The Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University aspires to promote a just and peaceful world through research, teaching, and public engagement. Participants in this program will join an interdisciplinary community of scholars engaged in theoretically and substantively important research addressing the most pressing global issues of our time. This is a one-year renewable position, for a maximum of two years with the expectation that Postdoctoral Research Associates will pursue research and participate fully in the intellectual life of the school. PDRAs will also teach one course per year in the undergraduate international and public affairs program. The Watson School is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.

Applying to the Program

We are currently accepting applications for two types of Watson Postdocs. They are joint appointments at Watson and the School of Public Health and another at Watson and the Department of Political Science. Later in the fall semester we will be accepting applications for joint postdoc appointments to Watson and the History Department as well as Watson and the Economics department. These applications will open in mid-November. 

Details for the two active searches are below, the deadline for the first round of applications is October 15th, 2025.

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs and Department of Political Science 2026-2028

Description

The Watson School for International and Public Affairs and the Department of Political Science at Brown University invite applications for a two-year joint Postdoctoral Research Associate position beginning in the Fall of 2026.

Participants in this program will join an interdisciplinary community of scholars engaged in theoretically and substantively important research addressing the most pressing global issues of our time. Watson’s unique structure - including scholars from a wide range of disciplines who are also appointed in partner departments - allows post-docs to benefit from both a broad academic community while remaining closely connected with top scholars within their discipline, thus allowing them to pursue research and participate fully in the intellectual life of the School. Postdoctoral Research Associates will also teach one seminar course per year of up to nineteen students as well as present a work in progress to an interdisciplinary group. 

The selection process, open with regard to nationality and geographic area of research, is highly competitive; we anticipate selecting 1-2 scholars within this particular search. Applicants must have received their Ph.D. since September 1, 2024 or intend to receive their Ph.D. before July 1, 2026.  Individuals who are currently – or have previously been – postdoctoral fellows or postdoctoral research associates in other programs are not eligible to apply. Watson Post-Docs will receive a competitive salary, for this benefits-eligible position.  Additional funding will be made available for research expenses and research-related programming on campus.

Qualifications

This postdoctoral position offers early-career scholars the opportunity to pursue independent research while engaging with leading faculty across both the Watson School for International and Public Affairs and the political science department. An ideal applicant will focus on topics relating to interstate conflict, including but not limited to nuclear weapons, major power politics, crisis decision-making, diplomacy, and/or Chinese foreign policy. Applicants applying any type of social science methodology  (qualitative,  quantitative or experimental) are welcome. Successful applicants will have opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty during their fellowship. 

Application Instructions

To receive full consideration, the following materials should be submitted by October 15th to the application portal: https://apply.interfolio.com/171860

• A cover letter stating the applicant's academic field, status of their dissertation, and proposed research to be conducted during their fellowship period. The cover letter should not exceed 2,000 words and should make clear how the candidate will thrive in and contribute to Watson’s interdisciplinary environment, as well as how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive living-learning community
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae
• A copy of each graduate transcript.
• A writing sample, preferably an article or dissertation chapter
• Three confidential letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with the applicant’s research. 

Review of applications will begin on October 16th; to receive full consideration applications should be received before that date.  Awards will be announced by January 31, 2026.

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs and Department of Public Health 2026-2028

Position Description

The Watson School of International and Public Affairs and the Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health invite applications for a two-year joint Postdoctoral Research Associate position beginning in the Fall of 2026.

 This position offers early-career scholars the opportunity to pursue independent research while engaging with leading faculty across both the Watson School and the School of Public Health. We are especially interested in candidates with training in economics, political science, or other social science disciplines whose research applies rigorous empirical methods to address pressing questions in health policy, health systems, or health economics. Scholars studying health care affordability, Medicare and Medicaid policy, health care pricing, payment and insurance reform, provider and market behavior, global health policy evaluation, or the political economy of health systems are encouraged to apply. Candidates employing quantitative, quasi-experimental, or mixed methods approaches to study the design, implementation, and consequences of health policy are especially welcome.  The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be affiliated with both the Watson School of International and Public Affairs – a multidisciplinary hub for research and teaching on pressing global and domestic challenges – and the Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice at the School of Public Health. The Watson School combines the rigor of the social sciences with a policy-oriented mission, supporting scholarship that engages with real-world problems. The Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice is a leader in research on health systems, aging, Medicare and Medicaid policy, and health care quality and access. Faculty conduct work at the intersection of public health, policy evaluation, and economics. Faculty in the Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice work closely with several active research centers including the Center for Health System Sustainability, the Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research, and the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research.

The Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University aspires to promote a just and peaceful world through research, teaching, and public engagement.   Participants in this program will join an interdisciplinary community of scholars engaged in theoretically and substantively important research addressing the most pressing global issues of our time. Watson’s unique structure - including scholars from a wide range of disciplines who are also appointed in partner departments - allows post-docs to benefit from both a broad academic community while remaining closely connected with top scholars within their discipline. This is a two year position with the expectation that postdoctoral fellows will pursue research and participate fully in the intellectual life of the Institute. Postdoctoral Research Associates will also teach one course per year in one of the school’s academic programs.  Additionally, research associates will have opportunities to present research,  engage with various scholars, and participate in events across both schools, as well as receive active mentorship from faculty across public health and public policy.
 

Qualifications

The Watson Post Doctoral Program includes scholars from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds, methodological perspectives, and topical areas of focus. 

The selection process, open with regard to nationality and geographic area of research, is highly competitive; we anticipate selecting 1-2 scholars within this particular search. Applicants must have received their Ph.D. since September 1, 2024 or intend to receive their Ph.D. before July 1, 2026.  Individuals who are currently – or have previously been – postdoctoral fellows or postdoctoral research associates in other programs are not eligible to apply. Watson Post-Docs will receive a competitive salary for this benefits-eligible position.  Additional funding will be made available for research expenses and research-related programming on campus.

Application Instructions

To receive full consideration, the following materials should be submitted by October 15th to the application portal: https://apply.interfolio.com/172077

• A cover letter stating the applicant's academic field, status of their dissertation, and proposed research to be conducted during their fellowship period. The cover letter should not exceed 2,000 words and should address how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive living-learning community.
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
• A copy of each graduate transcript.
• A writing sample, preferably an article or dissertation chapter
• Three confidential letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with the applicant’s research. 

Review of applications will begin on October 16th; to receive full consideration applications should be received before that date.  Awards will be announced by January 31, 2026.

For further information regarding the Watson School Postdoctoral Program, please contact:

• Professor Rose McDermott, Faculty Director of the Watson Postdoctoral Program, rose_mcdermott@brown.edu.
• For information about the application process, please email:  Watson_Applications@brown.edu or contact Interfolio at help@interfolio.com
• Program Manager: Hayden Reiss; hayden@brown.edu.