Postdoctoral Scholar - Economics

The Department of Economics at Tufts University, in partnership with the Center for Expanding Viewpoints in Higher Education (CEVIHE), seeks to host a Postdoctoral Fellow whose research and teaching focus on topics in the economics of education. The successful candidate will pursue an active research agenda and contribute to the department’s teaching mission in education policy and applied economics. Research interests may include, but are not limited to, school choice, school vouchers, affirmative action, college financial aid and student loan policy, school finance reform, and the role of federal, state, and local governments in curriculum design and school accountability. The appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal based on performance, funding, and mutual agreement.

The application deadline for this position is August 28, 2026, and the hiring range is $65,000 - $75,000, commensurate with experience.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will teach two courses in the economics of education. These courses may include seminars designed to introduce students to recent research and central debates in education policy, with an emphasis on critical discussion, empirical evidence, and policy analysis. The position offers an opportunity to develop an independent research program while gaining teaching experience in a supportive academic environment. The fellow will be encouraged to participate in Economics Department seminars, workshops, and collaborative research activities.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Expanding Viewpoints is supported by CEVIHE, which seeks to cultivate early-career scholars whose teaching and research broaden the range of ideas represented in their disciplines and strengthen Tufts’ culture of open inquiry. The Center is committed to renewing the university’s intellectual mission by fostering a culture of engagement across ideological, religious, and cultural differences.

The fellow will maintain their office at CEVIHE, where they will be part of a cohort of postdoctoral fellows representing various departments and programs. The fellow will be supported by a dual-mentor structure, including a faculty mentor in the Department of Economics and a CEVIHE faculty mentor, to support research, teaching, and professional development. Fellows are expected to work in person at least four days a week and contribute to the CEVIHE community through attendance at a weekly lunch series, informal mentorship of undergraduates, and participation in occasional Center events.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Economics or a related field by the start of the appointment, with demonstrated research and teaching interests in the economics of education.

Application Instructions:

Please submit the following materials: an application letter, a curriculum vitae, a brief research statement, a brief statement of teaching philosophy with a proposed teaching contribution, at least one sample syllabus that reflects the candidate’s approach to course design and pedagogy, and at least two confidential letters of reference submitted directly by their authors. Teaching evaluations may be submitted if available.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please direct any questions to Debra Knox at debra.knox@tufts.edu. Letters of reference should also be submitted to this email address.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a background check.

Tufts University, founded in 1852, prioritizes quality teaching, highly competitive basic and applied research, and a commitment to active citizenship locally, regionally, and globally. Tufts University also prides itself on creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Current and prospective employees of the university are expected to have and continuously develop skills in, and dispositions for, positively engaging with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.

Application Requirements:

• External Application URL and Instructions Below
• Letters of Reference Instructions Below

Reference Instructions:

Submit at least two confidential letters of reference submitted directly by their authors.