Civic Science Fellow - Science Communication

An 18-month, full-time fellowship focused on evidence-based approaches to communicating science in polarized political or information environments, with a particular emphasis on depolarizing policy-relevant debates about biomedical science. Fellows will co-create pilots, partnerships, and new models to seed collaborations between science and society, and will participate in a cohort learning program and community. One Fellow will be embedded in the Science Communication Incubator Lab (SCI Lab), collaborating with the Community Engagement group to develop research-informed science engagement programs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews, prepare reports and materials, (co-)author publications, and disseminate information to appropriate entities
• Collect and analyze complex research data according to established policies and procedures
• Coordinate collaborations with external partners and stakeholders, and with related projects and collaborators at the University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Work in close collaboration with Morgridge Institute investigators and practitioners to increase community engagement and inform programs and communications at Morgridge and the University of Wisconsin - Madison

Requirements

• PhD in a social sciences discipline, such as (the science of) science communication, formal or informal science education, psychology, sociology, political science, computational social science, or another position-relevant discipline
• Experience in scholarly or on-the-ground engagement with communities that might see themselves as disconnected from science, based on real or perceived divides across value-based, ideological, or demographic differences
• Experience in research program or project management

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to design, conduct, and publish high-quality social scientific research
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate scientific information effectively with expert and lay audiences
• Interest in connecting science communication research and practice
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, and develop positive relationships with co-workers
• Familiarity with social media platforms for research and communication

Working Conditions

• No or very limited physical effort required
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk

Selected individuals must be able to begin employment no later than September 1, 2026.