2026-2027 Fellow Applications Have Closed

The Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS) and Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) are excited to continue the Partnerships for Evidence-based Public Policy (PEPP) fellowship program. This program creates a bridge between research experts and the public by enabling mid-career faculty across the Illinois System to conduct year-long policy research projects with Illinois government partners.

PEPP fellows form a cohort and participate in monthly trainings on topics such as the policy research lifecycle and policy communication, as well as networking and collaborative work.

Meet the Inaugural PEPP Fellows

The inaugural PEPP cohort will work on projects related to labor policy, child welfare, natural resources, and housing policy.

Climate Jobs Institute Fellowship

Embedded within the Climate Jobs Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, this fellowship supports a PEPP fellow whose research addresses climate, labor, or workforce policy. The selected fellow will design and conduct a policy research project—either building on CJI’s existing research priorities or developing new contributions—while gaining facilitated access to Illinois state agencies and relevant data. The fellow will receive mentorship, funding, and dedicated programmatic support from both PEPP and CJI.

Kellner Center Fellowship

The Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society provides dedicated financial support for up to two research projects that make a significant contribution to mental health policy.

PEPP Requirements

Tenure-track faculty at one of the three campuses in the University of Illinois system
Mid-career (assistant professors with 3+ years or associate professors)
Have an existing partnership with prior collaborative work or a formal agreement with an Illinois government agency (regional, tribal, or state).

2026 PEPP Schedule

CJI Interest Form Due: Monday, February 9, 2026
Applicants seeking consideration should submit CJI Interest Form to meet with CJI leadership and discuss potential research projects.

Application Period: February 1 – March 15, 2026
Selected candidates will be notified by e-mail regarding further steps including an interview.

Fellowship Kickoff: Mid-August, 2026 (Date TBD)

Fellowship term: August 15, 2026 – August 15, 2027
Programming will include training sessions and collaborative work opportunities. Sessions will be held either in person (on one of the Illinois campuses) or over Zoom. PEPP will support travel as needed. Please review all required application materials before applying.

End of Program Celebration: Fall 2027

PEPP Goals and Expectations

The goals of the PEPP fellowship program are to:

Leverage Illinois research expertise to advance evidence-based policy to benefit the state of Illinois.
Foster mutually beneficial partnerships between policymakers and researchers.
Equip Illinois researchers to conduct and communicate timely and relevant policy research while advancing their academic careers.

Program fellows are expected to:

Produce an IGPA Policy Spotlight as well as a white paper and/or academic publication.
Develop and implement a policy research project collaboratively identified with an Illinois government partner.
Participate in meetings and training sessions organized by CSBS and IGPA.

Support

Fellows receive up to $30,000 to support their policy research work. This funding is designed to facilitate dedicated research time through:

Course buyout
Research assistant support (up to 25% appointment)
Summer salary (up to one month)
Research-related expenses (e.g., software, participant support costs)

Fellows will also receive programmatic and research development support from CSBS and IGPA staff.

FAQ

What is an eligible policy research project?
The PEPP program supports research that generates empirical evidence to inform government decision-making. While community engagement and service activities are valuable, this program specifically focuses on policy research partnerships.

What defines an established research partnership?
An established partnership includes prior collaborative work or a formal agreement with a government agency.

How can the funding be used?
The primary goal is to provide fellows with dedicated time for policy research. We strongly encourage using funds for course buyouts and research assistance to maximize research capacity.

What is an eligible government partnership?
The PEPP program supports partnerships at the regional (e.g., a Regional Office of Education), state (e.g., Illinois Department of Transportation), or tribal (e.g., Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) level in Illinois. The focus of the program is to support policy research that will positively impact the state of Illinois. As such, local government (e.g., a mayoral office) and federal government partnerships will not be funded.

Is a federal government partnership eligible?
No, partnerships must be with regional, state, or tribal government agencies in Illinois.

What does this program not fund?
The PEPP program is intended to support faculty in conducting empirical research in partnership with a government body. It will not fund community engagement or service projects, student-driven research (e.g., dissertations), literature reviews, meta-analyses, etc.

Can PEPP complement other funding sources?
No, the PEPP program is designed to support research that has not received other funding.

At what point in the research process should I apply for PEPP?
As long as you already have a policy partner, you can apply at any time. Just be sure to make the case for how one year of funding/support help you advance your work.

Please contact Elsa Augustine at ElsaA@illinois.edu with further questions.