Lloyd Rudolph started his career in 1948 when he was chosen as the group leader for a summer camp, Experiment in International Living, in France, which he attended once again in 1951. On his return from France, he enrolled as the research assistant to
Bertram Gross, the executive director of
Council of Economic Advisers, Executive Office of the President and worked there till 1949. The next assignment was as administrative assistant to Emil J. Sady, chief, Pacific Branch, Office of Territories, Department of the Interior. His teaching career began in 1951, as teaching fellow, department of government, Harvard University. Till 1954, Rudolph continued as both resident and non-resident tutor there and followed it with a stint in the military, from 1954 to 1956, as the
first lieutenant, U.S.A.,
Adjutant General's Corps. In 1956, he returned to teaching at Harvard as the instructor in 1957 at the department of government, Harvard University, and was promoted, 1960, as the Allston Burr senior tutor at the Dunster House of the university. In 1964, he became the associate professor of political science and the social sciences, department of political science and the college at the University of Chicago, promoted as professor in 1972 and retired from there in 2002. On his retirement, he was made the
professor emeritus of political science. ==Positions held==