Description

 There will be two Rita Allen Civic Science Fellows at the Morgridge Institute; each is a full time 18-month fellowship position focusing on evidence-based approaches to communicating about science in polarized political or information environments. The fellows will develop and empirically evaluate real-world strategies for public engagement with science that meaningfully connects communities across different ideological or value-based fault lines. 

The Civic Science Fellows are emerging leaders from diverse demographic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. They are thought leaders, bridge builders, change agents, and communicators working to learn about community priorities and scientific research and bring those worlds together on equal footing to create fundamentally new ways of solving problems. The Fellows spend 18 months experimenting with new evidence-based approaches in science communication and community engagement in order to co-create strong, diverse, and inclusive connections between science and civic life (https://civicsciencefellows.org/).

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials, (co-)authors publications, and disseminates information to appropriate entities
• Collects and analyzes complex research data according to established policies and procedures
• Coordinates collaborations with external partners and stakeholders and with related projects and collaborators at UW
• Works in close collaboration with Morgridge Institute investigators and practitioners to increase community engagement and inform the programs and communications at Morgridge and the University of Wisconsin-Madison more broadly

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary duties.

Education and Experience:

· A 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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

· 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 and Physical Effort:

· No or very limited physical effort is required

· No or very limited exposure to physical risk

In order to ensure the safety of our workplace, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required unless an exemption is granted for medical, disability or religious reasons.