The Department of Criminal Justice at Temple University within the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) invites applications for Fellow in Community Violence Prevention. Applicants should hold a doctorate in Criminal Justice/Criminology, Public Health, Sociology, Prevention Science, or a related discipline. We are seeking applicants with a strong methodological foundation in mixed methods and applied research. This is a temporary, grant-funded position. There is a possibility of extending the Fellowship to 18 months.
This Fellowship is designed to deepen young scholars’ expertise in policy-oriented research committed to advancing community well-being and reducing gun violence. The Fellow will conduct applied and basic research to support the implementation and scaling of evidence-based and innovative programs and initiatives designed to reduce community violence with a particular focus on the areas and neighborhoods across North Philadelphia, and (2) assist with the creation of a multi-platform resource portfolio, including community resident-friendly and practitioner-oriented briefs and trainings that help build the capacity of community organizations working to address violence. The Fellow will receive mentorship from faculty in the Department of Criminal Justice as well as have access to the resources of Temple University’s Graduate School and the College of Liberal Arts.
The Criminal Justice department has a rich tradition of professional development opportunities through regular full-department attendance at dissertation defenses and a professional development series that covers skills such as publishing, grant-writing, and time management. We are located in Philadelphia, a rich social laboratory for studying crime and justice, and our department has partnerships with a wide range of agencies, as well non-profit organizations. Mentors work with Fellows to help develop and submit manuscripts for publication to help advance Fellow’s career and the overall field of violence prevention. The Fellow may also wish to receive mentorship via CLA’s Public Policy Lab (PPL). PPL is an interdisciplinary research center that brings together experts from across CLA and Temple University to address contemporary policy issues. PPL’s experts come from departments and schools including Criminal Justice, Sociology, Political Science, Geography, Economics, Public Health, Law, and others. Through rigorous research, these scholars address critical policy challenges at the local, state, and national levels. Part of PPL’s mission is to build connections between this world-class research and relevant stakeholders, advocates, and communities.
Position Requirements:
- Strong qualitative and quantitative analysis skills, with experience using social science software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, Stata or R)
- Familiarity with evaluation design and causal inference approaches,
- Excellent oral and written communication skills for face-to-face interaction with community residents, coworkers, and criminal justice system stakeholders
Preferred:
- Basic or advanced experience suing ArcGIS Pro or similar mapping software
- Experience working with large, complex datasets, including integrating data from multiple sources, assessing data quality, and preparing data for analysis
- Knowledge of criminal legal system processes and/or public health strategies and models that address violence
- Experience using qualitative analysis software, such as Dedoose, Atlas.ti, or Nvivo
We will begin reviewing applications immediately. For full consideration, apply by August 20, 2026, but review will continue until the position is filled.
The current postdoctoral fellowship is non-renewable. Salary is between $63,480 - $70,000 commensurate with number of years beyond doctoral degree (see link to salary schedule), with Temple University employee benefits including health insurance, vacation/sick time and a research/travel fund of $3,000. Eligible applicants must have completed their Ph.D. Highly qualified ABDs may be considered if completion of the Ph.D. will occur prior to January, 2027. Preference will be given to individuals lawfully able to work in the U.S.
The position offers flexibility for remote or hybrid work, depending on project needs.
Candidates must submit a CV, cover letter, including a summary of the candidate’s accomplishments, subject areas of interest, and a description or statement of past contributions and commitment to community-engaged research, 2 letters of recommendation and a writing sample between 15-30 pages
via email to
Joseph DelMastro, Professor
Email: [click-for-email]
Temple University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all in every aspect of its operations, including employment, service, and educational programs. The University has pledged not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or veteran status.
Posted July. 24, 2026