Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Josef Korbel School of Global & Public Affairs

The Josef Korbel School of Global & Public Affairs at the University of Denver is an interdisciplinary professional school of international studies and public policy that prepares students for careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Our program provides students with knowledge, skills and networks to design policies, implement programs, and realize outcomes that enhance human capabilities around the world. Ranked among the top 12 international studies graduate programs in the world, the Korbel School will prepare students for current and emerging opportunities in our globalizing world.

Position Summary

The Josef Korbel School of Global & Public Affairs is seeking qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship. This scholar will reside at the University of Denver for one full academic year. This post-doc will be an integral part of the Women’s Activities in Armed Rebellion (WAAR) research project, funded by the UN’s Complex Risk Analytics Fund (CRAF’d).

The postdoc will also be invited to engage with Korbel and other research center initiatives, including conferences, commentary, and publications. They will also be invited to present their work in the weekly Korbel Research Seminar, where scholars present work-in-progress to PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and other members of the Korbel Community. Further, they will benefit from the support and collegiality of the large Korbel faculty whose feedback and advice will help them shape their own research and advance their career goals.

We will accept applications from candidates who have demonstrated excellence in research and teaching on international affairs. We invite candidates with subject matter expertise in gender and armed conflict, civil wars, and/or rebellion and encourage those with technical expertise in creating and using quantitative data to apply.

Essential Functions

• Facilitate the coding of qualitative material into a quantitative dataset
• Develop a practitioner-oriented handbook
• Facilitate the creation of a qualitative handbook detailing women’s participation in ~1000 armed groups
• Prepare quantitative and qualitative data for publication in journal articles and book projects
• Participate in biweekly meetings with a faculty mentor
• Actively participate in the weekly Korbel Research Seminar
• Conduct independent and collaborative research
• Collaborate with Korbel faculty on additional research projects as consistent with their interests and expertise
• Participate in events and workshops hosted by research centers, at the guidance of faculty mentors

Required Qualifications

• Substantial progress toward a PhD in Political Science, International Studies, Sociology, or other relevant discipline
• Experience conducting research on the gender dynamics of armed conflict, with particular attention to women’s experiences, and rebellion during civil wars
• Experience working with qualitative and quantitative data
• Experience working in a collaborative research team
• Applicants should complete all requirements for their Ph.D. by August 1, 2026
• Demonstrated excellence in research and/or teaching on international affairs, broadly conceived.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 18, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is GE8.

Salary Rate:
The salary rate for this position is $65,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not ba