The Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS) Policy & Research Legislative Fellows program matches graduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with state legislators representing Champaign-Urbana or a neighboring district to collaborate on a policy research project that can inform public policy and help make Illinois a better place to live. This non-partisan initiative is supported by the Office of Public Engagement.
For more information about the PRLF program, contact Elsa Augustine at elsaa@illinois.edu.
Goals and Expectations
Student researchers use their expertise to contribute toward developing a policy agenda in a state legislator’s office, thereby gaining hands-on experience in bridging the gap between theory and practice at the state level. Students attend policy meetings with legislators and policy directors, watch legislative sessions and track bills to frame research activities that will assist in developing legislation from the ground up. In addition to research support and supervision from state policymakers, student researchers take part in seminars and professional development activities at UIUC.
The aim of the Policy & Research Legislative Fellows Program is to provide graduate students with:
- First-hand experience and insight into the fast-paced legislative environment and law-making process
- An understanding of how to connect research to real-world policy applications
- Legislative and policy writing skills
- Exposure to different policy and research areas that will help students evaluate their career interests and plans
Eligibility and Application
Student researchers use their expertise to contribute toward developing a policy agenda in a state legislator’s office, thereby gaining hands-on experience in bridging the gap between theory and practice at the state level.
Policy & Research Legislative Fellows
The Center for Social and Behavioral Science (CSBS), with support from the Office of the Chancellor-Public Engagement, is proud to introduce the participants of the Policy and Research Legislative Fellows Program!
Research and Data
PRLF participants provide a variety of deliverables regarding their research while involved with the program.
Advisory Board
A team of interdisciplinary faculty with policy expertise, along with a former PRLF participant, guide the design and implementation of the Policy & Research Legislative Fellows Program:
Jacob Bowers
Political Science
Ashlynn Stillwell
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Jennifer Robbennolt
College of Law
Bryan Endres
Agricultural & Consumer Economics
Liliane Windsor
Social Work
Minakshi (Mina) Raj
Kinesiology and Community Health
James Steur
Political Science
Graduate Student Member