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West Virginia University Bridge Initiative for S&T Policy, Leadership, & Communications
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Bridge Faculty Fellows

The Bridge Faculty Fellows Program is open to WVU tenure- and non-tenure track faculty members on the Morgantown, Beckley, and Keyser campuses regardless of rank, including Teaching, Research, Extension and Clinical Professors.

Program Description

  • This is a new opportunity offered under the Bridge Initiative with support from the Research Office. For this initial program, we will select 3 faculty fellows who will form the initial program cohort and serve for a year, starting in June 2021.
  • Leadership for this program will be provided by Dr. Joan Centrella, Director of the Bridge Initiative in S&T Policy, Leadership, and Communications, with support from the Bridge team.
  • Participating in this program will help faculty to:
    • understand the S&T policy arena and learn how their work can make a difference to policymakers, 
    • increase the broader impacts of their work to benefit society, 
    • stimulate and advance new ideas for research, innovation, and funding, 
    • bring new perspectives into their teaching and mentoring roles, to develop and empower the next generation. 
  • Applications will be solicited each year in one of the four Bridge Initiative focus areas: sustainability, public health, innovation, and energy. 
    • The focus area for the initial cohort in 2021-2022 is environmental sustainability. 
  • This is how the Bridge Faculty Fellows Program will work: 
    • Interested faculty will propose an area of research with the potential to impact the S&T policy arena in the selected focus area for this year. 
    • Upon selection, they will work with the Bridge team to refine their proposal and choose among various options, such as infographics, policy briefs and memos, and presentations, for engaging with policymakers. 
    • Throughout the fellowship period, they will receive support as they learn how to translate their work to policymakers and develop one or more of these options. 
  • Each Fellow will receive support to connect their research to the science and technology policy sphere. This support includes:
    • a $5000 grant that can be used for expenses that will allow them to participate in the program, including summer salary, student stipends, research and conference travel, and the like
    • workshops and other activities to help them gain a deeper understanding of the S&T policy arena
    • opportunities for their student(s) to work with the Bridge team on policy aspects relating to their research
    • collaboration with Bridge team members in translating the results of their research and innovation into potential policy options
    • experience in communicating with policymakers.
  • The Fellows will meet regularly with the Bridge leadership to refine their ideas and report progress. The full cohort will meet monthly to share ideas, engage in additional learning activities, and give input to the Bridge Initiative for bringing research across campus to bear on S&T policy. These meetings may be held virtually or in person.
  • Faculty are encouraged to include their students in this program.
  • Each Fellow will serve for one year, starting in June 2021.
  • The initial cohort of Bridge Fellows will be named by May 20, 2021 and should be prepared to start working with the group on June 7, 2021.

Application Process

Interested faculty should submit the following to scitechpolicy@mail.wvu.edu by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 12, 2021:

  • A statement of interest in participating in the Bridge Faculty Fellows Program, with the following information (total of 2 pages maximum): 
    • What do you work on in your research? 
    • In what general policy areas of environmental sustainability do you think your research could make an impact (e.g., drinking water, carbon storage, water/energy nexus, wastewater infrastructure, agriculture…). 
    • Describe some initial ideas that could link your research to S&T policy in these areas, and that you would consider developing during this program. 
    • Would you like to involve any students working in your research area in this program? If so, briefly describe. 
    • Tell us about any experience you may have in science and technology policy (note that prior experience is not necessary). 
  • A current curriculum vitae or resume.
  • Your availability to participate in science and technology policy workshops during June 2021 (starting June 7). These will be held virtually.

Combine these application documents into a single PDF file and email them to scitechpolicy@mail.wvu.edu by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

Selection Process

The applications will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of the Bridge team leadership and representatives from the Research Office. Top candidates will be invited to interview with members of the selection committee.

Selection Criteria

  • Application’s alignment with the spirit and goals of the Bridge Initiative, including faculty research activity and the potential for impacting S&T policy in the focus area of environmental sustainability. Opportunities for student participation area welcome, but not required.
  • Faculty member’s interest in and commitment to the program goals 
  • Faculty member’s ability to work with the cohort, including participating in workshops. 

Successful applicants will be notified by May 20, 2021.

Any questions?

Please contact Dr. Joan Centrella at Joan.Centrella@mail.wvu.edu.