Schedule and Application
Learn more and apply by April 15!
The Center for Social & Behavioral Science and Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) are excited to announce the new Partnerships for Evidence-based Public Policy (PEPP) fellowship program. This program will create 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 will form a cohort, participating in monthly trainings on topics such as the policy research lifecycle and policy communication, as well as networking and collaborative work.
PEPP plans to welcome four fellows for the pilot year (AY25-26). The program is open to faculty with an existing policy research partner in regional, state, or tribal government in the state of Illinois. While the program welcomes policy research across all domains, two of the fellowships are supported in part by the Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society to facilitate policy research directly or indirectly related to mental health.
Spring 2025 Application Period: March 1 – April 15, 2025.
Applicants must be:
- 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 formal agreement with an Illinois government agency (regional, tribal, or state).
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.