About the Role:
The Emerging Scholars Program is a new initiative of the Mercatus Center, aimed at supporting early-career classical-liberal thinkers who are committed to becoming compelling public intellectuals. Through the program, Mercatus will hire a full cohort of scholars for a two-year, paid fellowship based on-site in Arlington, VA.
‘Scholar’ is broadly construed: you might be an academic, but perhaps instead you work in policy, journalism, run a business, or do something entirely different.
‘Emerging’ is also broadly construed: you might be finishing a degree of some kind, but perhaps instead you’re looking to shift focus mid-career, return to public life, or have decided not to retire. Whatever your background, you’ll be a deeply rigorous thinker, working on innovative projects, and excited to share your ideas clearly and broadly, to further classical-liberal ends.
Responsibilities:
As a member of the program, you’ll be fully embedded in Mercatus’s interdisciplinary community. Your knowledge of classical political economy will deepen, and you’ll gain increased ability to communicate the value of applying classical-liberal ideas to social, economic, and policy challenges. You’ll be mentored by leading experts, but you’ll also want to take the initiative: starting conversations, running reading groups, hosting events, and building the Emerging Scholars Program from the ground up, as you contribute to daily life at this exciting intellectual hub. Your work will be focused on your individual research project — something you’re ready to start, or keen to continue with, but you’ll also produce regular output across a wide variety of media, while receiving support and training tailored to your specific interests and needs.
Qualifications- Demonstrated commitment to classical-liberal ideas with a strong interest in and alignment with classical-liberal principles, such as individual liberty, free markets, and limited government.
- Early-career or emerging professional who might be a recent graduate, mid-career professional seeking a shift, or someone re-entering public life. No strict age or career timeline.
- Strong intellectual and analytical skills with the ability to think deeply and rigorously about social, economic, or political issues.
- Clear and effective communicator who is able to share ideas compellingly across various formats and platforms (writing, speaking, media).
- Original research or project focus with a well-defined individual research project or initiative that aligns with classical-liberal values and is ready to be started or continued.
- Self-motivator who demonstrates the ability to proactively start conversations, lead reading groups, host events, and help shape a new program.
- Adaptability and eagerness to learn, and is receptive to mentorship, training, and professional development opportunities.
About the Mercatus Center
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is where top classical liberal scholars solve real-world challenges. Grounded in the tradition of market-oriented thinking and classical liberal ideas, we equip high-agency talent to apply bold ideas that shape institutions, inform policy, and help people flourish.
Employee Benefits Review
Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. In addition, Mercatus provides excellent benefits to all individual employees, including full health and dental coverage, unlimited paid time off, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, parking/travel benefits, and twelve free credits per year at George Mason University.
EEO Statement
The Mercatus Center is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
E-Verify
The Mercatus Center participates in E-Verify. Upon hire, Mercatus will provide the U.S. Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Skills Required
- Demonstrated commitment to classical-liberal ideas (individual liberty, free markets, limited government).
- Early-career or emerging professional status (recent graduate, mid-career shift, or returning to public life).
- Strong intellectual and analytical skills to think rigorously about social, economic, or political issues.
- Clear and effective communication skills for writing, speaking, and media engagement.
- Well-defined individual research project or initiative aligned with classical-liberal values, ready to start or continue.
- Self-motivation and initiative to start conversations, lead reading groups, host events, and shape the program.
- Adaptability and receptiveness to mentorship, training, and professional development.
- Ability and willingness to be based on-site in Arlington, VA for the two-year fellowship.
What We Do
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is a university-based research center that bridges the gap between academic research and real-world problems. Its mission is to advance knowledge about how markets work to improve people's lives through education, talent development, research, and policymaker outreach. The center focuses on generating understanding of institutions that affect the freedom to prosper and finding sustainable solutions to society's most pressing challenges.
