AcademyHealth Civic Science Fellow: $85,000 Stipend and Remote/Hybrid Opportunity
AcademyHealth is inviting applications for an exciting Civic Science Fellow, Evidence & Creator Partnerships opportunity for professionals interested in health communications, science communication, health policy, journalism, community engagement and digital audience development.
The 18-month fellowship will run from September 2026 through March 2028 and will focus on connecting health policy research with social media creators, community communicators and other trusted messengers. The selected Fellow will lead an innovative initiative designed to help evidence-based health information reach wider and more diverse audiences.
The fellowship provides a stipend of $85,000 per year, paid leave and flexible remote or hybrid working arrangements.
About the AcademyHealth Civic Science Fellowship
AcademyHealth is a leading national organization supporting health services researchers, policymakers, healthcare practitioners and other stakeholders. Its work focuses on improving the understanding and use of evidence to strengthen health policy and healthcare.
Through the Civic Science Fellows program, AcademyHealth is working to build a network of leaders who can create stronger connections between science, communities and civil society.
The successful Fellow will lead an 18-month project titled “Bridging Science and Social Media for Better Health Policy.” The initiative will explore how health policy evidence can be communicated through social media creators, community organizations and other trusted voices.
What the Civic Science Fellow Will Do
The Fellow will have significant responsibility for developing and testing an Evidence Creator Pipeline. This initiative will connect health policy research with creators and communicators who have established relationships with different communities.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Conducting a landscape assessment of social media creators and community communicators working around health, policy and evidence.
- Carrying out surveys and rapid network analysis to understand audience dynamics and trust.
- Identifying and recruiting a cohort of approximately 5–10 emerging evidence creators.
- Developing partnership strategies involving creators from diverse backgrounds, platforms and communities.
- Piloting partnership models that may include compensation, skill-building and collaborative content creation.
- Overseeing the development of content across at least three social media platforms.
- Creating protocols and a publicly available toolkit for organizations seeking to develop similar evidence creator networks.
- Presenting findings at AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting.
- Contributing to a final report for broad dissemination.
- Developing a sustainability plan for the Evidence Creator Network after the fellowship ends.
The Fellow will also establish and manage a project advisory group involving AcademyHealth staff, members and external experts in areas such as network analysis, policy influence and health communications.
Who Can Apply?
AcademyHealth is seeking an emerging leader who is comfortable handling complex and sometimes ambiguous challenges. The ideal candidate will be curious about how people encounter, interpret and share information and will be interested in finding innovative ways to connect evidence with civic dialogue.
Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, while a Master’s degree is preferred. Candidates should also have approximately 3–5 years of substantive professional experience in areas such as health communications, science communications, health policy, journalism or community engagement.
Relevant experience in creator partnerships, influencer strategies, audience development, content strategy or community engagement will be valuable.
Candidates should also demonstrate experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and the ability to develop credible relationships across sectors and communities.
Important Skills and Experience
Strong communication skills are essential for this fellowship. The selected candidate must be able to translate complex or technical information into compelling narratives and content for non-specialist audiences.
Other desirable capabilities include:
- Strong project management skills.
- Experience with social and digital platforms.
- Audience-development experience.
- Partnership-building skills.
- Ability to work independently.
- Experience testing new communication approaches.
- Ability to use audience insights and feedback to improve strategies.
- Understanding of health policy issues.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- Curiosity about how communities build trust and form opinions.
- Commitment to diversity and inclusive working environments.
AcademyHealth emphasizes that applicants do not need to meet every listed qualification. The organization remains flexible regarding the types and depth of experience candidates bring.
Fellowship Structure, Stipend and Benefits
The Civic Science Fellowship runs for 18 months, from September 2026 to March 2028.
Approximately 75% of the Fellow’s time, or around 30 hours per week, will be spent working with AcademyHealth. The remaining 25%, approximately 10 hours per week, will involve shared learning and networking activities with the wider Fellows cohort.
From September 2026 through September 2027, Fellows will participate in weekly virtual Fellows Labs on Tuesdays from 12:00–2:00 p.m. ET.
The fellowship provides an annual stipend of $85,000 and paid leave. However, health insurance and other employee benefits are not included.
AcademyHealth operates a hybrid work environment with options for remote and office-based work. Candidates outside Washington, DC, are encouraged to apply.
Some travel is required, including participation in the February 2027 Civic Science Fellows and Partners Convening and AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting in Boston in 2027. Required fellowship travel expenses are covered by the fellowship grant.
How to Apply for the AcademyHealth Fellowship
Qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to AcademyHealth Human Resources via email at jobs@academyhealth.org. The recruitment process will be conducted virtually, with interviews taking place by phone or video.
This fellowship offers an opportunity for an emerging professional to combine health policy, communications, social media, research and civic engagement while building valuable professional networks.
Candidates interested in helping make health evidence more accessible and influential should prepare their application carefully and demonstrate their experience in communications, partnerships, audience engagement and project leadership.
Fellowship: Civic Science Fellow, Evidence & Creator Partnerships
Organization: AcademyHealth
Duration: September 2026–March 2028
Stipend: $85,000 per year
Work arrangement: Remote/hybrid
Experience: 3–5 years preferred
Application: Resume and cover letter
Email: jobs@academyhealth.org
Take the Next Step
The AcademyHealth Civic Science Fellow opportunity is particularly suited to professionals who want to explore new approaches to communicating evidence and strengthening public engagement with health policy.
With an $85,000 annual stipend, paid leave, remote/hybrid flexibility and opportunities to work alongside researchers, communicators, creators and community leaders, the fellowship provides a strong platform for an emerging leader to develop an innovative project with national relevance.
Qualified applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to AcademyHealth Human Resources and take the next step toward contributing to a new model for connecting evidence, creators and communities.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
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