Work With Us

The Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator (VPA) is growing! We are seeking researchers, scholars, policy advocates, government officials, and political staffers who want to help write the next chapter in the history of American political economy. At VPA, we work to rapidly bring new ideas in political economy and regulation into academia, government, and the public conversation, with attention to issues of market power and the capacity of public institutions to address today’s most pressing challenges.

Organizationally, VPA combines the deep research capacities of a traditional university center with the most effective tactics of a think tank. We are looking for policy analysts to power research and policy proposals that range from modernizing American banking regulation to reforming the airline industry to addressing food deserts via public grocery stores. We need senior managers and technical experts to direct our dynamic policy projects, from leading our efforts in competition policy and public utilities regulation to standing up our new Tech Policy Blueprints Initiative.

CURRENT OPENINGS

Director of Public Options & Governance

The Director of Public Options and Governance advances research and policy solutions that expand access, enhance competition, and increase opportunity to critical goods and services for American consumers, families, and communities by promoting state capacity building and good governance practices. Topics of interest include federal procurement practices and public options—publicly-provided goods and services that coexist with the private marketplace.

Learn More and Apply

Director of AI & Technology Policy

The Director of AI & Technology Policy will lead research and develop policy proposals to improve AI and tech governance. VPA is expanding its efforts in AI and tech policy as part of a new Tech Policy Blueprints Initiative. The Director of AI & Technology Policy will lead this initiative, which involves developing a suite of detailed, actionable policy recommendations and plans for state and federal policymakers, including legislative drafts and executive branch actions.

Learn More and Apply

Senior Policy Analyst

Senior policy analysts perform research, policy analysis, and scholarly writing independently and in collaboration with other VPA staff members. They aid our mission to translate ideas and research into workable blueprints for policymakers, help organize public conferences and events, and write for a variety of different audiences.

Learn More and Apply

Fellow in Networks, Platforms & Utilities (NPUs)

This two-year NPU fellowship is designed to support individuals who are interested in becoming law professors in the field of networks, platforms, and utilities, defined broadly as including transportation, communications, energy, banking, and tech platforms, and cross-cutting issues and themes across these sectors. The NPU fellow is expected to write academic articles for publication in legal journals, participate in the NPU workshop and annual NPU conference, and go on the academic job market in the second year of the fellowship. The NPU fellow will receive mentoring and guidance from Vanderbilt law faculty.

Learn More and Apply