1. Who is a good fit for the PRRI Public Fellows program?
Mid-career scholars who want to engage broader audiences by shaping their work for public consumption, incorporate – or seek to incorporate – quantitative data into their scholarship and teaching; and generate impactful commentary and analysis at the intersection of religion, culture, and politics, are a strong fit for this program. Eligible scholars are 3 to 12 years post-terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) and have a proven track record of socially engaged or public scholarship. Fellows represent a variety of academic disciplines (social sciences, humanistic social sciences, and the humanities), research methods (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods), types of institutions (college, university, seminary, or a research institute housed within an academic institution), and geographic locations. We encourage applications from women, people of color, and other members of under-represented groups who will contribute to the diversity of the cohort.
2. Do fellows receive a stipend or other compensation?
Yes, fellows are eligible to receive financial support including a fellowship stipend, course release funds for the Spring 2025 semester to allow more time for fellowship-related projects, and access to annual microgrants to support new interdisciplinary scholarly projects within the cohort. Additionally, PRRI covers travel expenses for an in-person spring convening offering professional development and training in Washington, D.C.
3. How do PRRI Public Fellows fit into the organization’s work?
Fellows receive access to PRRI’s gold-standard polling data and are encouraged to disseminate and produce commentary and analysis on PRRI data related to their research areas. For fellows from qualitative backgrounds, PRRI provides support integrating public opinion survey data into their work.
4. What is the duration of this fellowship?
Each cohort of PRRI Public Fellows completes an 11-month, non-residential fellowship. Fellows who successfully complete the program are eligible to apply for a one-time renewal at the end of their first fellowship year, but renewal is not guaranteed. Fellows are not eligible to reapply after two years of participation.
5. When does the Public Fellows Open Call go live?
PRRI generally publishes an Open Call for Public Fellows in the spring, with applications due by the early summer. Click here to be notified when the next Open Call is published.
The Public Fellows application includes the following requirements:
- Statement of interest: In 800 words or less, please explain your interest in pursuing this fellowship opportunity and your professional development goals in public scholarship
- Work samples: Provide links and PDF copies for your best three (3) public facing articles published within the last three years. The articles would preferably be published in media outlets, though publications in scholarly journals will also be accepted.
- An updated curriculum vitae
