR
• A background in the Bloomington School approach to political economy and/or studies of common-pool resources, OR
• A background in political science or political theory, OR
• Previous work on the connections between community health and civic life, OR
• A background in science, technology, and society (STS), OR
• A background in critical theory, media studies, rhetoric, philosophy of science and technology, or science communication.

The ideal candidate may have more than one of these backgrounds.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will conduct research related to Civic Science, both independently and in collaboration with Peter Levine, Samantha Fried, and the Rita Allen Foundation. The Fellow may teach or co-teach one course to undergraduates in the Civic Studies Major. 

The Fellow will conduct research related to Civic Science, both independently and in collaboration with Peter Levine, Samantha Fried, and the Rita Allen Foundation. The Fellow may teach or co-teach one course to undergraduates in the Civic Studies and/or Science, Technology, and Society (STS) programs at Tufts University. The Fellow will attend orientation and meetings with the Rita Allen Foundation as requested. The Fellow will also assist in developing and managing aspects of the Civic Science Fellowship.

 

 

Application Instructions

Please submit:

1.     A cover letter that includes a description of your dissertation (which must relate to Civic Science) and courses you would like to offer;

2.     Your CV;

3.     One writing sample;

4.     Three letters of recommendation; and

5.     Teaching course evaluations, if available.

Opens June 2, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled
Questions about the position should be addressed to Dr. Peter Levine, Associate Dean of Tisch College at Peter.Levine@tufts.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Tufts U