Postdoctoral Research Opportunity – Disability Policy Research Fellowship
The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University is now accepting applications for the Postdoctoral Fellowship on Disability Policy Research (DPR). The Fellowship provides experiential training, knowledge, and skills in disability policy research with the aim of developing a cohort of experts capable of developing and advancing policies to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
The one- or two-year fellowship provides doctorally prepared (e.g., MDs and PhDs) trainees with:
- Mentoring
- Protected research time
- Full tuition to take individual courses or earn a Master's in Health Services and Outcomes Research
- Assistance with a policy placement
- Funding for research-related expenses and conference travel
- Annual stipend
- (Year 1) Coursework and mentored research at Northwestern University
- (Year 2) Placement in Washington, DC as a legislative assistant in Congress or professional staff member in an executive agency or policy organization
Depending upon prior experience and career goals, One-Year Fellows may complete either the research-focused year at Northwestern University or the policy placement in Washington, DC.
Who should apply?
Individuals with a doctoral-level degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent) from any discipline (e.g., geriatrics, rehab sciences, psychology, nursing, social work) with an interest in the intersection of disability, aging, and policy research.
How is the Fellowship Funded and Managed?
The Disability Policy Research Fellowship is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent, Living, and Rehabilitation Research. The Fellowship is administered through a partnership between Northwestern University’s Integrated Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Services and Outcomes Research and Columbia University’s Health and Aging Policy Fellowship. The Disability Policy Research Fellowship’s co-Principal Investigators are Anne Deutsch, RN, PhD and Megan McHugh, PhD.
Application deadline: Rolling
Earliest start date: July 2025
Email program coordinator Ryan Splitt at Ryan.Splitt@northwestern.edu for more information.