Thank you for your interest in applying to the Strategic Data Project (SDP) Fellowship through the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. This application is for fellowship candidates applying to be placed as full-time employees at SDP partner organizations.

A comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions is located at the bottom of this webpage.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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) 

SDP and our partner organizations are unable to provide visa sponsorship for fellows, either at present or in the future. 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 an 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.

Timeline and Deadlines:

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 (dates are subject to change):

• Round I:
  • Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET on October 29, 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • Case Assignments: Invitations sent on March 27; submissions due on April 6 at 9am ET
  • Final Virtual Interview Day(s): April 29-30, 2026

The above dates and deadlines are subject to change. Please refer back to this page for the most up-to-date information.

For additional questions, please email: sdprecruitment@gse.harvard.edu