Partnership for Public Good (PPG) Research Fellowship 2026

Deadline: September 28, 2026

Applications are open for the Partnership for Public Good (PPG) Research Fellowship 2026. The PPG Research Fellowship is a six-month, project-based fellowship designed to support early career researchers interested in improving government effectiveness.

Fellows will be paid to conduct policy-relevant background research, use rigorous methods to collect and analyze data, and co-author publications for one of five pre-determined high-priority topics related to public procurement and local government operations. The fellowship provides dedicated time and mentorship for researchers interested in learning about and contributing directly to PPG’s mission of helping governments deliver better outcomes for residents.

Fellowship Details

Over six months, fellows will work on a defined research topic under the guidance of PPG staff and alongside two other fellows. The program combines independent research with regular professional development and collaboration opportunities through coaching calls and research team meetings. Fellows will receive support translating their work into draft publications, policy briefs, and other public-facing outputs that strengthen both the evidence base for government reform and the fellows’ research portfolios.

This remote opportunity is designed for early-career researchers, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, early-career faculty, research or policy staff, and other professionals with comparable experience. Fellows will attend one in-person research retreat. Prior to the start of the fellowship, PPG and each selected fellow will agree on work hours (with flexibility in scheduling), project goals and deliverables, and expectations regarding data access, use, rights, and ownership.

Benefits

Fellows will work 15–25 hours per week and be paid at a rate of $50 per hour with benefits as required by state or local law.

Eligibility

Applicants may be affiliated with a university, think tank, nonprofit, or other research or policy organization, and maintain affiliation during the fellowship, provided they can meet the time and deliverable commitments of the program.

Applicants without such affiliation are also welcome.

Application

To apply, submit each of the following no later than September 28

A resume/CV (no more than 2 pages).

A letter of interest that answers the following questions (no more than 2 pages)

Which one or two projects are you interested in and why? (If you are interested in two projects, you may include up to 3 pages. Please specify your top choice.)

Why are you qualified to take on this project?

How would you approach the work?

A work sample. This may be a published or under review research publication or other product that illustrates your skills and expertise.

Click here to apply

For more information, visit PPG Research Fellowship.