Call for Applications

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is seeking applicants for SRCD Policy Fellowships for 2015–2016. There are two types of fellowships: Congressional and Executive Branch. Both types of fellowships provide researchers with exciting opportunities to come to Washington, DC, and use their research skills in child development to inform public policy. Fellows work as resident scholars within congressional or federal agency offices. Fellowships are full-time immersion experiences and run from September 1, 2015, through August 31, 2016. The SRCD Office for Policy and Communications in Washington, DC. facilitates the fellowship experience and is available as a resource throughout the year.

Fellowship Goals

(1) To contribute to the effective use of scientific knowledge in developing public policy
(2) To educate the scientific community about the development of public policy
(3) To establish a more effective liaison between scientists and the federal policy-making mechanisms

Fellows represent various career stages from early to advanced. Further, their career paths following the fellowship are diverse. Some SRCD Fellows begin or return to academic positions following their fellowship, while others continue to work at the interface of research and policy in both government and the private sector.

The Fellowship Experience

What are SRCD Policy Fellows saying about the program?

“My experience as a fellow has been incredibly rewarding. It has allowed me to utilize my expertise … to inform and shape conversations that will directly impact the lives of children and families … I am incredibly grateful for the experience, and look forward to utilizing the knowledge that I have gained to promote communication between the policy and research communities to better shape our nation’s services for children and families.”
–An SRCD Congressional Fellow

“I am greatly appreciative of the incredible learning opportunity that the SRCD Policy Fellowship has provided. It has given me a platform to apply my training as a developmental psychologist to the very policy relevant work that is being conducted on a federal level to improve early childhood systems nationwide.”
–An SRCD Executive Branch Fellow

Application Requirements

Applicants must have a doctoral-level degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., PhD, MD, EdD), must demonstrate exceptional competence in an area of child development research, and must be a member of SRCD. Both early-career and advanced professionals are encouraged to apply. To learn more and to submit an application, visit: www.srcd.org/policy-media/policy-fellowships. Questions? Send an email to policyfellowships@srcd.org.