Fellowship Program

 

Do you want to present your research to audiences beyond the academy, write an effective op-ed or policy brief, testify before Congress, or work with community and professional groups?

The Public Engagement Project invites applications from UMass faculty and professional staff for the Spring 2019 Public Engagement Faculty Fellowship.

As a Public Engagement Faculty Fellow, you’ll develop a fellowship plan tailored to your expertise and aspirations for reaching broader publics. You will receive technical training in communicating with non-academic audiences, cultivating networks to reach those publics, and workshopping your policy brief, blog, op-ed piece, or other public engagement products. 

Faculty Fellows will meet twice per month during the 2019 spring semester, attending panels and skill-building workshops offered by faculty, communications experts from University Relations, and others experienced with public engagement. Fellows will also work in small groups and receive peer mentoring tailored to their engagement plan, and be given the opportunity to present their research to Massachusetts lawmakers. 

An initial meeting for accepted applicants will take place in the afternoon on December 19, 2018.

In addition to skill development, networking, and outreach opportunities, Public Engagement Faculty Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend for their research account.

Application Deadline: November 27, 2018

Selection criteria include:

  • Substantial record of research and/or scholarship as a faculty member
  • Research or scholarship with the potential for significant public impact*
  • Commitment to developing materials for non-academic audiences based on your research and scholarship
  • Capacity to pursue public engagement activities during the fellowship period and beyond

*“Potential for significant public impact” recognizes the many forms that public engagement can take—e.g., working with media, policy makers, the courts, advocacy groups, or professional and practitioner organizations.

Applications will be reviewed and selected by the program steering committee, and applicants will be informed about final selections in early December 2018. 

To apply, please submit the following here. 

1. A current copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

2. A three-page, double-spaced statement that describes:

  • ​​​The significance of your research for lay audiences. 
  • The method(s) you think will be most effective sharing your research outside the academy. 
  • Your rationale for why this is the right time/stage of your career to become more publicly engaged.
  • Concerns you may have about sharing your research with broader audiences

*Note: Please merge and submit your CV and statement as a single pdf. 

For questions about the Fellowship, please contact PEP Fellowship Director, Lisa M. Troy at pep@umass.edu