Postdoctoral Innovation Fellow: Environmental Sustainability

Unit

Office Of The Provost

Office of Innovation & Strategic Design

The Office of Innovation and Strategic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University builds strategic partnerships that drive academic innovation, student success, and institutional impact. Led by the Vice Provost for Innovation and Strategic Design, the office advances front end innovation initiatives and works closely with deans and academic units to develop high‑value collaborations with corporations, nonprofits, and community organizations. Through initiatives like VCU’s award winning Shift Labs, we connect students and faculty with real‑world challenges, co‑create solutions with external partners, and expand access to experiential learning opportunities.

By aligning academic strengths with industry and community needs, we help VCU generate new programs, revenue streams, and national recognition.

Measurable advances in environmental sustainability require innovation, collaboration, and the application of cutting‑edge tools to guide decision‑making. The Virginia Commonwealth University Office of Innovation and Strategic Design seeks a Postdoctoral Innovation Fellow to support VCU’s Shift Sustainability Lab — a joint initiative between the Office of the Provost, School of Life Sciences and Sustainability, and Rice Rivers Center. The post‑doctoral fellow will collaborate with a creative team of academic, industry, and community partners to address real‑world environmental sustainability challenges in the mid‑Atlantic region.

Projects, while not pre‑defined, may pursue innovation in the areas of nature‑based solutions, environmental restoration, air and water quality, biodiversity, or conservation. The fellow will join a vibrant inaugural cohort of Postdoctoral Innovation Fellows and lead or partner in project development and implementation, stakeholder engagement, and the production of scholarly and applied products.

The fellowship is initially for one year with up to three years of support contingent on performance and funding. The fellow will be co‑advised by Dr. Chris Gough, Executive Director of the Rice Rivers Center, and Dr. Garret Westlake, Vice Provost for Innovation and Strategic Design and Professor of Management.

Welcome to VCU … a world unlike any other.

We combine learning, research, creativity, service, and discovery with a commitment to inclusive excellence. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the “most innovative” public universities in the country, VCU is a premier, urban, public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs. Here, your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and mission‑driven work.

We advance a conscientious drive to support a climate where excellence and success for all people are valued and differences are celebrated. Together, we can be unstoppable.

The Office of Innovation and Strategic Design develops strategic partnerships and research‑driven training programs that bridge higher education and industry, enhancing student experiential learning and internship experiences, developing leaders who can bring about transformative change, and driving sustainable economic impact. We design opportunities for creators, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners to create value and sustainable impact.

The School of Life Sciences and Sustainability was established in 2025 to bring together Biology, Environmental Studies, Bioinformatics, Sustainable Innovation, Outdoor Leadership, and Integrative Life Sciences. We offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, for over 2,400 undergraduates and 100+ graduate students.

The Rice Rivers Center is VCU’s field station, providing access to the region’s rivers, wetlands, and forest ecosystems.

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences.
• A Ph.D. in environmental science, ecology, biology, natural…