Center for Human Potential and Public Policy

Training & Outreach

	The Center is dedicated to preparing future leaders for careers engaging in policy-relevant research and teaching on achievement, health, and well-being across the lifespan. Toward this end, the Center supports three major training initiatives: 1) a Post-doctoral Training Program; 2) a Distinguished Scholars in Residence Program; and 3) Master’s- and PhD-Level Research and Training Opportunities. The Center is also committed to preparing and inspiring high school students to pursue careers in policy-relevant social science research.

Post-doctoral Training Program

The post-doctoral training program provides trainees with an intellectual home to engage in policy-relevant research on achievement, health, and well-being across the lifespan. Post-doctoral fellows engage in independent research under the supervision and mentorship of one or more of the Center’s faculty affiliates. The post-doctoral training program is particularly well-suited to PhD graduates from a single discipline (i.e., psychology, sociology, economics) who seek additional training in multi-disciplinary, policy-relevant coursework and research. Trainees take part in the year-long, weekly Workshop/Working Group on Human Potential that sponsors formal talks by senior scholars as well as more intimate meetings in which PhD students and post-docs affiliated with the Center analyze and discuss works in progress. In addition, trainees are provided with the opportunity to take part in week-long Post-doctoral Exchange Program with the National Poverty Center at the University of Michigan. Finally, post-doctoral trainees are given the opportunity to forge a partnership with a relevant Chicago policy professional and develop a connection, on an individual level, between their own research and public-policymaking through our Making Policy Connections Partnership Program.

Current Post-Doctoral Fellows

• Amy Claessens
• Lindsey Leininger
• Carolina Milesi
• Rebecca Ryan

Former Post-Doctoral Fellows

• Danielle Crosby
• Ruby Mendenhall

 

Distinguished Scholars in Residence Program

The Distinguished Scholars in Residence Program invites social science scholars who are working on cutting-edge research on achievement, health, or well-being across the lifespan to visit the Center, interact with its faculty affiliates, and become acquainted with the staff and resources of the Center. This program is enriching not only for the scholars in residence, who benefits from the intellectual resources of the Center, but also for the students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty affiliated with the Center who have the opportunity to interact with and learn from scholars from other institutions.

Distinguished Scholars in Residence 2007-2008

• Isaac McFarlin, Jr., visiting the week of February 10th, 2008
• Marcia Carlson, visiting the week of May 18th, 2008
• Timothy Smeeding, visiting the week of May 18th, 2008

 

Master’s- and PhD-Level Research and Training Opportunities

Master’s- and PhD-level students are strongly encouraged to attend and take part in the Center’s weekly Workshop/Working Group on Human Potential. Master’s and PhD-level research on human potential is also encouraged through funding opportunities to support travel to relevant conferences and reward pioneering research through our X-Prize for Innovative Research on Human Potential. PhD students are also invited to take part in our Making Policy Connections Partnership Program.