Policy Fellow

• Produce public-facing articles, summaries, op-eds, blog posts, and explanatory materials that make academic findings accessible to non-specialist audiences.
• Identify the real-world implications, policy relevance, and the human impact of academic findings and develop framing strategies that maintain rigor while increasing accessibility and resonance.
• Collaborate with IDDP and GW staff to amplify research through digital channels, media outreach, and public events.
• Monitor policy developments related to online harms, platform governance, AI and democracy, election integrity, and digital civic engagement.

• Translate IDDP research into accessible policy briefs, memos, fact sheets and talking points tailored to federal and state policymakers and public stakeholders.
• Identify timely policy windows and proactively connect relevant research to ongoing legislative and regulatory debates and news events.
• Develop clear recommendations grounded in empirical findings, with attention to constitutional, legal, and equity considerations.
• Support faculty in preparing for congressional briefings, agency consultations, state legislative hearings, and public forums.

• Build and maintain relationships with congressional offices, federal agencies, state legislators, attorneys general, and relevant policy organizations.
• Convene policy roundtables, briefings, and workshops to facilitate dialogue between researchers and decision-makers.
• Serve as a liaison between IDDP faculty and external stakeholders seeking evidence-based guidance.

• Work closely with IDDP faculty and affiliated scholars to understand research findings and identify policy implications.
• Contribute to strategic planning related to the Institute’s public engagement and policy impact goals.
• Support grant proposals and reporting by articulating policy relevance and impact pathways.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with relevant staff at the current funding organization(s), the Knight Foundation, as well as potential and future funders.
• Coordinate with IDDP leadership and relevant principal researchers to help facilitate collaborations with peer academic centers at other universities.
• In coordination with IDDP leadership and relevant principal researchers, help facilitate collaborations with other GW projects, initiatives, centers, institutes, and programs.

• Organize symposia, conferences, panels, roundtables, and other gatherings of scholars, practitioners, non-profit leaders, philanthropic leaders, private sector leaders, and public officials.
• Make the research of principal researchers and affiliated scholars accessible, impactful, and useful for relevant organizations and other stakeholders.
• Ambassador for IDDP
• Represent IDDP as an inspiring and credible ambassador with diverse audiences, including democracy leaders, tech policy leaders, policymakers, community partners, philanthropic leaders, media, funders, and other actors whose partnership will be integral in transitioning IDDP’s research and thought leadership into actionable policy change.

• Advanced degree (MA, M.P.P., M.P.A., or related field) in public policy, political science, law, communications, data science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in online harms, democratic governance, technology, policy, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of the social impact of modern digital technology.
• Experience working with federal and/or state policymakers, legislative staff, regulatory agencies, or advocacy organizations or writing about issues relevant to those stakeholders.
• Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex research into clear, persuasive language.
• Strong understanding of the U.S. policy landscape and the intersection of technology, media, and democracy
• Experience planning and coordinating events and initiatives, including logistics, promotion, and outreach.
• Experience building and maintaining good working relationships with diverse constituencies, stakeholders, and community partners, standing oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and autonomously in an interdisciplinary academic environment.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with operational follow-through.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally from Washington, DC to represent IDDP as needed at conferences and stakeholder meetings.

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?