Policy Outreach Program Fellowship | American Sociological Association

The Policy Outreach Program Fellowship

The ASA Policy Outreach Program (POP) Fellowship aims to enhance connections between ASA and legislative offices, think tanks, and policymakers influencing public policy and opinion. Sociologists do extensive research and are very knowledgeable about key matters, often concerning policy and legislation, climate change, immigration, economic inequality, reproductive rights, etc. Yet a disconnect remains between the sociologists doing this work and the policymakers whose work often builds on this knowledge. A closer relationship between these entities could potentially allow sociologists to be more familiar with opportunities in the policy world (employment, funding, residencies) and enable policymakers to have early exposure to and information about research relevant to their priorities.

A cohort of 5-10 POP Fellows will be accepted each year for a one-year term. POP Fellows will remotely receive media training and learn about professional development opportunities that will help them further develop the skills necessary to translate research findings to legislators and the public. They will also be able to create Rapid Response Reports about their research/area of expertise for dissemination to the media and program partners. The fellowship does not include a stipend or require residency in Washington, DC, or travel.

Advisory/Oversight

In addition to ASA staff, ASA’s Public Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) will play an instrumental role in the POP Fellowship. If partner organizations need names of members who can provide information, media engagement, or relevant research insights, PEAC members can make suggestions to ASA staff. PEAC members can also serve in a selection and advisory capacity for POP Fellows by reviewing and recommending applicants, sharing their knowledge and expertise about how to present research to policymakers and legislators in a palatable way, and giving overall feedback about POP’s success and areas for improvement.

Eligibility

Both ASA members and nonmembers can apply to the Policy Outreach Program Fellowship. However, if accepted, you will be required to join ASA. Applicants must have a PhD in sociology at the time of application. Applications open on May 1. Completed applications are due by May 29 by 5 pm Eastern.

POP Fellows will be selected based on their commitment to public-facing sociology and the compatibility between their research areas and those of program partners. Our current program partners are listed below. Before applying, we recommend reviewing our partner mission statements and key initiatives to determine which issues you would most like to advocate.

Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, or be eligible under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

POP Fellowship Partners

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online through ASA’s grants submission platform. You must create a profile on the online grant platform before the application opens. For video instructions on how to create an account, click here. Once your account is set up and you log in, you will see the POP application option available between May 1 and May 29. Click here to begin your application.

A complete application consists of:

Completed fellowship application
Responses to the following questions:
- Why does the ASA POP Fellowship interest you?
- Do you have any previous media experience? If so, please describe.
- What do you hope to gain from being a POP Fellow?
- Is there a current project you wish to share with potential partners? Describe this briefly in lay terms.
Curriculum Vitae

Application Timeline

Application opens: May 1, 2025
Application deadline: May 29, 2025, at 5 pm Eastern
Decisions announced: July 1, 2025

Questions?

Don’t hesitate to contact [email protected].