Mundelein Elementary School District 75
2025-07F: Paid Doctoral Fellowship
Mundelein Elementary School District 75, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Overview
In summer 2026, as part of its Gueron Scholars Program, MDRC, teaming up with The Policy Academies, will offer up to two virtual paid fellowships to doctoral candidates who are pursuing independent, self‑directed research on economic, educational, or social problems affecting Americans with low incomes. The goal of the fellowship is to provide opportunities for doctoral students to gain exposure to social policy research and professional networks, understand employment options beyond the academic and public sectors, and access the advice and support of MDRC’s staff in completing their dissertations. Applications are open to all interested doctoral students.
Eligibility MDRC has created this special financial assistance program for students enrolled in doctoral programs in child welfare, criminal justice, economics, education policy, family relations, psychology, social policy sociology, or related fields that align with our project work.
Eligible fields are:
Child Welfare
Criminal Justice
Economics
Education Policy
Family Relations
Psychology
Social Policy Sociology
Related fields that align with our projects
Policy areas of focus include:
Economic Mobility, Housing, and Communities
Family Well‑Being and Children’s Development
K‑12 Education
Postsecondary Education
Youth Development, Criminal Justice, and Employment
Responsibilities
Dedicate the necessary time and effort to complete all onboarding activities.
Develop specific milestones to make progress on their doctoral dissertation and work in good faith to complete dissertation research activities outlined in the fellowship application.
Engage in the intellectual life of MDRC by attending relevant meetings, seminars, and professional networking sessions.
Interact with MDRC research staff with expertise relevant to their dissertation research.
Present their research to the MDRC community.
Qualifications
Must be enrolled and in good academic standing in a doctoral program in criminal justice, economics, education policy, political science, psychology, social policy, sociology, or related fields. Students specializing in data science for social good are also encouraged to apply.
Must use qualitative or quantitative research methods in their dissertation.
Must have a dissertation proposal or prospectus that addresses a policy‑relevant question approved by the applicant’s academic department and, if applicable, by their university’s Institutional Review Board.
Application Deadline and Notification Applications are due by 11:59 pm (ET) on Monday, January 12, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed. The application review process will begin after the deadline. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Interviews (when scheduled) will be conducted via video conferencing. Please see What to expect from MDRC’s recruitment process for more information.
How to Apply
A curriculum vitae or résumé, including relevant academic and work experience.
A personal statement (up to two single‑spaced pages) addressing:
Interest in social policy issues and research.
Immediate career interests and goals after graduating.
How the fellowship, coupled with academic pursuits and/or prior experiences, will contribute to professional growth.
How background, academic studies, and life experience have impacted professional pursuits and why they make a strong candidate.
A proposal (up to 2,000 words) discussing the rationale for the dissertation research you plan to pursue during the fellowship period. Include:
Statement of the research question.
Data you will be using.
Analytic approach and its relevance to social policy.
Steps to take during the fellowship to complete the project.
Belief that the fellowship will aid in meeting research goals.
An unofficial copy of graduate school transcript(s) documenting status as a registered student in good standing.
A letter from the academic department or registrar confirming that the dissertation proposal or prospectus has been approved by the academic department, and, if applicable, proof of Institutional Review Board approval.
Two letters of recommendation, one from dissertation chairperson. Peer recommendations are not acceptable. Letters must address:
Ability to engage in independent research and complete research activities.
Openness to constructive feedback and commitment to continuous improvement.
Ability to work collaboratively with others.
Send letters directly to HRquestions@mdrc.org with subject line “GSP Doctoral Fellowship/Attn: SaraJane David or Servina Cortez.”
Applications that do not include all required materials—statement, proposal, and letters—will be deemed incomplete and removed from consideration. Personal statements that do not explicitly address the four points above will be disqualified.
Important Information Fellows will begin the fellowship in June 2026 and participate for the full 8 weeks through mid‑August 2026. A stipend of $10,000 will be provided. Fellows are expected to participate in programming virtually at least three days a week. Housing is not included; doctoral fellows seeking New York housing accommodations will be referred to a local student housing provider and responsible for their own housing and travel costs. Fellows who relocate to New York City for the program will be provided with a workspace at MDRC’s office.
To learn more about the experience of being a doctoral fellow at MDRC, watch the video “Meet Gabrielle Smith Finnie, 2023 Gueron Doctoral Fellow | MDRC”. Direct questions about the fellowship to HRQuestions@mdrc.org.
EEO Statement MDRC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. No qualified applicant, employee, intern, volunteer, or apprenticeship trainee will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, tribal affiliation, ancestry, creed, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, marital status or civil partnership/union status, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, protected family and medical leaves, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. Legal work authorization is required. To request a reasonable accommodation during any stage of MDRC’s employment process due to a disability, please contact HRQuestions@mdrc.org.
DEI Statement MDRC is dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and engaged in their work. MDRC operates all DEI programs in accordance with governing law.
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Eligibility MDRC has created this special financial assistance program for students enrolled in doctoral programs in child welfare, criminal justice, economics, education policy, family relations, psychology, social policy sociology, or related fields that align with our project work.
Eligible fields are:
Child Welfare
Criminal Justice
Economics
Education Policy
Family Relations
Psychology
Social Policy Sociology
Related fields that align with our projects
Policy areas of focus include:
Economic Mobility, Housing, and Communities
Family Well‑Being and Children’s Development
K‑12 Education
Postsecondary Education
Youth Development, Criminal Justice, and Employment
Responsibilities
Dedicate the necessary time and effort to complete all onboarding activities.
Develop specific milestones to make progress on their doctoral dissertation and work in good faith to complete dissertation research activities outlined in the fellowship application.
Engage in the intellectual life of MDRC by attending relevant meetings, seminars, and professional networking sessions.
Interact with MDRC research staff with expertise relevant to their dissertation research.
Present their research to the MDRC community.
Qualifications
Must be enrolled and in good academic standing in a doctoral program in criminal justice, economics, education policy, political science, psychology, social policy, sociology, or related fields. Students specializing in data science for social good are also encouraged to apply.
Must use qualitative or quantitative research methods in their dissertation.
Must have a dissertation proposal or prospectus that addresses a policy‑relevant question approved by the applicant’s academic department and, if applicable, by their university’s Institutional Review Board.
Application Deadline and Notification Applications are due by 11:59 pm (ET) on Monday, January 12, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed. The application review process will begin after the deadline. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Interviews (when scheduled) will be conducted via video conferencing. Please see What to expect from MDRC’s recruitment process for more information.
How to Apply
A curriculum vitae or résumé, including relevant academic and work experience.
A personal statement (up to two single‑spaced pages) addressing:
Interest in social policy issues and research.
Immediate career interests and goals after graduating.
How the fellowship, coupled with academic pursuits and/or prior experiences, will contribute to professional growth.
How background, academic studies, and life experience have impacted professional pursuits and why they make a strong candidate.
A proposal (up to 2,000 words) discussing the rationale for the dissertation research you plan to pursue during the fellowship period. Include:
Statement of the research question.
Data you will be using.
Analytic approach and its relevance to social policy.
Steps to take during the fellowship to complete the project.
Belief that the fellowship will aid in meeting research goals.
An unofficial copy of graduate school transcript(s) documenting status as a registered student in good standing.
A letter from the academic department or registrar confirming that the dissertation proposal or prospectus has been approved by the academic department, and, if applicable, proof of Institutional Review Board approval.
Two letters of recommendation, one from dissertation chairperson. Peer recommendations are not acceptable. Letters must address:
Ability to engage in independent research and complete research activities.
Openness to constructive feedback and commitment to continuous improvement.
Ability to work collaboratively with others.
Send letters directly to HRquestions@mdrc.org with subject line “GSP Doctoral Fellowship/Attn: SaraJane David or Servina Cortez.”
Applications that do not include all required materials—statement, proposal, and letters—will be deemed incomplete and removed from consideration. Personal statements that do not explicitly address the four points above will be disqualified.
Important Information Fellows will begin the fellowship in June 2026 and participate for the full 8 weeks through mid‑August 2026. A stipend of $10,000 will be provided. Fellows are expected to participate in programming virtually at least three days a week. Housing is not included; doctoral fellows seeking New York housing accommodations will be referred to a local student housing provider and responsible for their own housing and travel costs. Fellows who relocate to New York City for the program will be provided with a workspace at MDRC’s office.
To learn more about the experience of being a doctoral fellow at MDRC, watch the video “Meet Gabrielle Smith Finnie, 2023 Gueron Doctoral Fellow | MDRC”. Direct questions about the fellowship to HRQuestions@mdrc.org.
EEO Statement MDRC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. No qualified applicant, employee, intern, volunteer, or apprenticeship trainee will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, tribal affiliation, ancestry, creed, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, marital status or civil partnership/union status, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, protected family and medical leaves, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. Legal work authorization is required. To request a reasonable accommodation during any stage of MDRC’s employment process due to a disability, please contact HRQuestions@mdrc.org.
DEI Statement MDRC is dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and engaged in their work. MDRC operates all DEI programs in accordance with governing law.
#J-18808-Ljbffr