The College of Global Futures (CGF) at Arizona State University is seeking an Assistant Research Professor to perform research and engagement activities in support of a university-wide initiative to develop Principled Innovation Infrastructure for Discovery and Engagement.

This is a full-time, academic-year (9-month), non-tenure track, benefits-eligible position with an anticipated start date of August 2025. This is a grant-funded position renewable contingent upon satisfactory performance, the needs of the school and the availability of resources. Research faculty are fixed-term faculty members who are qualified to engage in, be responsible for, or oversee a significant area of research or scholarship. This position is based at ASU’s Tempe campus.

The Principled Innovation Infrastructure for Discovery and Engagement initiative is designed to build ASU’s institutional infrastructure and leverage its capacity to center Principled Innovation in large-scale research, discovery, engagement and impact. By embedding Principled Innovation into institutional pathways and the development of large-scale proposals, PrIIDE promotes ethical and responsible decision-making, character growth and collaborative impact. It connects multiple university initiatives, including over 100 public interest technology projects, into a unified, cross-disciplinary community. Through anticipatory, participatory and interdisciplinary approaches, PrIIDE advances ASU’s charter and design aspirations, reinforcing ASU’s leadership in interdisciplinary research and responsible innovation.

About the College of Global Futures

The College of Global Futures is an integral unit within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, an innovative enterprise designed to radically enhance the university’s impact in creating a thriving future for humanity and planet Earth. The College contains four schools: the School of Sustainability, the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, the School of Ocean Futures, and the School of Complex Adaptive Systems.

About the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory

Using the model of the multi-focused National Laboratories, the Global Futures Laboratory is creating a platform for an ongoing and wide-ranging exchange across all knowledge domains to address the complex social, economic and scientific challenges spawned by the current and future threats from environmental degradation. This platform positions a new world headquarters for an international network of scientists, scholars and innovators, it lays the foundation to respond to existing and emerging challenges and it uses innovation to purposefully shape and inform our future.

The Global Futures Laboratory provides key engagement spaces for scientists, educators and leaders across ASU and around the world to address critical issues related to the future of planet Earth. Rather than solving problems after they arise, we seek to design a future in which humanity not only survives, but thrives.

About Arizona State University

ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

Essential functions

The successful candidate will collaborate with initiative members, including its faculty leader, faculty fellows, a faculty executive committee, and associated staff, to develop and implement a shared research agenda. They will propose, plan, and conduct futures- and anticipation-oriented research to support large external funding proposals and key internal initiatives, with the opportunity to serve as a co-investigator on external proposals. Additionally, they will advance the initiative's goals through independent research, grant-seeking efforts, and strategic planning, contributing to the broader development and impact of the initiative’s research and engagement activities. The candidate will also conduct or oversee research publishable in top-tier academic journals in the discipline.

Required:

• PhD or other terminal degree in a relevant field by the time of appointment;
• Demonstrated expertise in futures and anticipation work;
• Evidence of vibrant research record for the advertised rank;
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with a team;
• Evidence of proficient writing skills.

Desired:

• Futures and anticipation skills may include any combination of qualitative (e.g., scenario development), quantitative (e.g., forecasting and modeling), and creative (e.g., science fiction proto-typing) experience and training;
• Demonstrated familiarity with or ability/expertise in interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement is desired, as is ability to supervise (graduate and undergraduate) students in research activities;
• Demonstrated experience writing grant proposals;
• Demonstrated commitment to values expressed by the ASU Charter.

Application deadline is May 2, 2025. Only electronic submissions will be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Candidates will be asked to create or use an existing Interfolio Dossier to submit the following:

1. Cover letter (2-page limit);
2. Research statement, including an explanation of how the goals of the ASU Charter are reflected in your research;
3. Curriculum vitae;
4. Research writing sample;
5. Complete contact information for three professional references (including name, title, affiliation, e-mail address, and phone number).

Review of applications will begin May 5, 2025 and continue every Monday thereafter until the search is closed. A criminal and employment history background check is required for employment. Official transcripts are required for employment.

For additional information regarding position specifics, please contact the search committee chair, Professor and Associate Vice Provost for Discovery, Engagement and Outcomes, David H. Guston via email at David.Guston@asu.edu