PPG Research Fellowship 2026

Applications are open for the Partners for Public Good (PPG) Research Fellowship 2026, a six month, project based fellowship for early career researchers interested in improving government effectiveness through rigorous research and applied policy analysis. The fellowship provides an opportunity to work directly on research questions connected to public procurement and local government operations while receiving mentorship and professional development support.

Partners for Public Good is a nonpartisan organisation that works alongside state and local governments to strengthen the operational systems that influence how effectively public services are delivered. Its work includes areas such as procurement, staffing, budgeting and technology. Through implementation work, applied research and its Procurement Excellence Network, PPG seeks to turn practical lessons from governments into useful knowledge and tools for other jurisdictions.

The PPG Research Fellowship is designed for researchers who want to connect analytical and academic skills with real world government challenges. Fellows will conduct policy relevant background research, collect and analyse data, and contribute to publications, policy briefs and other public facing outputs. Selected fellows will work alongside two other fellows under the guidance of PPG staff.

About the Fellowship

Over the six month fellowship, participants will work on one defined research topic under the supervision of PPG staff. The programme combines independent research with coaching calls, research team meetings, professional development and collaboration.

Fellows will also receive support in turning their research into practical outputs. Depending on the selected project, participants may develop literature reviews, datasets, survey or interview instruments, draft publications, policy briefs or conference submissions.

Each fellow is expected to complete approximately two to three deliverables during the fellowship. Before the programme begins, PPG and each selected fellow will agree on working hours, project goals, deliverables and expectations concerning data access, use, rights and ownership.

Opportunity Benefits

• Six month research fellowship

• Part time commitment of 15 to 25 hours per week

• Compensation of $50 per hour

• Benefits where required by applicable state or local law

• Mentorship and guidance from PPG staff

• Professional development through coaching calls and research meetings

• Collaboration with two other fellows

• Participation in an in person research retreat

• Opportunity to contribute to research publications and policy briefs

• Opportunity to strengthen a professional research portfolio

• Experience working on practical government effectiveness challenges

Research Areas

Understanding Public Procurement Through Municipal Data

This project examines publicly available information about local government procurement across US cities. Fellows will contribute to research exploring how governments purchase goods and services and identify opportunities for further analysis.

The Compliance Web: Layered Governance and Local Implementation

This research explores how federal, state and local laws, regulations, funding requirements and administrative processes affect local government operations. Fellows will examine how these requirements can support or constrain effective implementation.

Emerging Technology and Government Operations

This project examines the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies by state and local governments. Fellows will explore what these technologies can reveal about government operations, organisational capacity and opportunities for improvement.

Innovative Approaches to Public Purchasing

This project focuses on changing approaches to government procurement, including cooperative purchasing. Researchers will examine how and why different purchasing approaches are used and their implications for government efficiency and market participation.

Building Local Capacity for Stormwater Management

This research examines how communities develop and finance capacity for stormwater management. Fellows will investigate differences across jurisdictions and generate insights relevant to future research and practice.

Eligibility Criteria

• Early career researchers with relevant research or policy experience

• Graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and early career faculty may apply

• Research or policy staff and other professionals with comparable experience are eligible

• Applicants may be affiliated with a university, think tank, nonprofit organisation or research or policy organisation

• Applicants without an institutional affiliation may also apply

• Applicants must be able to meet the fellowship time and deliverable commitments

• The fellowship requires a remote working arrangement within the United States

• Applicants must be able to access a major US airport for the required research retreat

Required Application Materials

• Resume or CV of no more than two pages

• Letter of interest of no more than two pages

• The letter should identify one or two preferred research projects and explain why they are of interest

• The letter should explain why the applicant is qualified for the selected project

• The letter should describe how the applicant would approach the research

• Applicants interested in two projects may submit a letter of up to three pages and should identify their preferred project

• A work sample

• The work sample may be a published or under review research publication or another product demonstrating research skills and expertise

Fellowship Deliverables

Depending on the selected research topic, fellows may be expected to produce two to three major deliverables during the programme.

Possible outputs include:

• Topic specific literature review

• Dataset compiled from publicly available information

• Dataset based on primary research

• Survey or interview instruments

• Draft research publication

• Policy brief

• Conference submission

How to Apply

1. Review the five available research topics and identify the project or projects that best match your research interests and experience.
2. Prepare a resume or CV of no more than two pages.
3. Prepare a letter of interest explaining your preferred project, relevant qualifications and proposed research approach.
4. Prepare a research work sample such as a published paper, paper under review or another product demonstrating your research skills.
5. Review the application materials to ensure that they meet the required page limits.
6. Submit the complete application through the official PPG application system.