The John Glenn College of Public Affairs is a leading public affairs college that conducts rigorous academic research and translates and applies that research for public, nonprofit, and private partners.  Criminal justice administration is a growing area of expertise within the college with multiple faculty and students involved in criminal justice research projects, and an array of technical assistance and training partnerships with criminal justice organizations.  The Glenn College invites applications for a postdoctoral scholar position in Criminal Justice Administration and Policy. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, 12-month (100% FTE) position that begins no later than Spring semester 2026 with a possible renewal for a second year based on satisfactory performance. 

This position is designed to be a career-building step for early-career scholars. We are eager to engage with candidates whose research is at the intersection of criminal justice/public safety and public affairs. We are particularly interested in candidates who have strong skills in quantitative methods, causal research designs, and have experience working with large administrative datasets. We desire applicants with the potential to become productive and impactful researchers and conscientious and engaged community members. 

The candidate will work on sponsored research projects at the Glenn College. The successful candidate is expected to collaborate with faculty members, researchers, and students on research projects, initiate new funded projects, and disseminate research results via conferences, policy documents, and academic publications. The postdoctoral scholar will fully participate in the academic life of Glenn College and will participate in professional development programs by Ohio State’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. Ohio State offers a comprehensive benefits package (see https://hr.osu.edu/benefits/). 

Duties Description 

Conduct Research - Collaborate with faculty members, researchers, and students across a portfolio of research and evaluation grants and contracts; assist in all research activities, to include survey development and administration, conducting interviews and focus groups, quantitative data collection, cleaning, and analysis, developing and delivering presentations, and participating during on-site agency partner meetings and data collection, and disseminating research results to academic and practitioner audiences at national conferences and convenings.   

Technical Report Writing and Manuscript Development – Contribute to the planning and development of written products, including technical reports, policy briefs, and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed academic journals and practitioner-based outlets to describe research findings to academic, practitioner, and policy-maker audiences. 

Project Management and Research Team Collaboration - Attend project team meetings to provide updates, report on progress, and align assigned tasks with research timelines and objectives; assist project management leads in monitoring timelines, completing progress reports, submitting and adhering to IRB and data sharing protocols; provide administrative support including scheduling, note-taking, organizing and maintaining project documentation, coordinating meetings and events, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies and procedures. 

Grant Writing - engages in project development and establishing project goals, objectives, research designs, methodologies, and analysis plans to support grant proposal writing in collaboration with research team.   

Professional development activities - fully participate in the academic life of Glenn College and participate in professional development programs by Ohio State’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. 

Additional Information: 

This position prefers presence on the Columbus campus.

Requests to work outside the state of Ohio will only be considered when there is a legitimate and critical operational need to retain or employ an individual, and the work itself can be performed from a remote location.  Information on Working Outside of Ohio can be found here: https://hr.osu.edu/policies/flexible-work/outside-ohio/

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. 

Education and Experience Requirements 

Required:  

• Demonstrate the potential to conduct high quality research in criminal justice administration and policy.  

• Successful candidates must have obtained a PhD prior to starting the position in public affairs, criminal justice, or a related field.  

Desired:  

• Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research and has requisite data collection, coding, and analysis skills (familiarity with statistical packages for social sciences and scripting tools). 

• Experience working on grant-funded research 

• Experience working with large administrative data sets.  

• Experience collaborating with and engaging public safety stakeholders including law enforcement agencies, local government officials, and community leaders.  

• Excellent communication, writing, and interpersonal skills. 

How to Apply 

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday. Once you start the application you will need to fill it out to completion and upload each of the required materials. Please be aware that you will not be able to edit your application or required materials after submission. Application materials must include:  

Required: 

Application closes 10/17/2025 

The College  

The John Glenn College of Public Affairs is dedicated to improving public governance and policymaking through education, research and technical assistance. For nearly 60 years, the college has prepared the next generation of public and nonprofit leaders and equipped practitioners with the knowledge and training to address complex challenges. The Glenn College is ranked 16th among our peers in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings of America’s Best Graduate Schools and recognized among the top programs in the following specialty areas: public management and leadership (7), nonprofit management (9), local government (18), social policy (19), public policy analysis (20), urban policy (22), and public finance and budgeting (25). 

The University  

Ohio State is one of the largest public research universities in the U.S. and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions. 

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression. Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow. We strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.  Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC.  

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI. 

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.   

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit.