Colby College
Colby College: Department of Government
Description:
The Department of Government at
Colby College invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Public Policy to begin August 1, 2026.
This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of a renewal for up to three years, based on performance and
programmatic needs. The position is housed in the Department of Government and is closely integrated with Colby’s new Public Policy
Lab, an initiative focused on applied policy research and immersive student learning.
Colby’s Labs are cross-disciplinary
academic initiatives that integrate teaching, research, and applied work around real-world problems. They are designed to support
experiential learning through practicum courses, faculty-led research, and sustained partnerships with external organizations, while
remaining fully embedded in the liberal arts curriculum. The Public Policy Lab follows this model, providing an institutional home for
applied policy projects, student mentorship, and collaborative work with government agencies, nonprofits, and community partners. The fellow
will co-teach a practicum course within the lab each semester as part of the Lab’s instructional team, helping to support ongoing
partnerships with state agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations. In addition, the fellow will teach two courses per year,
developed in consultation with the Government Department Chair and the Lab Director.
Fellows are expected to maintain an active
research and publishing agenda and will have opportunities to contribute to applied projects emerging from the Lab’s Workbench model. Up to
20 percent of the position is devoted to Lab-related responsibilities, including student mentorship, project coordination, and support for
ongoing operations. The fellow will also have the opportunity to participate in the Lab’s new public policy colloquium series and will
receive structured professional development and mentoring.
Areas of specialization are open. We welcome applicants
from Political Science/Government, Public Policy, Sociology, Economics, or related social science fields. Candidates must be able to teach
policy-relevant research methods and thrive in an interdisciplinary, applied research environment. A Ph.D. must be in hand no later than
September 1, 2026.
A complete application includes:
–
Curriculum vitae
– Cover letter describing research, teaching experience, and
approach to applied pedagogy
– Representative sample of scholarship
– Three letters of recommendation
Please submit all materials via Interfolio:
https://apply.interfolio.com/181811
Review of applications will begin March 15, 2026, and continue until the position is
filled.
Questions about the position may be directed to the Director of the Policy Lab: Professor Nicholas Jacobs,
nfjacobs@colby.edu
Colby is a private, coeducational liberal arts college that
admits students and makes personnel decisions on the basis of the individual’s qualifications to contribute to Colby’s educational
objectives and institutional needs. The principle of not discriminating on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, religion, caste, national or ethnic origin, marital status, genetic information, political beliefs, veteran or
military status, parental status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability unrelated to the job or
course of study requirements is consistent with the mission of a liberal arts college and the law.
Application
Instructions:
Areas of specialization are open. We welcome applicants from Political Science/Government,
Public Policy, Sociology, Economics, or related social science fields. Candidates must be able to teach policy-relevant research methods and
thrive in an interdisciplinary, applied research environment. A Ph.D. must be in hand no later than September 1, 2026.
A complete application includes:
– Curriculum vitae
– Cover letter describing research, teaching experience, and approach to applied
pedagogy
– Representative sample of scholarship
– Three letters of recommendation
Please submit all materials via Interfolio
Source ⇲
