The Harris Social Impact Fellowship 2026 - The University of Chicago

Fully Funded
Chicago, Illinois

Call for The Harris Social Impact Fellowship 2026 is open now!!!

The Harris Social Impact Fellowship is a selective, full-time, 11-month program for recent graduates and early career professionals with strong STEM skills and a passion for evidence-based change. Designed by University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy faculty, the fellowship blends intensive training in policy analysis, critical reasoning, and data analytics with a hands-on placement at a top research center or policy institute.

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Fellows begin with eight weeks of academic coursework followed by nine months tackling urgent issues like educational equity, climate action, crime reduction, and government efficiency. The experience culminates in a capstone project addressing a real-world policy challenge.

Throughout the program, fellows receive professional development, mentorship from policy leaders, and access to an unmatched network of faculty, alumni, and practitioners. Fellows emerge with the skills, momentum, and a defining career experience to advance data-driven change across public, private, and social sectors.

Summer Quarter | Orientation and Academic Coursework: Orientation lays the foundation for a strong, mission-driven cohort through community-building activities and exercises that foster a culture of open and civil discourse. From there, Fellows spend the first quarter in a fast-paced academic environment sharpening technical and analytical tools ranging from quantitative analysis and critical reasoning to cost benefit analysis and policy design.

Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters | Applied Learning: Fellows complete nine months of high-impact, real-world applied learning within teams tackling urgent public challenges such as advancing educational equity, improving government efficiency, and accelerating climate action.

Spring Quarter | Capstone Project: Fellows synthesize their year of learning and field experience into a Capstone Project—a real-world, data-driven policy initiative that addresses a critical challenge in the public or social sector. Working closely with mentors and project partners, fellows apply their technical skills, research insights, and leadership abilities to craft actionable solutions. The Capstone serves as both a final demonstration of fellows’ abilities and a key stepping stone in their career development, with opportunities to present findings to stakeholders, policymakers, and future employers.

Data Analytics: With the focus on quantitative analysis, critical reasoning, and generating credible evidence, fellows learn program evaluation methodologies and develop the ability to critically assess policy claims. Fellows will also learn to leverage machine learning and AI to enhance their technical skills.

Economic Analysis: Developing foundational knowledge in microeconomic theory, social welfare analysis, and cost-benefit analysis, fellows will be equipped with skills in public finance, budgeting, and applying evaluation strategies to organizational improvement.

Analytical Politics: Exploring political philosophy, game theory, and governance challenges, this course provides fellows with tools to analyze how political institutions shape policymaking and strategies to influence policy effectively.

Location:

United States

Benefits

$21,000 to fully cover fellowship academic credential

Data Analytics: With the focus on quantitative analysis, critical reasoning, and generating credible evidence, fellows learn program evaluation methodologies and develop the ability to critically assess policy claims. Fellows will also learn to leverage machine learning and AI to enhance their technical skills.
Economic Analysis: Developing foundational knowledge in microeconomic theory, social welfare analysis, and cost-benefit analysis, fellows will be equipped with skills in public finance, budgeting, and applying evaluation strategies to organizational improvement.
Analytical Politics: Exploring political philosophy, game theory, and governance challenges, this course provides fellows with tools to analyze how political institutions shape policymaking and strategies to influence policy effectively.

Applied Learning Experience

Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab: The Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab aims to promote human potential by using cutting-edge research methods to gain new insights into the science of parent decision-making.
Urban Labs | Education Lab: The Education Lab partners with school districts to design, test, and scale programs to ensure all students have the opportunity for future success.
Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation: The Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation empowers urban communities through interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and innovation to address complex societal challenges.
Urban Labs | Crime Lab: The Crime Lab designs, tests, and scales data-driven innovations to improve the public sector’s response to the dual challenges of America’s gun violence crisis and a criminal justice system that is not truly just.

Eligibilities

Demonstrated capacity for serious technical, quantitative, or analytical work—e.g., through coursework, research, or work experience
Recent college graduate or early-career professional (bachelor’s degree must be conferred prior to the start of the fellowship)
The nature of this program requires participants be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
If you are a U.S. visa holder, you must confirm with the sponsor of that visa whether participation in this program fits within the parameters of your current visa status.
The University of Chicago cannot sponsor visas in connection with the program.

Eligible Regions: Open for All

Application Process

Application Deadline: December 7, 2025 (27 Days Remaining)

Apply now Official link

For Further Queries

Visit their official website to get in touch with them or contact them at https://harris.uchicago.edu/contact-us

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Call for The Harris Social Impact Fellowship 2026 is open now!!!

Fellowship Roadmap