Stanford Impact Labs Design Fellowship
Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 Stanford Impact Labs Design Fellowship (SILDF). The fellowship supports faculty with funding and guidance to conceptualize a new research project that seeks to develop tangible solutions to a social problem by collaborating with an external partner.
The program is for Stanford faculty who are passionate about a social problem, see research as critical to addressing the problem, are motivated to engage in work with partner(s) outside of the university setting, and are eager to join a cohort of other faculty working in parallel to leverage their research expertise to tackle challenging social problems.
Fellows participate in a monthly workshop, receive $50,000 in seed funding, and benefit from the specialized attention of Stanford Impact Labs professional staff, who provide input on problem definition, partnerships, team design, and communication.
Fellowship program: Once a month, fellows gather for a three-hour, interactive, activity- and discussion-based workshop. These sessions are designed to engage faculty in identifying and refining their understanding of the problem and how their research contributes toward solutions; mapping and forging external partnerships and building a shared agenda of research; and developing an operational plan for giving life to their vision of impact and partnership.
Workshops are led by professional staff and Stanford faculty, with guest faculty and staff already working in this space. We have designed the workshops to be stimulating, engaging, and practically rewarding, so as to guide fellows closer to their vision of impact-focused research.
Applicants: The most important criteria we look for in applicants are: a strong motivation to connect research and demonstrated expertise with practical approaches to achieving public impact, and a curiosity for how to best engage with partners to co-create strategies to address the social problem. Ideally, we seek candidates who:
- Are PI-eligible faculty (required)
- Have a track record of scholarship relevant to the problem area
- Hold a deep belief in the role of science as a tool for tackling social problems
- Are open-minded learners, flexible, and humble
- Demonstrate a strong sense of curiosity to engage with, and learn from, practitioners
- Exhibit a desire to engage with, and contribute to, a cohort of faculty committed to achieving outcomes beyond the university
Application process: Applications will be evaluated by a panel of Stanford Impact Labs staff, Stanford faculty, and external practitioners. Those advancing will be invited to interview with the panel.
Timeline:
- Tuesday, June 6, 2023: Applications due
- Late June/early July 2023: For those advancing to the interview stage, virtual interviews conducted
- Mid-July 2023: Fellowship cohort selected
- Fall quarter 2023: Fellowship begins
More information: Learn more about the fellowship from colleagues who participated in the program in prior years. You can find their names and details on our website. You can also learn more about the fellowship from SIL staff at our information session on May 17, 12-1 p.m. Zoom registration.
Read the SIL Design Fellowship FAQ.
Application Instructions
Written applications are due Tuesday, June 6. For those advancing, interviews will be conducted in late June, with final decisions made the first week of July.
Your proposal should be sent as a single PDF (downloaded at the link above) with the subject line “Last Name_SILDF Application” to sildesignfellowship@stanford.edu by Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
