Research Partner - #2637266

Seeking a researcher, scholar, or intellectually curious practitioner interested in helping develop an emerging theory at the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, and opportunity creation.

Research Partner – Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Exploratory Third Spaces

13Leaders is seeking a collaborative research partner to help develop and advance an emerging research initiative exploring the concept of “Exploratory Third Spaces” — relational arenas where researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and societal actors jointly create opportunities before formal knowledge transfer or commercialization occurs.

This project sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, opportunity creation, entrepreneurial universities, and systems change. The goal is to develop a rigorous conceptual contribution that expands current thinking about knowledge transfer, innovation, and the Third Mission of universities.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to literature reviews and theoretical development
• Help refine conceptual frameworks and research propositions
• Participate in collaborative sensemaking and intellectual exploration
• Support manuscript development for academic and practitioner audiences
• Co-design future empirical research opportunities
• Engage in regular discussions with the project founder and research network

Ideal Background

• Doctoral candidate, postdoctoral researcher, faculty member, or experienced independent scholar
• Interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, ecosystems, organizational studies, or related fields
• Strong analytical and academic writing capabilities
• Curiosity, intellectual openness, and willingness to explore emerging concepts across disciplinary boundaries
• Prior publication experience is welcome but not required

What Makes This Opportunity Unique

This is not a traditional research assistant position. It is an opportunity to help shape a potentially new conceptual foundation for understanding how entrepreneurial opportunities emerge within complex innovation systems. The collaboration is intended as a genuine intellectual partnership with opportunities for co-authorship and long-term research development.

Location: Remote

Engagement: Flexible / Part-Time / Collaboration-Based