Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Social and Political Aspects of Water Supply Innovation

Overview Of Project

The School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS) at Arizona State University seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scholar trained in anthropology, STS, or adjacent fields to investigate how membrane filtration technologies are being used as a “device” for facilitating innovation and maintenance under changing political and environmental situations. The fellow will work directly with Dr. Christy Spackman, Associate Professor in SFIS and the School of Arts, Media and Engineering. This work is funded by the National Science Foundation Grant #2341871 “Collaborative Research: Retooling at the Hydro-Frontier: Devices for Resource Extraction in the 20th Century.”

The fellow will join a dynamic, multi-sited team of scholars based at ASU and University of Southern California. In addition to research activities, the fellow will provide mentorship to undergraduate and/or graduate student members of the team. This is an in-person position, housed at ASU’s Tempe campus. The full-time, fiscal year (12-month), non-tenure-track, benefits-eligible position is for one year. The anticipated start date is September 2026 but can be negotiated.

SFIS is located within the ASU Rob Walton College of Global Futures https://collegeofglobalfutures.asu.edu/, an integral unit within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory (GFL). GFL is an innovative enterprise designed to radically enhance the university’s impact in creating a thriving future for humanity and planet Earth. As defined in its design aspirations, ASU has a deep commitment to use-inspired, public-serving work in both the local and global contexts. This commitment is further articulated in ASU’s Charter, declaring the university’s enduring commitment to the communities in which it is embedded.

Job Description

The successful candidate will play a key role in examining the role of Membrane Filtration Technologies (MFT) as devices in water reuse policies and practices in Arizona, focusing on their integration into wastewater treatment and stakeholder approaches to water reuse. The project’s central theoretical focus is on retooling—a sociotechnical practice that combines innovation and maintenance to adapt to changing political and environmental needs. Retooling is key to enabling new forms of water resource extraction and shaping hydrological frontiers. By studying these changes, we aim to understand how technoscientific shifts make new forms of water extraction plausible and desirable. The project includes research, policy analysis, stakeholder interviews, and public engagement, with the postdoctoral fellow contributing to publications, policy recommendations, and development of an interactive exhibit to engage multiple audiences in considering MFTs as devices.

Essential Duties

• Conducting semi-structured interviews with city and state policymakers, industry professionals, and academics involved in water reuse.
• Participating in and analyzing public rule-making meetings as Arizona advances direct potable reuse of wastewater.
• Conducting archival research on the historical integration of MFTs in wastewater treatment plants, industrial applications, and home use.
• Engaging in participant observation at national and regional water industry conferences, e.g. American Water Works Association (AWWA) and WateReuse events from 2026–2027.
• Assisting in the design and facilitation of interactive workshops that bring together policymakers, water users, and experts to explore MFT applications in Arizona’s water future.
• Developing an interactive exhibit on MFTs and water reuse, presented at county fairs in Arizona (Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties) and at professional water industry conferences in 2026–2027.
• Co-authoring public-facing articles and op-eds to highlight key themes emerging from the research.
  
  

Mentorship And Professional Development

The selected fellow will receive mentorship to support their professional goals, whether in academia, policy, or industry. The PI is committed to fostering a collaborative research environment and will work with the fellow to develop a strategic career plan.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field such as Environmental or Cultural Anthropology, Science and Technology Studies, Sustainability, History of Science, or a related discipline, completed by the start date. (Postdoctoral scholars must be within five years from receipt of the doctoral degree.)
• Research experience related to water policy, environmental technology, and/or public engagement with science and policy.
• Demonstrated expertise in interdisciplinary, mixed-methods research including semi-structured interviews and participant observation.
• Strong qualitative research skills, including interviewing and ethnographic methods.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience translating academic research into accessible formats for decision-makers and the general public.
• Demonstrated experience working with multiple stakeholders, including policymakers, community organizations, and industry professionals.
• Demonstrated experience in public engagement, exhibit design, or participatory research methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience working on projects related to water management, environmental policy, or sustainability.
• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish.