Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Entrepreneurship

The Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs is launching the Lal Initiative in Global Entrepreneurship to further world-class research and pedagogy on international business.

The Lal Initiative aims to make the Roberta 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. The initiative aims to inform the work of a diverse international audience of private sector and government professionals, policymakers, and academics.

Apply for our inaugural Lal Postdoctoral Fellowship in Global Entrepreneurship.

• Site
  
  • Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois
• Appointment
  
  • Full-time, fixed-term postdoctoral appointment for the 2027–28 academic year, renewable for an additional year contingent on performance and funding
• Start date
  
  • September 1, 2027
• Application deadline
  
  • December 1, 2026

Overview

The Lal Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Entrepreneurship will join the Roberta Buffett Institute's 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 postdoctoral 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
  • Production of business case studies to be used in teaching
  • Convening events on global entrepreneurship
• This fellowship offers:
  
  • 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
• Questions?
  
  • Email the Roberta Buffett Institute's Senior Director of Global Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Samantha Nissen, PhD.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from current PhD candidates and recent graduates whose work engages entrepreneurship, innovation, or venture creation in a global, comparative, or cross-national context.

• Expertise
  
  • 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.
• Degree
  
  • Candidates who expect to complete all PhD 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 (e.g., MBA or JD) and work experience will also be considered.

Responsibilities

The Lal Postdoctoral Fellow will be responsible for...

• Research (approximately 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 (approximately 30%)
  
  • Teach one to two quarter-long courses per year (according to department need) at the undergraduate level
    • Specific courses to be finalized with the department
  • Hold office hours and advise student projects
• Convening and program-building (approximately 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 — e.g., international partnerships with universities and companies — in conjunction with the Roberta Buffett Institute’s experienced team

Qualifications

The ideal Lal Postdoctoral Fellow has..

• Required qualifications
  
  • PhD 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 (e.g., JD or MBA) with work experience will be considered; 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 qualifications
  
  • 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

Application

Please submit the following application materials as a single PDF via the postdoctoral fellowship application portal by December 1, 2026.

• Cover letter
  
  • Address your 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
  
  • One to two 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 December 7, 2026.

Review of applications will begin immediately after the deadline and continue until the position is filled.

Contact

Questions?

Email the Roberta Buffett Institute's Senior Director of Global Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Samantha Nissen, PhD.