General Description

Salary: $80,000-$85,000 a year

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Government and Policy (SGP) invites applications from highly qualified, recent PhD graduates who possess a demonstrated interest in studying the topics, issues and challenges faced by cities and communities in the United States and globally.

SGP intentionally sits at the intersection of scholarly knowledge and practical expertise, and through its multi-disciplinary faculty and academic centers (Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence (GovEx), Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation (BCPI) and Center for Opportunity and Wealth Data (COWD), the school offers unmatched technical expertise, practitioner networks, and leading initiatives on data analytics and public innovation practices focused on cities and communities. 

SGP seeks applicants who are interested in spending 1 to 2 years within our growing school community, receiving mentorship from school faculty, engaging with, and contributing to the work of the centers, our city partners and with students from SGP and across JHU.

• This is full-time research position.
• The position is a one-year appointment, with the potential for a one-year extension.   
• The position offers competitive compensation and benefits.
• The appointment will begin Fall 2026, or as soon thereafter as a successful candidate is identified.

Core Responsibilities

• Explore, assess, and research specific issues relevant to cities and communities through deep engagement with faculty, other academic collaborators across JHU, the school centers, and municipalities.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the mission and programs of work implemented by the centers and the key research questions underpinning their work.
• Undertake field visits to cities and communities facilitated through and performed in collaboration with staff from the centers.
• Advance thought leadership by generating published research, position papers, and case studies and participate in and lead school and university seminars, symposia, and other events.
• Assist in development of teaching materials and presentations and engage with students from SGP and across JHU by participating in the delivery of instruction.

Qualifications

Qualified candidates for the postdoctoral fellowship position must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• A PhD degree in political science, public administration, public policy, economics, sociology, urban planning, urban studies, or a related discipline is required and must be conferred by employment start date.
• A demonstrated strong commitment to academic research with particular interest and expertise in AI and its impact on cities and communities or factors that influence successful models for public sector innovation, including civic engagement and participatory governance.
• A strong record of high-quality scholarly output or evidence of a promising publication trajectory (peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, case studies, policy reports, or equivalent).
• Experience conducting or participating in empirical or theoretical research using appropriate methods (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, ethnography, policy analysis, etc.).
• Experience writing policy briefs, position papers or case studies and capacity to translate research findings for academic and non-academic audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, experience in student instruction, and the ability to present research to scholarly, policy, and community stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, community partners, municipal practitioners, and/or policymakers on projects of mutual interest.

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted via Interfolio and include:

• Curriculum vitae
• Three (3) professional references
• A maximum of three (3) relevant research papers or other types of scholarly publications
• A letter of interest summarizing qualifications, areas of expertise, research interests, and career goals

Johns Hopkins University conducts pre-employment background checks and degree verification on all candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer.

Applications will be reviewed by a school search committee and will be accepted until the position is filled. Interviews may be conducted on a rolling basis.

The search committee is dedicated to hiring candidates who, through their research, teaching, and service will contribute to the growth and excellence of the School of Government and Policy, to JHU, our students, and the broader academic community.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Background Checks

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification.

EEO is the Law:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information. The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

About Johns Hopkins University

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) was founded in 1876 as the nation's first research university, dedicated to bringing the benefits of discovery to the world. JHU is the largest private employer in Baltimore and Maryland, making a large economic impact in the city and state. We enroll more than 30,000 full- and part-time students across ten academic divisions, offering in-person and remote learning in over 400 programs. Not only are we located in Baltimore, but we also have a presence in Washington, D.C.

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