Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Entrepreneurship

Start Date: 1 September 2027

Application Deadline: 1 December 2026

The Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and the Lal Initiative in Global Entrepreneurship

The Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs is an internationally recognized hub for research and teaching on the world outside the United States, advancing cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research and innovative education programs. This year, we are launching the Lal Initiative in Global Entrepreneurship to further world-class research and pedagogy on international business. We aim to reach a diverse international audience of private sector and government professionals, policymakers and academics.

The Lal Initiative aims to make the Buffett Institute an intellectual leader in the study of entrepreneurship from the perspective of global affairs. We will consider how entrepreneurship is shaped by, and in turn reshapes, the international system, including state capacity and governance, trade policy, geopolitical rivalry over technology and supply chains, and the role of migration and diaspora networks in transmitting capital and entrepreneurial norms across borders. Among the questions we will explore is how entrepreneurs build legitimacy and trust across borders, draw on kinship, professional, religious, educational, or ethnic networks to raise capital and recruit talent, and carry cultural norms, practices, and meanings of risk and success with them as they move between states, markets, and communities.

Position Overview

The Roberta Buffett Institute of Global Affairs invites applications for the Lal Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Entrepreneurship, to begin 1 September 2027. The Fellow will join a new initiative on entrepreneurship in international and cross-national contexts, with the opportunity to help shape the program's future direction. We are seeking to appoint a post-doctoral scholar interested in bringing their work to a global affairs institute and expanding their research and practice networks.

This position is designed to give an early-career scholar a mix of experiences, including sustained research time, the chance to design interdisciplinary undergraduate courses of their own on global entrepreneurship, and a direct hand in convening events with renowned international entrepreneurs. Responsibilities will include one to two quarter-long (10 week) courses a year, depending upon department need; the production of business case studies to be used in teaching; and convening events on global entrepreneurship.

We welcome applications from current Ph.D. candidates and recent graduates whose work engages entrepreneurship, innovation, or venture creation in a global, comparative, or cross-national context. We encourage candidates trained in social science disciplines (e.g., economics, history, sociology, political science, psychology, anthropology, geography) as well as candidates across any business-related field, including entrepreneurship, strategy, international business, political economy, management, organizational behavior, finance, economics, and information systems.  Candidates who expect to complete all Ph.D. requirements by June 2027 are encouraged to apply; an offer would be contingent on confirmed completion of the degree before the appointment start date. In exceptional cases, a combination of equivalent terminal degree (MBA, JD) and work experience will also be considered.

Responsibilities

Research (approx. 50%)

• Pursue an independent and/or collaborative research agenda on global entrepreneurship
• Publish in leading peer-reviewed journals or equivalent based on field (e.g. policy briefs)
• Present work at conferences and seminars; collaborate with faculty and doctoral students on ongoing projects
• Produce original case studies to be used in teaching and for the Lal Initiative’s archives

Teaching (approx. 30%)

• Teach 1-2 quarter-long courses a year (according to department need) at the undergraduate level
• Hold office hours and advise student projects
• Specific courses to be finalized with the department

Convening and Program-Building (approx. 20%)

• Help coordinate events, workshops, or industry/alumni engagement tied to the program
• Contribute to the design and growth of the Lal Initiative’s profile — for example, international partnerships with universities and companies – in conjunction with the Buffett Institute’s experienced team

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. in a social science discipline or business-related field, completed or expected to be completed by June 2027; in exceptional cases, a combination of an equivalent terminal degree (JD, MBA) with work experience will be considered.  In all cases, the terminal degree must be conferred after June 2024.
• A research agenda in entrepreneurship in a global, international, or comparative context
• Evidence of, or strong potential for, publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals or equivalent policy briefs.
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Preferred

• Prior teaching experience as instructor of record or in a substantial teaching-assistant role
• Interest or prior experience in curriculum or program development
• Cross-cultural fluency or international research/fieldwork experience

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of $64,000 and benefits
• Research/travel funding, if applicable
• Shared office space
• Mentorship from faculty
• Structured, resume-building experience across research, teaching, and program leadership

Application Materials

Please submit the following materials as a single PDF by clicking the 'Apply' button

• Cover letter addressing research agenda, teaching interests, and interest in program building. Please include a description of an undergraduate course in global entrepreneurship you would like to teach.
• Curriculum vitae
• Job market paper or writing sample
• Research statement (1–2 pages)
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (evaluations, teaching statement)
• Three references. Please provide the names and email addresses of three referees in the application. Each referee will receive an email with instructions and a link to upload their letter directly. Letters must be submitted by 7 December 2026.

Submit materials by 1 December 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Dr. Samantha Nissen, Senior Director, Buffett Institute for Global Affairs [samantha.nissen@northwestern.edu].

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.