What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science position at St. Olaf College?
Job Description
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 political theory and/or comparative politics focused on contemporary challenges in politics, markets, and society.
The post-doctoral fellow will be appointed to the Political Science department at the college. Post-Doctoral Fellows will teach three courses per year through their home department at the college, 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 August 17, 2026. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Salary: $60,000 - $65,000
Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Political Science or a discipline related to public policy/public affairs, completed by the time of appointment, is required.
About The Institute For Freedom And Community
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 American political and social issues. By exploring diverse ideas about politics, markets, and society, the IFC 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
About Us
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 the college's benefits, please see the summary of our benefits here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/
To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.
A summary of the Flexible Work Policy for staff: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/
A link to our Community and Belonging page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/
A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483
An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/
An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/
For Staff Application Assistance
hrstaff@stolaf.edu
507-786-3068
For Faculty Application Assistance
facultysearch@stolaf.edu
507-786-3356
Nondiscrimination Policy
St. Olaf College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance. St. Olaf College prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon these and any other legally protected status in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admissions and employment.
Inquiries about this nondiscrimination policy may be referred to St. Olaf College's Director of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. St. Olaf's Director of Equal Opportunity (who serves as the College's Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 Coordinator) is Pamela McDowell, Tomson Hall, mcdowell@stolaf.edu , (507) 786-3465.
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 political theory and/or comparative politics focused on contemporary challenges in politics, markets, and society.
The post-doctoral fellow will be appointed to the Political Science department at the college. Post-Doctoral Fellows will teach three courses per year through their home department at the college, 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 August 17, 2026. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Salary: $60,000 - $65,000
Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Political Science or a discipline related to public policy/public affairs, completed by the time of appointment, is required.
About The Institute For Freedom And Community
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 American political and social issues. By exploring diverse ideas about politics, markets, and society, the IFC 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
- Cover letter outlining your qualifications and why you are interested in this particular position
- Curriculum vitae
- Graduate transcripts (unofficial)
- Teaching statement, including evidence of teaching excellence
- Statement of Research interest
About Us
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 the college's benefits, please see the summary of our benefits here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/
To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.
A summary of the Flexible Work Policy for staff: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/
A link to our Community and Belonging page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/
A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483
An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/
An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/
For Staff Application Assistance
hrstaff@stolaf.edu
507-786-3068
For Faculty Application Assistance
facultysearch@stolaf.edu
507-786-3356
Nondiscrimination Policy
St. Olaf College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance. St. Olaf College prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon these and any other legally protected status in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admissions and employment.
Inquiries about this nondiscrimination policy may be referred to St. Olaf College's Director of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. St. Olaf's Director of Equal Opportunity (who serves as the College's Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 Coordinator) is Pamela McDowell, Tomson Hall, mcdowell@stolaf.edu , (507) 786-3465.
Salary : $60,000 - $65,000