Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Description

Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University (www.thunderbird.asu.edu) is seeking applications for a full-time, benefits-eligible postdoctoral research scholar, beginning Fall 2025. Renewal is possible on an annual basis for up to two - years contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. For additional information and policies regarding postdoctoral scholars at ASU, please see https://academicpersonnel.asu.edu/posdoc.

The successful candidate will take a leading role in managing a gift funded lab that focuses on ocean diplomacy, which can be broadly defined as the use of diplomatic strategies, negotiations, and international cooperation to manage relations and resolve disputes concerning oceans, seas, and maritime activities. Thematic topics that the lab prioritizes may include business and economic diplomacy at sea (e.g. maritime trade, fisheries and resource diplomacy, energy and mineral diplomacy, blue economy initiatives), governance and legal diplomacy (e.g. UNCLOS and legal frameworks, multilateral maritime institutions, security and rule enforcement, and jurisdictional challenges), sustainability and environmental diplomacy (e.g. climate change impacts, ocean biodiversity and conservation, pollution and marine health, and sustainable resource use), and technology and innovation diplomacy (e.g. surveillance, monitoring, and maritime domain awareness, maritime infrastructure and smart ports, green shipping technologies, ocean science and data diplomacy, and dual-use technologies).  The postdoctoral fellow will report to Dr. Jonas Gamso, Deputy Dean of Knowledge Enterprise and an Associate Professor at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. 

 

 Job Duties

The postdoctoral fellow will play a central role in launching and managing a new Ocean Diplomacy Laboratory, contributing to both its intellectual agenda and operational development. The fellow will be expected to develop an innovative and rigorous research agenda in the field of ocean diplomacy – broadly defined to include governance of maritime resources, marine environmental cooperation, ocean-related conflict resolution, and regional and global institutional arrangements.

 

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting independent research and collaborating with faculty on interdisciplinary projects that align with the department’s emphasis on global management and international cooperation.
• Collecting, organizing, and analyzing qualitative and/or quantitative data relevant to ocean diplomacy and related fields.
• Preparing research for dissemination in high-impact academic journals and practitioner-oriented outlets.
• Engaging with external stakeholders, including policymakers, NGOs, and other community and international partners, to foster applied insights and collaborative projects.
• Assisting in the preparation of reports, grant proposals, and internal documentation related to the Ocean Diplomacy Laboratory’s activities.
• Supporting center operations and contributing to strategic planning and coordination of events, workshops, and research initiatives.
• Participating in departmental and university programming aimed at enhancing interdisciplinary research and public engagement.

The ideal candidate will combine scholarly expertise with the organizational and interpersonal skills necessary to help build a new center of excellence at the intersection of ocean governance and global affairs.

  

About Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU

Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University cultivates visionary leaders who harness innovation and a global digital mindset to shape the organizations of the future. Committed to transforming leadership and management education, Thunderbird empowers professionals to drive sustainable prosperity in an increasingly interconnected world. As the premier institution for global leadership and management education, Thunderbird is more than just a school - it is a dynamic global network of leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs spanning both the private and public sectors.

As the world’s first higher education institution dedicated exclusively to international leadership, Thunderbird pioneered a curriculum integrating global management, international political economy, regional business environments, languages, and cross-cultural communication. Often described as a “mini-United Nations,” the school fosters a globally inclusive student body. Thunderbird’s vast and influential alumni network includes nearly 50,000 graduates across 150 countries, with over 170 active alumni chapters in 70 nations.

In Dec