The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for a full-time, benefits-eligible, postdoctoral scholar position based in Phoenix, AZ, beginning August 16, 2026. Renewal is possible on an annual basis for up to the three-year project period, contingent upon satisfactory performance. For additional information and policies regarding postdoctoral scholars at ASU, please see https://academicpersonnel.asu.edu/postdoc
The successful candidate will join a grant-funded project with ASU and Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts Research and Evaluation Partnerships. The scholar will work under the direct guidance of Principal Investigators Dr. Adam Fine and Dr. Cortney Simmons. The project includes validation and evaluation of juvenile risk assessment instruments; development of an integrated data infrastructure across justice-system and partner data sources; and implementation-focused evaluation of services, staff practices, and family experiences. The position offers substantial opportunity to lead applied, policy-relevant research while working closely with court and agency stakeholders.
Essential Functions
● Oversee the comprehensive data management and cleaning infrastructure and manage cross-project integration for all four primary research projects.
● Lead advanced statistical analyses required for statewide risk assessment validations, including both general juvenile risk tools and violence risk assessments.
● Manage statewide data collection efforts and conduct landscape analyses for the implementation of staff and family surveys, as well as general provider evaluation frameworks.
● Provide day-to-day project management to ensure methodological rigor and the timely completion of all partnership milestones.
● Co-author technical reports, project deliverables, and technical publications.
● Present project results to internal partners and external agency stakeholders.
● Supervise, train, and manage the daily tasks of the Graduate and Undergraduate Student Assistants assigned to the research team.
● Liaise with other ASU departments, the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts, and outside collaborators to guarantee the overall success of the project.
About the School:
The SCCJ is housed in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. SCCJ is a nationally recognized leader in higher education and is highly regarded for its distinguished faculty and research productivity, as evidenced by its ranking as the #2 criminology and criminal justice doctoral program in the United States by U.S. News & World Report
The SCCJ offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in criminology and criminal justice; a master’s degree in crime analysis; a master’s degree in public safety leadership and administration; undergraduate concentrations or certificate programs in correctional studies, criminal investigations, homeland security, juvenile justice, law and human behavior, legal issues in criminal justice, policing and security studies; and graduate certificates in corrections leadership and management, crime analysis, homeland security, and law enforcement administration. The School recently launched a professional Doctorate of Criminal Justice program. SCCJ proudly offers its Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Crime Analysis, and Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration (MPSLA)degrees online, allowing students from around the globe to earn highly-valued degrees from one of the leading criminology and criminal justice programs in the world.
The SCCJ’s main offices are conveniently located on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus in the heart of the fifth-largest city in the United States. Our proximity to major criminal justice agencies enhances opportunities for instruction, practice, student internships, and community-based service learning.
About Watts College
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, located on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus, is home to the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and three other schools focused on strengthening communities and advancing public service. The College fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, community partnerships, and innovative solutions to address pressing social challenges across Arizona and beyond.
About ASU
Arizona State University, ranked No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 11 years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University. Repeatedly ranked No. 1, ASU has topped more than 30 lists in the last three years: No. 1 in the U.S. for global impact (Times Higher Education) and No. 1 in the U.S. for sustainable practices (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education). ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, 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. ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines. Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest-quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations.
For more information about the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, and Arizona State University, please visit the following:
All we do at ASU is guided and inspired by the University Charter, which reads:
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.
Please direct any questions about the search to Beth Huebner, Director, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice: SCCJDirector@asu.edu
Required Qualifications:
· An earned Ph.D., in criminology, criminal justice, psychology, or a related social-scientific field from a regionally accredited university by time of appointment.
· Consistent with ASU’s Charter, a demonstrated commitment to inclusion.
Desired Qualifications:
● Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
● Strong written and oral communication skills.
● Skill in leading, coordinating, and/or supervising the work of others.
● Demonstrated training and experience in advanced quantitative methods and predictive modeling
● Experience managing, cleaning, integrating, and analyzing large, complex administrative and/or longitudinal datasets.
● Proficiency in statistical programming software (e.g., R, Stata, or similar) and reproducible data-management and analytic workflows.
● Knowledge of juvenile justice systems, risk assessment, violence prevention, and/or evidence-based practices for youth.
● Experience with evaluation design and implementation research, including the development or administration of surveys, stakeholder engagement, and/or assessment of service delivery or program implementation.
Application Instructions
Complete application materials must contain the following items:
1. A letter of application no more than 3-pages which includes the following:
2. A curriculum vitae or résumé that details the applicant’s educational and professional history, as well as the applicant’s complete contact information (mailing address, phone number, and email address).
3. Information for three professional references (name, title, organization, email address, phone number). At least one reference needs to be a current and/or past supervisor.
The initial application deadline is July 30, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled.
A background check is required for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/
In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.
