GWIPP: Scholar Selection

805 21st Street, NW, Sixth Floor
Wash ington, DC 20052
202.994.0970 Tel
202.994.8913 Fax
gwipp@gwu.edu

Policy Research Scholar Selection

The Policy Research Scholar Program provides a one or two year appointment to a select group of George Washington faculty members. The scholars, who are selected through a competitive process, are provided resources (in the form of a reduced course load and/or summer stipends) to enable them to prepare proposals for externally funded policy-related research and to carry out that research.

Why You Should Apply

Those selected as Policy Research Scholars will receive substantial benefits in the form of either course release for up to three courses over a two year period or summer stipend or some combination of the two. Policy Research Scholars will also be given the assistance of the GWIPP Policy Research Program staff in preparing research proposals, budgets, and arranging university sign-offs as well as managing the award when it is received. There is also the possibility of receiving research support from graduate research assistants who will be assigned to the Policy Research Scholars on an as needed basis.

As noted above, if chosen for a two year term, the scholar will be provided with the equivalent of $12,000 in resources; if chosen for a one year term the amount is $8,000 in resources. These resources can be applied in the following ways: A scholar may choose to have her or his course load reduced, with each course reduction being covered by $4,000 made available to the scholar’s department or unit to cover costs of replacement faculty and/or other educational expenses. Funds not allocated for course reduction can be paid to the scholar in the form of a summer stipend. (Thus, at the one extreme, a scholar chosen for a two year term could opt for a one course load reduction for each semester the first year and one semester the second year. Alternatively, at the other extreme, the scholar could be provided with a $4,000 stipend the first summer and an $8,000 stipend the second summer. Combinations of course reduction and stipends are also possible, e.g. a one course reduction during one semester of the first year, followed by an $8,000 summer stipend.) The maximum stipend available for a summer is $8,000. Policy Research Scholars who opt to receive the full $8,000 in summer stipend will normally be expected to teach no more than one course during the summer so that they can devote most of their time to their Policy Research Scholar responsibilities.

Application Procedure

Applicants should produce a brief description (1-2 pages) of the proposed research project, including potential funding sources. The proposal should specify whether the applicant wishes to serve for one year or two years and whether he or she seeks a course reduction, summer stipend, or some combination. In addition, a curriculum vitae should be included with the application, along with a list of any previous proposals submitted for external funding, to whom they were submitted, the amount, and whether they were successful. (A past record of grant submission and success is not a necessary requirement for becoming a Policy Research Scholar.) Finally, the application must also include a cover sheet that has been signed by the applicant’s Chair and the applicant’s Dean indicating their approval of the application. The 2007-2008 Call for Policy Research Scholar is here!!

Selection Criteria

Selection of the Policy Research Scholars will be made by a selection committee that consisting of a subcommittee of the GWIPP Steering Committee and of GWIPP Research Professors. Selection criteria include the importance of the research topic, quality of the proposal and the probability of securing external funding.