The Bridge Initiative in Science and Technology Policy, Leadership, and Communications is seeking proposals from faculty at the WVU Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser campuses for the inaugural cohort of Bridge Faculty Fellows.
The Bridge Initiative is an interdisciplinary, campus-wide initiative under the Provost’s Office with support from the Research Office. It brings researchers together from across campus whose work can impact science and technology policy in the focus areas of sustainability, energy, innovation and public health.
The Bridge Faculty Fellows program presents a unique and exciting opportunity for faculty to earn ways in which their work can make a difference to policymakers, increase the broader impacts of their work to benefit society and develop methods of communicating their work in the science and technology policy arena.
Applications will be solicited each year in one of the four Bridge Initiative focus areas; the focus area for the initial cohort in 2021-22 is environmental sustainability.
Each Fellow will work with members of the Bridge team and will receive support to connect their research to the science and technology policy sphere. This includes a $5,000 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. Faculty are encouraged to include their students in this program. Each Fellow will serve for one year, starting in June.
Faculty wishing to apply should submit a statement of interest along with a current cv or resume. Proposals will be selected on the basis of 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; faculty member’s interest in and commitment to the program goals; and their ability to work with the cohort, including participating in workshops. Opportunities for student participation area welcome, but not required.
Applications for this inaugural cohort of Fellows for 2021-22 will be accepted until midnight on Wednesday, May 12.
Complete details on the Bridge Faculty Fellows Program can be found on the Bridge Initiative website. Interested faculty members with specific questions about the program or application process should contact Joan Centrella directly at Joan.Centrella@mail.wvu.edu.