Call for Applicants: Faculty Fellowship

The Civic Research Data Lab (CRDL) invites faculty at Syracuse University to apply for a Faculty Fellowship in memory of Patricia Hassett. This fellowship provides support to carry out a two-year empirical research project of the faculty member’s own design focusing on a federal program or federal enforcement policy or practice.

The Faculty Fellowships in memory of Patricia Hassett were established to honor the life and legacy of Patricia Hassett (1941–2009), the first female tenured full professor at Syracuse University’s College of Law. Patricia was a pioneer who championed the role of data to improve the functioning of government bodies, including the work of judges and the courts.

Faculty applying should be committed to the goal of government transparency, the pursuit of concrete engagement with real-world problems, and the support of an informed and engaged citizenry. The aim of the project could be to develop a publishable paper or be designed to support some broader civic goal.

Fellowships support the University’s new academic strategic plan:

This University “sits on traditional Onondaga Nation territory, the principal meeting place of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which is often described as the oldest participatory democracy on earth. Syracuse was a famous stop on the Underground Railroad and is adjacent to Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the U.S. women’s suffrage movement. Syracuse has been and continues to be a place that welcomes immigrants and refugees. Syracuse University has incorporated this rich history into its vision, and this academic strategic plan demonstrates an abiding commitment to community and engaged citizenship.”

Two faculty fellows will be selected in the current round and will work with researchers at the Civic Research Data Lab (CRDL), an interdisciplinary research team which focuses on federal agency roles in this country’s civic life.

Faculty Fellows will receive:

An appointment as a CRDL Fellow in memory of Patricia Hassett
A $10,000 stipend to cover their work during the summer ($5,000 per summer)
Research funds of up to $5,000
Access to the extensive data collections on federal agencies of the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC)
Office space and staff support including help on the efficient processing, analysis and display of government records of all types as well as effective strategies in incorporating FOIA as an integral tool in their research.

Either tenure-track faculty starting out in their career, or already tenured faculty are welcome to apply. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and can start with the Fall 2024 semester. Faculty applications should be emailed to crdl@syr.edu and include the following:

A letter of interest that includes the faculty member’s overall research agenda at this stage of the faculty member’s career, how the facilities and support of the CRDL will be important in their proposed research project, and their desired start date of Fall 2024 or Spring 2025.
A proposal of no more than 5 pages that describes the overall goals of the project, the intended impact of the research, the plan for carrying out the research including specific questions, data now available or which will be gathered, research methodology(ies) which will be used, and a projected two- year timeline of what should be accomplished during this period.
A current CV
Letter of support from the faculty member’s chair/director, emailed directly to crdl@syr.edu.

Potential applicants are welcome to contact the CRDL (315-443-3563) if they wish to discuss their research ideas before submitting their application.