In an article for University Affairs, Yukiko Tanaka (University of Toronto) and Jessica Fields (University of Toronto Scarborough) make the case for creating postdoctoral fellowships within dean’s offices and other university administrative departments. They argue that these “administrative postdocs” benefit both the scholar and the institution. For postdoctoral researchers, such roles offer experience in project management, professional consulting, strategic planning, and research analysis. Meanwhile, universities gain access to highly trained research specialists who can examine the complex issues facing today’s institutions—like budget constraints, academic freedom, and generative AI. Tanaka and Fields conclude by encouraging universities to adopt the administrative postdoc model, citing its “immense benefits.”
