Civic Science Fellow - Community Engagement

Morgridge Institute for Research • Madison, WI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Morgridge Institute is seeking two Rita Allen Civic Science Fellows for full-time, 18-month fellowship positions. These fellows will focus on evidence-based approaches to communicating science in polarized political or information environments. Their role involves developing and empirically evaluating real-world strategies for public engagement with science, specifically aiming to connect communities across ideological or value-based divides. Civic Science Fellows are emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds, acting as thought leaders, bridge builders, change agents, and communicators. They will learn about community priorities and scientific research to foster new problem-solving methods. The 18-month fellowship involves experimenting with new evidence-based approaches in science communication and community engagement to create strong, diverse, and inclusive connections between science and civic life. One fellow will be embedded in the Science Communication Incubator Lab (SCI Lab), and the other in the Community Engagement group. Both teams collaborate to develop research-informed science engagement programs. The selected individuals must start employment no later than September 1, 2026.

Requirements

• A PhD in a social sciences discipline, such as (the science of) science communication, formal or informal science education, psychology, sociology, political science, computational social science, or another position-relevant discipline.
• Those with relevant experience alongside doctorate degrees in natural sciences or engineering can also be considered.
• Experience in scholarly or on-the-ground engagement with communities that might see themselves as disconnected from science, based on real or perceived divides across value-based, ideological, or demographic differences
• Interest in connecting science communication research and practice
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate or create science engagement programming.
• Demonstrated ability to design, conduct, and publish high-quality social scientific research
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate scientific information effectively with expert and lay audiences
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, and develop positive relationships with co-workers

Nice To Haves

• Experience in creating informal science programming is a plus.
• Experience in research program or project management is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Co-create opportunities for the public to meaningfully engage with scientists at the Morgridge Institute for Research, especially in ways that bridge different ideological backgrounds.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of such programming and create case studies and other documentation that will enable other practitioners to deploy similar programs.
• Conduct literature reviews, (co-)author publications, and disseminate information to appropriate entities
• Collects and analyzes complex research data according to established policies and procedures
• Coordinates collaborations with external partners and stakeholders and with related projects and collaborators at UW
• Works in close collaboration with Morgridge Institute investigators and practitioners to increase community engagement and inform the programs and communications at Morgridge and the University of Wisconsin-Madison more broadly

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees