The Fall Legislative Research Fellows Program

Support Policy Initiatives and Recommendation Development

The Fall Legislative Research Fellows Program is a brand new intiative, jointly managed by the Institute for Public Administration at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University. This program provides a link between the research capacities of the partner universities and the research needs of the Delaware House of Representatives’ Majority Caucus. 

The Fall Fellows will support the House Majority Caucus’s policy team by conducting relevant policy analysis, research, and contributing to the development of recommendations on a wide range of policy initiatives.

Any undergraduate and graduate student (GPA 3.4+) studying at a Delaware institution is eligible to apply. Academic credit may be available through university internship programs where applicable. 

The Fall Legislative Research Fellows Program is co-managed by Lisa Moreland Allred and Dr. Jason Bourke. 

program Details

Through this PAID fellowship program, Fellows:

• Make important contacts with caucus members and legislative senior staff, working directly under the Policy Director and policy analysts to expand their professional networks.
• Conduct relevant policy analysis and research during the fall legislative period, assisting with the development of recommendations, comparative state policy analyses, policy memoranda, and long-term policy development projects.
• Work approximately 20 hours per week across three days, with at least one day per week in either the Dover or Wilmington office to facilitate direct collaboration with the policy team.
• Apply their academic background to legislative practice, with the opportunity to earn academic credit through university internship programs where applicable.

Eligibility

Any undergraduate or graduate student studying at a Delaware institution is eligible to apply. 

The ideal candidate for the Fall Fellows program is a skilled communicator with a deep interest in public policy, state government, and the legislative process. They should possess strong research and writing abilities, including the capacity to synthesize complex information, analyze data for trends, and present findings concisely to support the caucus's policy initiatives and the development of recommendations.

Beyond technical proficiency, the successful candidate must be eager to learn the intricacies of state laws, regulations, and House Rules while demonstrating the ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously. Finally, they must be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a policy team, consistently exercising discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive legislative information

Legislative Research Fellows will be competitively selected each summer for the next legislative session. All candidates will participate in an interview and complete a timed writing exercise. During this assessment, candidates will review provided materials and draft a sample memorandum addressed to a Delaware state legislator.