Postdoctoral Fellow in Economics

The Buntrock Institute for Freedom and Community (IFC) at St. Olaf College invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship for scholars doing innovative work that deepens our understanding of public policy challenges, broadly understood. We welcome applicants from multiple disciplinary traditions, including but not limited to public health, political science, and economics. Priority will be given to candidates whose work can speak to major questions in multiple disciplinary traditions. 

The post-doctoral fellow will be appointed to an appropriate academic department at the college. Post-Doctoral Fellows will teach three policy/public affairs courses per year through their home department, pursue their own scholarly research, participate in various IFC-sponsored events on campus, and contribute through their teaching and scholarly activities to public affairs education on campus.  This is a two-year fellowship beginning mid-August, 2026.

Salary: $63,000 - $70,000 

Qualifications 
A Ph.D. in a discipline related to public policy/public affairs, completed by the time of appointment, is required.

About the Department 
Established at St. Olaf in 2014, The Buntrock Institute for Freedom and Community (https://institute.stolaf.edu/) is an interdisciplinary institute seeking to promote constructive dialogue and meaningful debate on important political and social issues. By exploring diverse ideas about politics, markets, and society, the Buntrock Institute aims to challenge presuppositions, question easy answers, and foster constructive dialogue among those with differing values and contending points of view.

We strive to be a campus of welcome where students, faculty, and staff thrive by bringing their full humanity—gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, spirituality, and age—to St. Olaf each day. Our goal is to generate conversations and processes that over time create greater clarity, transparency, trust, cooperation, consensus, respect, and measurable outcomes. Practices that support this goal include listening, cultivating a growth mindset, respecting those with different views, being informed by data, and understanding that the work is ongoing, collaborative, organic, and ever evolving. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Community and Belonging webpage to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts. 

How to Apply 
A complete application includes the following: 

References: Provide contact information for three professional references who can speak to your abilities in teaching and scholarship. 

Supporting Documents and URLS:

1. Cover letter outlining your qualifications and why you are interested in this particular position
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Graduate transcripts (unofficial)
4. Teaching Statement (with evidence of teaching excellence, if applicable)

Review of applications will begin on 3/1/2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position, department, or college may be directed to Chris Chapp, Morrison Family Director of the Institute for Freedom and Community, chapp@stolaf.edu. 

Join Our Community - Work at St. Olaf!

Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.

The college offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 9% retirement match, contributions to eligible employees' health savings accounts, a significant tuition discount (up to a 90% reduction) at ACM, GLCA, and ELCA colleges and universities for employees' children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of