Society for Research in Child Development Policy Fellowship Program

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) offers three different placements: state agencies, federal agencies, and U.S. Congress. These are immersive opportunities for researchers to learn about policy development, implementation, and evaluation, and how to use developmental science to inform public policy at the federal or state level in the United States.

The SRCD Federal Policy Fellowship Program is a full-time immersion experience in Washington, D.C. and runs from September 1st through August 31st. Fellows are placed in either a federal agency or congressional office placement and serve as resident scholars in their placements. The SRCD Executive Branch Policy Fellowship may be renewed for a second year at the agency’s discretion and, under rare circumstances, the SRCD Congressional Policy Fellowship may be extended four months to the end of the legislative session. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional competence in an area of child development research and receive a doctorate-level degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., M.D.)  prior to starting the fellowship

The SRCD State Policy Post-doctoral Fellowship places early career developmental scientists in state-level executive branch agencies that oversee the implementation of programs and services that support children’s learning and well-being (from birth to 8 years old) for a full-time, immersive experience. Examples of areas of focus for agencies include, but are not limited to, those that oversee education, child care, income security, early childhood mental health, family engagement, and child abuse prevention. Recent placement offices include: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration in the Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning and the Oregon Department of Education in the Early Learning Division.

The SRCD U.S. Policy Fellowship Program Congressional Placements allow you to be where policy is happening, working on Capitol Hill. Congressional fellows learn about policy development, implementation, and evaluation, and how to use developmental science to inform public policy in the highest levels in the United States. Congressional fellows are on the frontlines of how Congress thinks about early childhood issues. They use evidence-based methods to draft memos and briefings. They advise their members of Congress on relevant portfolio matters pertinent to their specific office. And they meet with constituents and advocates to hear how their office’s policy decisions will affect different groups.