# Become an SDP Fellow ## Become an SDP Fellow For two years, work for a school system or education organization, participate in high-impact professional development with Harvard-affiliated faculty, and use your data and leadership talent to improve the lives of students. [ Apply to Become a Fellow arrow\_circle\_right ](/apply) ![A man wearing a lanyard stands next to a board covered in sticky notes.](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2024-12/joinHero01.jpg?itok=oI8Ha9__) ## Are you a future data changemaker? We are looking for researchers, analysts, and professionals with strong analytic capabilities, familiarity with research design, and evidence of leadership. **There are two pathways into the SDP Data Fellowship**: education data leaders can apply to be placed as full-time employees within one of SDP’s partner organizations or they can be nominated by their current employer to enroll as a fellow. Over two years, SDP Fellows work within an education agency, institution, or organization and participate in high-impact professional development with Harvard-affiliated staff and faculty. Fellows will have access to a cohort of colleagues and resources in either the PK12 or Higher Education networks. **Read on for testimonials from former fellows, how to apply, FAQs, and more.** ![untitled_design_26](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2024-11/untitled_design_26.png?itok=cjg-wL_8) The SDP Fellowship uniquely allowed me to pair my love for data with my passion for education. The professional learning accelerated my skills in data analytics, visualization, and strategy, and the deep connections I made with fellows, advisors, alumni, and staff are invaluable. Brittany Mauney Cohort 7 SDP Fellow Alumna ![untitled_design_25](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2024-11/untitled_design_25.png?itok=kRkTBlaR) I was drawn to the SDP Fellowship for the opportunity to learn, grow, and network with others. This opportunity can change your intellectual and professional trajectory in a very positive direction. Bo Yan Cohort 6 SDP Fellow Alumnus ![untitled_design_27](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2024-11/untitled_design_27.png?itok=H1x44bfN) On the heels of my doctoral program, starting the SDP Fellowship offered me the perfect, scaffolded transition from being a full-time student to being a full-time employee at an education agency. I learned how to leverage my data analytic skills to help education leaders view their data in new ways to support strategic decision-making, and I grew my own professional identity in the process Melanie Gonzalez Cohort 13 SDP Fellow Alumna ## Former Fellow Reflections [### Reflecting on Cohort 15 with SDP Fellow Rebecca Rangel ](/news/2025/09/reflecting-cohort-15-sdp-fellow-rebecca-rangel) September 25, 2025 The very question that has shaped my time in SDP, “why me?”, is also something all of us have asked ourselves on the paths that brought us to the fellowship. So let me try to answer it for us. Why me? After hearing many of my cohort’s leadership stories... [### Reflecting on Cohort 15 with SDP Fellow Navi Dhaliwal ](/news/2025/09/reflecting-cohort-15-sdp-fellow-navi-dhaliwal) September 25, 2025 When we began our journey as SDP Fellows, we were asked to share a surprising fact about ourselves. While my background is in economics, one fact that often surprises people about me is that I majored in Asian Studies in college. My grandfather was born... [### Seeing Off Cohort 15: Humility, Perseverance, and Partnership ](/blog/2025/09/seeing-cohort-15-humility-perseverance-and-partnership) September 08, 2025 Over the past two years of this fellowship cohort, we’ve been on a journey together: learning new systems, building new relationships, and discovering the ways data—and the humans behind it—can transform education. As a classroom teacher, I was once asked... - Previous page chevron\_left - [1](?page=0 "Current page") - [2](?page=1 "Go to page 2") - [ Next page chevron\_right ](?page=1 "Go to next page") ## How to Apply Apply to be placed at an SDP partner organization Join the Fellowship by Partner Nomination ## Apply to be placed at an SDP partner organization **1. Application:** SDP conducts a nationwide search for excellent quantitative researchers and data analysts with a passion for education and applied experience. Candidates will apply through an [online application process](https://sdp.smapply.io/prog/c18_fellow/). To be eligible, a candidate applying to become a Placed Fellow must have: - *a strong background in applied quantitative analysis (beyond descriptive analysis), familiarity with working with large datasets within education, and ability to work with limited oversight* - *a demonstrated passion for improving outcomes for all students, familiarity with US domestic education policy and current issues* - *a track record of collaboration, humility, and ability to guide change* - *a proven ability to communicate complex information and analytic findings to various audiences in verbal, written, and visual formats* - *evidence of an emerging leadership skillset and a commitment to continuous learning* - *an advanced degree (Master’s degree or higher) completed (graduated) by August 2026 (certificates are not eligible)* - *at least four years of relevant full-time work experience by August 2026 (waived for those with a PhD)* - *Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. on a full-time basis without restriction for the entire duration of the fellowship (September 2026 – August 2028). Please note that SDP and our partner agencies cannot sponsor visas, now or in the future, and are unable to take over sponsorship of an existing visa. Additionally, most SDP fellowship roles **do not** meet the criteria for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT) for international students on F-1 or J-1 visas* Candidates who are geographically flexible and willing to relocate will be given preference in the selection process. In addition, due to the inherent nature of the matching process, your willingness to relocate will increase your chances of matching with an SDP partner agency if admitted as a finalist to the candidate matching pool. SDP Placed Fellows become full-time employees of their placement organizations where they receive an annual salary between $75,000-$95,000 and appropriate benefits. Placement organizations may have additional hiring requirements, including drug testing, criminal record and background checks, vaccination policies, residency requirements, etc. Please see the FAQ section below for more information about the eligibility criteria. **2. Data Task**: Candidates whose applications demonstrate promise are invited to respond to a thought-provoking analytic problem. **3. Virtual Interviews**: Candidates whose data task submissions demonstrate promise *and* whose geographic interest align with placements becoming available will participate in two virtual interviews, which includes a discussion of their data task, with a Harvard researcher or SDP Fellow alum, and an SDP team member, as well as a behavioral interview. Reference checks occur at this stage. **4. Matching Conversation**: Successful candidates are invited to have a conversation to prepare them for placement interviews. **5. Agency Interview**: Finalists that are admitted to the candidate matching pool are matched to SDP partner agencies for interviews based on skillset and interest. Once hired by an SDP partner, fellows become a full-time employee of their placement organization and join their SDP Fellowship cohort for the two-year program. SDP partner organizations and their locations change year by year. Many fellows remain at their placement organizations after completing the fellowship. [ Start your fellowship application. arrow\_circle\_right ](https://sdp.smapply.io/prog/c18_fellow/) [ View the SDP Fellow job description. arrow\_circle\_right ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/19C8Z0oxbdfveeabr9gsbmDe40gkrAr0_FQHJIdXc4Gk/edit?tab=t.0) ## Join the Fellowship by Partner Nomination **1. Partner Application**: A candidate interested in becoming a Nominated Fellow should have their employer complete a [Partnership Application](https://sdp.smapply.io/prog/c18_partner/), proposing a key strategic data project that the candidate will complete and providing evidence as to why the nominated employee would make a strong candidate. A strong candidate for a Nominated Fellow is someone who is: - *Working with data and strategy as a core daily function of their role* - *Advanced with descriptive analyses, at minimum, and can communicate key insights from a dataset using Excel, R, STATA, or another software* - *Regularly interfacing with senior leadership and is positioned to move critical initiatives forward and share their learnings across the organization* - *Exhibiting growth potential within the organization and is excited to learn and continue their growth* - *Committed to remaining with your organization for the next two years, at minimum, given this opportunity* **2. Invitation to Apply**: Upon review of the Partnership Application, the SDP team will extend an invitation for the Nominated Fellow candidate to submit an online Nominee Application, where they will explain their readiness for the program and goals for completing the project. Candidates will be screened for fit based on their experience, current role and exposure to data and leadership, and project proposal in conjunction with their supervisor/organization. **3. Partner/Fellow Review Call:** The SDP team will conduct a virtual screening call with the candidate and supervisor to discuss their analytic experience and learn more about their background, as well as the proposed project and partnership goals in depth. **4. Acceptance:** If the organization and project are accepted, the organization and Harvard will execute an agreement and SDP will accept the nominated candidate and their organization to the Fellowship. [ LEARN ABOUT THE NOMINATION PROCESS arrow\_circle\_right ](https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/enroll-agency-fellow) ## Application Timeline & Key Dates ### Applying to be Placed at an SDP Partner Organization expand\_more The application to apply to become a Placed Fellow for Cohort 18 (Fall 2026-Summer 2028) will open on September 29, 2025. Notice about next steps will be shared in the days following an application deadline. **Selection Timeline** (note dates are subject to change): - Round I: - Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET on October 29, 2025 (**CLOSED**) - Case Assignments: Invitations sent on November 7; submissions due on November 17 at 9am ET - Final Virtual Interview Day(s): December 9-11, 2025 - Round II: - Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET on January 21, 2026 (**CLOSED**) - Case Assignments: Invitations sent on January 30; submissions due on February 9 at 9am ET - Final Virtual Interview Day(s): March 4-5, 2026 - Round III: - Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET on March 18, 2026 (**CLOSED**) - Case Assignments: Invitations sent on March 27; submissions due on April 6 at 9am ET - Final Virtual Interview Day(s): April 29-30, 2026 - Round IV: - Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET on June 21, 2026 - Case Assignments: Invitations sent by June 24; submissions due on July 6th at 9am ET - Final Virtual Interview Day(s): July 21-23, 2026 ### Joining by Partner Organization Nomination expand\_more Applications for new and returning SDP partner organizations seeking to nominate an existing staff member to become a Nominated Fellow for Cohort 18 (Fall 2026 - Summer 2028) open on August 25, 2025. We recommend applying sooner rather than later to secure a spot. Please review the deadlines below carefully: **Placed Fellows: Hiring a fellow externally from the SDP candidate pool** - Application Opens: August 25, 2025 - Deadline: March 16, 2026 (reviewed on a rolling basis) **Nominated Fellows: Nominating a fellow internally from within your organization** - Application Opens: August 25, 2025 - Deadline: May 4, 2026 (reviewed on a rolling basis) All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis leading up to these deadlines and we encourage applying in advance of the final regular deadlines. Prospective partners with uniquely assigned deadlines should adhere to those deadlines instead of those listed above. ## Frequently Asked Questions: Becoming a Placed Fellow The FAQ's below, particularly around eligibility, pertain to candidates seeking to become Placed Fellows. To learn more about becoming a fellow by nomination of your current employer, [visit the Nominating an SDP Fellow overview](https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/enroll-agency-fellow). ### Is this a job? Or a fellowship? expand\_more It’s both—but it’s not a traditional post-doctoral fellowship and it’s not a traditional full-time job. The SDP Fellowship is a unique opportunity combining full-time employment at an SDP-approved partner organization (a school district, state education agency, postsecondary system, non-profit, etc.) and two years of intensive in-person and virtual professional development, training, and mentorship to build your toolkit as a future education data leader. SDP Fellows are full-time employees of partner agencies (school districts, state agencies, non-profits, etc.) and receive salary and benefits paid directly by the partner organization. SDP Fellows receive training, professional development, and mentorship from the Strategic Data Project team at Harvard University. When partner agencies hire a fellow through SDP, they commit to offering a salary between $75,000-$95,000. For the past three cohorts, the average salary was $90,000. Please keep in mind that salary levels vary based on placement type, agency policies, geographic location, and many other factors. ### Does SDP provide visa sponsorship? Can international applicants apply? expand\_more SDP and our partner organizations are unable to provide visa sponsorship for fellows, either at present or in the future, and are unable to take over sponsorship of an existing visa. SDP fellows are hired directly by our partner agencies (not by Harvard University) and must adhere to the specific hiring requirements of those agencies. Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. on a full-time basis without restriction for the entire duration of the fellowship (September 2026 – August 2028). Additionally, most SDP fellowship roles **do not** meet the criteria for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT) for international students on F-1 or J-1 visas. ### Is the fellowship only two years? What happens after two years? expand\_more There are two primary components of the SDP fellowship – 1. full-time salaried employment at an education organization and 2. two years of training and support provided by professionals and faculty at SDP. Although the training and support component is only two years, your job may or may not be – the fellowship is associated with your role, so unless your role is a limited grant-funded role or a temporary two-year term position (which we share with you up front), you should be able to continue employment beyond the fellowship, assuming it’s a mutually agreeable decision and fit between you and your employer. About 70% of fellows remain employed at their partner organization for at least one year following the fellowship and about 40% remain for 3+ years. 55% of fellows received promotions or advanced into senior roles in their placement organizations during or after the fellowship. For any roles that are temporary or limited, candidates will learn this up front. After completing the fellowship, you join our alumni network. Our alumni are leaders in many facets of the education sector, from district and state leadership, consulting, academia, tech/IT, and much more. Our global alumni network of 500+ data strategists is robust and growing, and alumni stay engaged with our community through newsletters and slack channels, by mentoring and advising current fellows, and providing technical support to one another. We repeatedly hear from alumni that the strength and engagement of the alumni network is one of the top benefits of the fellowship. ### I don’t have 4 years of full-time work experience... can I still apply? I don’t have an advanced degree... can I still apply? expand\_more Candidates seeking to be hired by an education organization need four years of full-time work experience by the time they begin the fellowship to be eligible (by August 2026). These do not need to be consecutive years and part-time employment can be counted toward the total (e.g., a part-time job for 17-20 hours per week for two years counts as the equivalent of one year of full-time work). Relevant part-time roles held during graduate school (research assistant, analyst) are eligible, but internships and part-time roles held as an undergraduate student are not. “Full-time work” is defined as 34+ hours per week. Full-time service work, such as volunteering in the Peace Corps or serving with AmeriCorps is eligible. **The only exception to the four-year requirement is for those who have completed – or will have completed by August 2026 – a PhD (EdD degrees do not count) and may have less full-time work experience.** Candidates are required to have completed (graduated from) an advanced degree (master’s degree or higher) by the time they begin the fellowship (by August 2026). The roles that our partner organizations hire fellows into require advanced degrees for salary band or leadership reasons. Certifications, bootcamps, and other credentials – while valuable and contribute to building your skillset – do not meet the advanced degree requirement at this time. *\* Candidates seeking nomination through their employer do not need four-years of full-time work experience or an advanced degree* ### I am unable to relocate, can I do the fellowship remotely? expand\_more Not really. When you apply to become an SDP Fellow, you are applying to be placed at one of our partner agencies. The SDP Fellowship is associated with a role at a partner organization (e.g., Data Analyst at Boston Public Schools), rather than associated with you as a person. SDP Fellowship placements are located in various regions across the country, and change each year based on partner organizations and agencies. Most SDP Placed Fellows relocate to a new city for their placement. In recent cohorts, approximately 80% of incoming fellows relocated, many making cross-country moves with their partners and/or children. **Candidates who are geographically flexible and willing to relocate will be given preference in the selection process.** In addition, due to the inherent nature of the matching process, your willingness to relocate will increase your chances of matching with an SDP partner agency if admitted to the candidate matching pool. We cannot guarantee a placement in your current city. In addition, while we understand many jobseekers may be looking for remote opportunities, please be aware that remote fellowship roles with SDP are *extremely rare*. Students, teachers, and school administrators are physically present on a daily basis and building relationships with stakeholders is an integral part to the success of your project and time as a fellow. In the application, you will be asked to provide detailed information about your relocation abilities/preferences. Further details about exact geographic locations and partner sites will be provided to candidates who progress to the Final Interview stage of the application process. ### When does the fellowship start? expand\_more Employment at a partner organization typically begins in the summer months but must begin by October 1 at the latest. Start dates vary and are dependent on placement needs and candidate availability. Fellowship programming officially kicks off each fall, typically in October with a multi-day in-person orientation for fellows and their supervisors. ### Can I be a fellow while also finishing my dissertation and/or graduate coursework? expand\_more Given that the fellowship is full-time employment with additional training and travel obligations, we do not recommend folks do the fellowship concurrently with a dissertation and/or graduate coursework, unless the dissertation is in its final stages. We recommend applying so that by the time you begin the fellowship, you are completed or nearing the finish of your dissertation. If you plan to be finishing an online and/or part-time master’s degree – with no dissertation – during your time as a fellow and have significant flexibility in your course schedule, you may be eligible. Please inquire before applying to discuss your situation, as we typically do not recommend folks take on a full-time fellowship role while also participating in advanced degree coursework. ### Will there be opportunities for me to publish research in academic journals? expand\_more This fellowship is focused on working with practitioners and making transformative, actionable changes in education from within education systems itself, rather than from outside in academia. That being said, there are no structured and built-in opportunities for publishing. Generally, the data you work with for the project and in your role cannot be used for personal side projects. However, there have been a few fellows who worked on separate projects or papers with their SDP expert advisors after the fellowship. We have seen many fellows go on to do research and publish after the fellowship and some successfully return to academia. ### Anything else I should know about the hiring process? expand\_more Due to the volume of candidates we review and interview, we are not able to provide customized feedback for candidates who do not progress. Candidates are eligible to re-apply for the fellowship after a 10-month waiting period. For candidates re-applying, you will be asked to respond to the following short essay question: Since you last applied to the SDP Fellowship, please describe specifically what has changed. What quantitative, leadership, and/or communication skills have you developed? What has changed for your educational or professional experience? References listed in a candidate's application will be contacted after the Final Interview and prior to sending matching materials to a placement. Candidates who successfully complete the Final Interviews and are admitted as a finalist into the candidate matching pool will have the chance to interview with placement organizations we mutually agree are a good possible match. The placement agency will extend an offer directly to their top candidate after concluding their interviews. After accepting the offer, the fellow becomes a full-time employee of the SDP placement organization, receiving salary and benefits directly from that organization. Occasionally when a fellowship role is grant-funded, the actual hiring entity may be a third party (the funder themselves or an intermediary/nonprofit that works closely with the agency). We see this happen at least once per cohort. In these situations, we communicate directly with these hiring entities and ensure the fellow will still have full access to technology and people at the actual partner organization, and the SDP supervisor is someone from the partner organization. We also collect hiring and benefits information directly from the hiring entity. In some of these situations, there is potential to be hired directly by the partner organization at the conclusion of the fellowship. ### I'd like to be nominated by my current employer. How can I learn more? expand\_more To learn more about becoming a fellow by nomination of your current employer, [visit the Nominating an SDP Fellow overview](https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/enroll-agency-fellow). ### I still have questions! How can I learn more? expand\_more Register for an [upcoming informational webinar](/calendar/upcoming) to learn more about the fellowship experience and application process. Read more about [the impact](/impact) of fellows’ transformative work in the education sector and take a look at our [blog](/blog). Take a look at a [list of past partners in our network](https://prod-sdp.drupalsites.harvard.edu/partner-list-full) and get to know our [current fellows, alumni, and faculty advisors](/our-people). Please email with additional questions. ## Do you have questions or want to learn more? [ Email us arrow\_circle\_right ](mailto:sdprecruitment@gse.harvard.edu) [ Attend an informational webinar arrow\_circle\_right ](/upcoming-events)