Scholarship Overview
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Overview
The Harris Social Impact Fellowship is an intensive, full-time 11-month program designed to transform technically skilled, early-career professionals into evidence-based problem solvers. Hosted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, the fellowship combines rigorous academic training with hands-on applied learning at top research centers and policy institutes.
The program is ideal for recent graduates from STEM fields—data science, engineering, statistics, applied mathematics, and related disciplines—who want to pivot into social impact work but need the policy framework and professional network to make that transition.
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Financial Support
Fellows receive comprehensive funding that covers living expenses and academic credentialing:
- $75,000 stipend for living and healthcare expenses
- $21,000 to fully cover the fellowship academic credential
- Total support: $96,000
This funding structure allows fellows to focus entirely on their training and professional development without financial burden.
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Program Structure
The fellowship runs July 2027 through June 2028 and follows a three-phase structure:
Summer Quarter: Academic Foundation (8 weeks)
Fellows complete intensive, faculty-led coursework at the University of Chicago Hyde Park campus covering:
- Research Methods: Causal inference techniques including randomized experiments, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity designs
- Economic Analysis: Microeconomic theory, social welfare analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and public finance
- Analytical Politics: Political philosophy, game theory, and strategies for influencing policy
- Data Analytics: Program evaluation, machine learning, and AI applications for policy research
Autumn through Spring Quarters: Applied Learning (9 months)
Fellows are placed with leading research centers to work on urgent policy challenges. Host sites include:
- Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab (BIP Lab): AI-powered survey simulation, video analysis of parent-child interactions, digital program engagement analysis
- Urban Labs | Crime Lab: Statistical modeling for violence reduction, policing leadership programs, data infrastructure for criminal justice reform
- Urban Labs | Energy and Environment Lab: Field experiments on environmental policy, machine learning for regulatory decision-making, remote sensing technology for air pollution monitoring
- Urban Labs | Health Lab: 911 emergency crisis response research, housing and health outcomes for vulnerable populations
- Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation: Local data journalism, property tax fairness research with demonstrated policy impact
Spring Quarter: Capstone Project
Fellows synthesize their learning into a real-world, data-driven policy initiative addressing a critical public or social sector challenge, working with mentors and mission-driven partners.
Professional Development
Throughout the program, fellows receive:
- One-on-one career coaching for resume refinement, interview preparation, and sector navigation
- Mentorship from policy leaders, senior faculty, and alumni
- Targeted connections with mission-driven employers
- Annual alumni retreat and lifelong community access
- Portfolio development through immersive projects
Eligibility Requirements
The fellowship seeks candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Technical background: Demonstrated capacity for serious technical, quantitative, or analytical work through coursework, research, or professional experience
- Career stage: Recent college graduate or early-career professional with less than two years of experience; bachelor’s degree must be conferred before fellowship start
- Age profile: The inaugural cohort averaged age 22
- Work authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States. The University of Chicago cannot sponsor visas for this program
Important for African applicants: If you hold a U.S. visa, you must independently confirm that participation fits within your visa parameters. The fellowship does not qualify for STEM OPT extension.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Motivation Statement (~300 words, one page maximum): Describe your interest in evidence-based public policy and how the fellowship aligns with your goals
- Technical Experience Statement (one page): Detail your technical, quantitative, or analytical experience; sample available for download
- Resume
- One Letter of Recommendation from someone who can speak to your technical capabilities (research supervisor, professor, or manager preferred)
- Transcripts
Selection Process and Timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | October 19, 2026, 11:59 PM CT |
| Take-Home Technical Assessment | Mid-late November 2026 |
| Virtual Interviews | Early-mid December 2026 |
| Lab Matching Interviews & On-Campus Interview Day | Mid-late January 2027 |
Information Sessions
Prospective applicants can attend:
- Information Session: October 1, 2026, 12-1 PM CDT with Executive Director Laura Donnelly and Program Director Bethany Malzman
- Drop-in Office Hours: October 7, 2026 and October 16, 2026, 12-1 PM CDT
Why This Fellowship Matters for African Applicants
For Zimbabwean and SADC-region applicants with U.S. work authorization, this fellowship offers exceptional value: rigorous training in causal inference and policy analysis from a top-ranked policy school, direct placement in research labs with proven policy impact, and a $96,000 financial package. The skills developed—machine learning for social science, program evaluation, and data-driven policy design—are highly transferable to development challenges in Africa, including education equity, health systems strengthening, and climate adaptation.
However, the visa restriction is absolute. Without existing U.S. work authorization, this program is not accessible. Candidates should explore alternative pathways such as the PPIA Junior Summer Institute or consider programs with visa sponsorship.
Official scholarship page: https://info.harris.uchicago.edu/social-impact-fellowship
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
