Applications being accepted for Scholars in Service program
Applications are being accepted for the Scholars in Service program offered by Stanford Impact Labs and the Haas Center for Public Service.
The program is intended to complement and extend existing leave and sabbatical opportunities at Stanford with a primary focus on the exchange of learning and expertise around an identified social problem. Financial and staff resources will be provided to support placements, for a minimum of one quarter and up to four quarters, in public sector agencies and nonprofit organizations between June 2021 and September 2022.
Placements are designed to support in-depth, hands-on learning about a social problem and existing approaches to address it, with the potential to help generate new research insights and/or research applications. The ideal placement will enable the exchange of complementary skills and expertise, and should both add value to the hosting organization and help to advance the faculty member’s thinking about their own research. Applicants can identify and negotiate their own partnerships, or work with the Stanford Impact Labs and Haas Center team to identify an appropriate placement.
The program is intended to complement and extend existing opportunities at Stanford to take leave to work with public and nonprofit organizations, allowing for the exchange of learning and expertise around an identified social problem. Applicants can propose their own placement or work with the Stanford Impact Labs and Haas Center team to develop an appropriate placement.
PI-eligible Stanford scholars are eligible to apply for the program. Leave eligibility will vary across schools and departments and depend on the status of the individual applicant. For all circumstances, applicants will need to explore the feasibility and logistics of taking leave within their respective schools/departments, and placements will only be confirmed with the consent of the respective department Chair and school Dean. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the Faculty Handbook section on Sabbaticals and Other Leaves of Absence.
The expectation is that applicants will have varying levels of experience with problem-focused research and engagement with external partners and potential host organizations. For those newer to this type of engagement, the placement may serve primarily as a learning exchange, helping to better understand the social problem and different approaches to its resolution, with the host organization benefiting from the faculty member’s scholarly expertise. For those with prior experience, the exchange may serve to advance existing partnerships, with a focus on driving evidence-driven programs or policies. What is most important is that there is a compelling case that the placement is generative, with clear learning opportunities for both the applicant and host organization, and the potential to contribute towards progress on a social problem.
Read about the inaugural cohort of Stanford faculty selected for the program.
Applications are due January 11, 2021.