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Position Details

Recruitment/Posting Title RDL Post-Doctoral Associate

Department Eagleton Institute of Politics

Salary Details 70000

Offer Information

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university’s broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Benefits

Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:
- Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
- Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
- Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
- Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)
- Life insurance coverage
- Employee discount programs

Posting Summary

The Rutgers Democracy Lab (RDL) at Rutgers University–Camden invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate in Civically Engaged Research, beginning in August 2027. This is a full-time, one-year appointment, renewable based on performance and available funding. The postdoc will be based at Rutgers University–Camden.

The postdoc will work closely with Dr. Ashley E. Nickels, Camden Campus Director of the Rutgers Democracy Lab and Professor of Political Science, co-teaching a year-long community-engaged learning course focused on civic engagement and collaborating on a new research agenda focused on deepening democracy in the Philadelphia–Camden region.

This is an excellent opportunity for scholars interested in civically engaged research related to local democracy-building, participatory and deliberative democracy, and/or dialogue and civic engagement, and who want to work meaningfully with communities to strengthen democracy, both in practice and through research.

The postdoc will devote roughly three-quarters of their time to RDL teaching and collaborative research, with the remaining time protected for their own scholarly agenda.

In teaching, the postdoc will co-teach a year-long community-engaged learning course focused on civic engagement with Dr. Nickels, modeled on RDL’s Think and Do Tank, in which students work alongside community partners on public problems. As co-facilitators and mentors, the postdoc will gain sustained experience with experiential, dialogue-based, and community-engaged pedagogy.

In research, the postdoc will collaborate with Dr. Nickels to design and launch a new civically engaged research agenda in the Philadelphia-Camden-South Jersey region focused on deepening democracy, including how people come together across differences to deliberate, solve shared problems, and take part in governing their communities. We understand civically engaged research as a power-sharing practice in which community partners are co-creators rather than research subjects, bringing knowledge and experience that shape the work at every stage, from defining the questions and designing the study to interpreting findings and deciding how results are used. Because the agenda is in its early stages, the postdoc will play a meaningful role in building partnerships, shaping the project alongside community leaders, and co-authoring the resulting scholarship.

The postdoc will also be an active member of the RDL community, participating in Lab events and programming not only on the Camden campus, but also contributing to the Lab’s broader work to strengthen democracy across Rutgers’ campuses in New Brunswick and Newark. There will be opportunities to collaborate with RDL core staff, student fellows, and faculty/staff democracy fellows, as well as become involved in projects connected with the Eagleton Institute of Politics.

Position Status Full Time

Posting Number 26FA1010

Posting Open Date 02/01/2027

Posting Close Date

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Applicants should hold a PhD in political science, public administration, urban studies, sociology, peace and conflict studies, education, or a related field by the start date. Candidates who have not yet completed the degree by August 2027 will be appointed as Research Associate until the degree is conferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Applicants should have familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative methods; we welcome scholars working from a range of epistemological and methodological traditions. We are especially interested in candidates with a demonstrated commitment to civically engaged scholarship, experience building reciprocal relationships with community partners and sharing decision-making with them across the research process, and a commitment to teaching and mentoring students through community-engaged learning.

Preferred Qualifications

Overview

The Rutgers Democracy Lab was established in 2025 through a transformational philanthropic gift, with a mission to strengthen American democracy through education, dialogue across differences, and collaborative problem-solving. Housed at the Eagleton Institute of Politics and operating across Rutgers’ campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden, RDL brings students from all disciplines together with faculty, staff, scholar-practitioners, and community members to address pressing public challenges. As an incubator, RDL explores, tests, and refines new approaches to civic engagement and develops evidence-based practices that support and enhance democracy.

Through skills-building, practical experiences, and engaged research RDL equips students to address real-world challenges and turn ideas into civic action. Its signature initiatives include the RDL Think and Do Tank, the Talking Across Difference, and a Technology and Democracy Research Hub. The fellow will be based at the Camden campus, working out of the Division of Impact and Community Engagement (DICE).

Statement

Rutgers University–Camden is a diverse, research-intensive campus located in Camden, New Jersey, directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. It holds the Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity, and U.S. News & World Report ranks it #43 among public universities nationwide. Rutgers–Camden is widely recognized as a national model for the civically engaged urban university. It first received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2015 and earned it again in 2024, and it is a Minority Serving Institution. Through its Division of Impact and Community Engagement (DICE), the campus builds this work on intentional, mutually beneficial partnerships among faculty, students, and community organizations, offering the fellow a well-established infrastructure for community-engaged teaching and research in Camden and the broader region.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants should submit the following materials:
- Cover letter describing your interest in the position and how your work aligns with RDL’s mission
- Curriculum vitae
- Research statement (no more than two pages) that includes a discussion of your community-engaged research
- Teaching statement (no more than two pages)
- Writing sample (a single article or chapter, approximately 30 pages maximum)
- Contact information for three references

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter/Letter of Application
- Writing Sample 1
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research Statement
- Teaching Interests

Optional Documents