Research Fellowship Program
Overview
In 2024, we are excited to launch the third year of our Research Fellowship Program as an investment in our EDI commitments at OMNI as we continue to expand our impact in partnership with change-makers nationwide and seek new ways to contribute to the field of research and evaluation. Our fellowship program was created to fill an opportunity gap in our industry: early career work experience and training for students of color, and those identifying with other historically marginalized identities, as a pathway to careers in social science research and to diversify the field of research and evaluation to reflect better the communities we serve.
Our fellowship program is designed for recent undergraduates with a BA or BS degree, some exposure to social science research, and a career interest in social impact. We strongly encourage students identifying as people of color, LGBTQ+, first-generation collegegoers, or low-income backgrounds to apply for this position. This is designed as a two-year fellowship program.
The application and hiring period for the Research Fellows program will open in February 2024, with fellows joining OMNI Institute on June 3, 2024. We hire a cohort of fellows (2 or 3) each year for a two-year interactive program where they will work on client projects as Research Assistants and experience career development opportunities in social science and consulting. This is an entry-level position in the field of applied social sciences research and evaluation.
Program Goals
Over the years, we have witnessed a lack of diversity in social sciences research. Lived experience and the ability to connect with, understand, and tell the stories of the communities we work with is an invaluable part of equitable, inclusive, and participatory evaluation. The social sciences field needs more researchers with diverse identities and experiences who can participate in crafting the solutions that will fundamentally address systemic change toward a more equitable society.
Many social sciences and evaluation fellowship programs are designed for PhD-level graduates who have already chosen careers and obtained advanced educational opportunities. We believe the field must create earlier career opportunities for people with diverse identities and backgrounds to explore career options and gain valuable early professional experience that can set them on a path toward having a meaningful social impact.
In addition to lacking a diverse pipeline, higher education training in social sciences focuses on teaching academic methods more than practical applied methods and consulting skills. Our research consulting environment provides a unique experience outside of the academic setting. Researchers at OMNI engage in projects in real-world settings. They collaborate across various project teams and navigate multiple interdependent workstreams while addressing the nuanced data and methodological challenges of studying real social issues. They build deep connections with clients to help them change their communities. We believe that experience in this real-world consulting context will prove invaluable in any careers our Fellows pursue in the social sciences and beyond.
Program Design
Every June, OMNI welcomes a new class of Research Fellows to the company as full-time employees for 24 months. During the program, we anticipate:
Research Fellows will spend approximately 75% of their time during their first year working on client projects at the level of Research Assistants. They will support data collection and analysis, take notes in team and client meetings, and learn the basics of working across multiple client engagements in a consulting environment.
The remaining 25% of their time will be spent on learning and career development opportunities. Such as:
Learning from our various methodological best practice teams and exploring our content areas of work in Behavioral Health, Community Health, Justice, Children & Families, and Economic Security.
Shadowing our project leads and staff as they attend client meetings, conduct community outreach, and participate in other external engagements.
One-on-one time with our organization’s senior leaders to learn about career pathways and explore what it’s like to work in the social sciences and consulting at an advanced level.
Career planning support, including graduate school application review and support, reference letters, introductions to clients and funders, career coaching, and more.
During the second year of the fellowship, Research Fellows participate in three primary activities:
Spending approximately 90% of their time as Research Assistants on client projects.
Mentoring and providing leadership to the incoming class of new fellows.
Planning for their future careers by meeting with internal career coaches at OMNI and participating in other career development activities.
Note: After the Research Fellowship concludes, we cannot guarantee opportunities to stay with OMNI as employees. We anticipate most Research Fellows will explore other career opportunities or pursue a master's degree when their fellowship program concludes. However, there may be opportunities to stay with OMNI Institute in a Research Associate position depending on our staffing and hiring needs at that time.
Our Research Fellows are fully integrated team members. That means they are full-time employees who will receive our full minimum annual salary of $50,000 and the full benefits package that we offer to all of our staff, including PTO, holidays, health care, 401k with company matching, monthly technology stipend, etc. They will participate in all our team meetings and events and may occasionally travel for client meetings and project work.