STEM Public Service Fellows

The program is divided into three semester-long phases: Fellows first learn the fundamentals of public service and civic engagement in STEM, then engage in relationships and prepare materials, and finally implement their learning in real-world community partnerships, mentored by WISCIENCE program directors.

1. Spring Semester: Learn Fundamentals of Public Service and Civic Engagement in STEM

Fellows meet weekly for two hours, completing a one-credit seminar on the fundamentals of community engagement in the STEM disciplines. The cohort will work together to explore the core pathways of public service and civic engagement (direct service, community-engaged teaching, public policy, social entrepreneurship, activism, and philanthropy), learn the basics of community partnerships, and reflect on personal experiences with community engagement.

2. Summer Term: Engage in Relationships and Prepare Materials

Fellows meet on a semi-regular basis to develop a work plan for the semester, initiate community partnerships, and create materials for use in their practicums. Fellows will focus intensively on acquiring pathway-specific knowledge and skills. There will also be opportunities to practice transferable skills, problem-solve, and support your cohort members.

* This time commitment is variable, and there will be a mix of meeting types. Some weeks we will continue to learn and work collaboratively as a cohort, and some weeks will be devoted exclusively to work within your pathway of specialization. Some meetings may be held with practicum partners in the community.

3. Fall Semester: Implement in Real-World Settings

Fellows engage in a practicum in their public service pathway of specialization, working directly with a community partner. Participants will see how theories and concepts in their pathway play out in real settings by implementing, refining, and evaluating the materials they have prepared for their practicum. A particular emphasis will be placed on working with community partners and their constituents in a way that is ethical, demonstrates a high level of commitment, and is inclusive of all stakeholders. Fellows will acquire the knowledge and skills to become leaders who advocate for civic and community engagement in the STEM disciplines.

* In addition to the fixed meetings listed above, Fellows will spend time working on the practicum project, which should be no less than 6 hours per week.

Each Fellow specializes in one of the pathways below based on their career interests and goals. You may apply to more than one pathway. However, accepted fellows will be admitted into one pathway.

 Community-Engaged Teaching

• Community-engaged teaching describes courses that connect learning in the classroom to issues of public concern, and frequently includes learning in community spaces. 2–4 students will serve as instructors and gain firsthand experience designing and teaching a first-year service course.

Direct Service/Outreach

• Direct service addresses the immediate needs of individuals and communities, and frequently involves working directly with community members. The most common examples of direct service in STEM are frequently referred to as outreach.

Policy and Governance

• Policy and governance incorporate evidence-based approaches related to policymaking, interacting with policymakers, and nonprofit or advocacy work.

The Pathways of Public Service and Civic Engagement is a framework developed by the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University and used by the Public Service Fellows program as a way of understanding the spectrum of possible approaches for connecting the work of STEM students and postdocs to issues of public concern.

What past STEM Public Service Fellows have to say about their experience:

“Not only does the STEM Public Service Fellowship provide a strong scholarly foundation in community-engaged research, it allows Fellows to apply these academic ideas in a real-world setting. Working directly with the Wisconsin Institute on Climate Change Impacts developed my professional skills in synthesis research and communication, which just so happen to also be large parts of my first postdoctoral job.”
–Katherine Charton, STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

“The cohort structure of the program…gave me the opportunity to meet other graduate students from STEM fields who also wanted to make an impact on their local communities….That network of like-minded people gave me a sense of belonging as a graduate student.”

–Evan Heintz, STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

“The entirety of my PhD has centered on community-engaged engineering, so I frequently call on the methods, theories, etc., I learned in the program to engage most effectively with my community partners.”

–Rebecca Alcock, STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

“I apply concepts from this program every day! I often think back to our discussions about engaging stakeholders with different perspectives, especially in better understanding the needs of policymakers I serve.”

–Madeleine Roberts, STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

“It felt so refreshing to get to know and collaborate with STEM students from all across the university who share my interest in community engagement. Working in this cohort helped me to escape the lab bubble that I usually find myself in and to explore something that I have a lot of interest in with people who had unique insights and experiences.”

–STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

“I enjoyed that [the practicum] was an independent, but assisted, experience where I learned how to be partner to a community organization. I enjoyed learning as I went, and felt that it was great experience to learn how these community organizations are run.”

–STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

“Both the content I learned in PSF as well as the experiences during my practicum have helped me in my current position as Education Outreach Lead.…It also pushed me to think about best practices for science communication with various audiences. All of these are things that I use every day in my current position.”

–STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

“I adapted the storytelling tool from my practicum to use for our elder justice coalition storytelling collection (and that practicum got me the job interview). In my [current job], I help with coalition building, so looking for who’s not at the table [similar to activities from PSF].”

–STEM Public Service Fellows Alum

Program Eligibility Requirements

• Interest in and enthusiasm for connecting STEM with the public
• Ability to complete the program in its entirety, from January 2025–January 2026 (including Public Service in STEM in spring 2025, Community Relationship and Materials Development in STEM Public Service in summer 2025, and Mentored Practicum in STEM Public Service in fall 2025)
• Ability to work with a community partner or organization to co-develop a practicum project related to the intersection of science and issues of public concern
• Approval from your PI/advisor to participate in this program (if accepted, you will be asked to provide this approval in writing)
• Your major field of study is in a STEM field (this is broadly defined; please contact Dr. Anna Courtier if you have any questions)
• Note: you may apply to more than one pathway, and a range of previous experience with the pathway(s) you are interested in will be considered. Accepted Fellows will be admitted into one pathway.

Application Details