MIF is Seeking a Civic Science Fellow

About Media Impact Funders

Media Impact Funders (MIF) is a network of grantmakers strengthening media in the public interest through convenings, research and a highly collaborative community. We work across silos to bring together funders from a broad range of issue areas, program sizes, and levels of experience, to expand the resources, reach, and resilience of our information ecosystem. MIF helps funders learn from one another, discover aligned opportunities, and invest in media that informs, engages and inspires. As we collectively confront a rapidly changing media landscape being reshaped by artificial intelligence, political division, and the collapse of traditional business models, it is more important than ever to harness our combined strength—acting with clarity, purpose, and resolve.

Fellowship Overview

MIF is seeking a Civic Science Fellow with expertise in communications, the behavioral sciences, and information technology and AI to help grantmakers better understand how audiences now receive, process and trust information—particularly information relating to science and health. The fellow will also translate such understanding into stronger philanthropic strategy.

This is an 18-month, full-time remote work fellowship, beginning in September 2026, hosted at MIF and supported by the Rita Allen Foundation and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Throughout the Fellowship term, the Fellow will actively support and draw upon MIF’s newly launched Science and Health Media Funders Network. This network comprises grantmakers with different funding approaches to public service media work who have come together to support stronger science and health outcomes.The Fellow will have the opportunity to build relationships with member funders and synthesize field knowledge that directly supports their grantmaking decisions.

Consistent with the Civic Science Fellows program model, the Fellow will co-design a project with MIF, dedicating approximately 75% of their time (~30 hours/week) to that project and 25% (~10 hours/week) to shared cohort learning.

Areas of research and work might include a study of the effective practice of science and health funders; a review of science and health media as relates to trust and changing platforms; a study of effective philanthropy networks; synthesizing recommendations for improved funding practice; or other urgent projects in the field the fellow proposes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Execute the work plan co-designed by the Fellow and MIF, which may include writing articles, writing and preparing marketing materials, preparing presentations for webinars, updating websites, presenting in person and virtually, creating and maintaining Google Drive folders and Airtable bases, working with media partners, tracking impact indicators, and writing final reports
• Participate in Civic Science Fellows cohort activities, including weekly virtual Fellows Labs (Tuesdays, 12-2 p.m. ET) and periodic plenaries and convenings, beginning in September 2026
• Help develop and manage projects and contribute new knowledge and innovative ideas to the civic science field as it relates to media philanthropy, including contributing data on science and health media philanthropy to MIF’s biennial State of Media Philanthropy report
• Lead webinars and learning sessions that share emerging findings with MIF members and the broader network, including, in the spring of 2027, an in-person gathering connected to the Fellow’s research, which they will largely shape and lead.
• Be a vocal advocate for civic science media collaboration, writing publicly about examples, conducting interviews to write articles, and speaking on panels at conferences about the topic, among other interventions
• Perform other duties as assigned. Management retains the right to add or change job duties at any time

Qualifications

Consistent with the Civic Science Fellows program’s guiding criteria, this Fellowship is open to candidates from any number of professional, academic or lived-experience backgrounds relevant to civic science. Applicants should show:

• Demonstrated experience in behavioral science, information technology and AI, or civic science, whether from academic research, applied research, journalism, media or another relevant field
• Experience conducting or synthesizing research and translating findings into practical, usable guidance
• Ability to communicate that guidance clearly to funders and other non-specialist audiences through formats such as webinars, in-person events and written materials
• Ability to work independently to scope and deliver a substantial project over a defined term, in a fast-changing information and technology landscape
• Ability to work effectively across communities, disciplines and professional backgrounds, including with people and perspectives traditionally underrepresented in science and media funding
• Existing interest in or familiarity with how people process and trust science and health information across media formats, including journalism, documentary and narrative change
• Experience working with or alongside philanthropic funders, networks or member organizations
• Experience or demonstrable interest in investigating emergent, anticipatory issues in science and technology with social, ethical, and/or economic import.
• Willingness to integrate research and practice, e.g., as regards the science of engagement, collaboration, and related areas of exploration

Fellowship Details

• Term: 18 months, full-time, beginning September 2026
• Compensation: $86,000 annual salary, plus benefits
• Reports to: Abby Rapoport, Executive Director, Media Impact Funders
• Location/Schedule: Flexible remote work schedule
• Travel: Some travel expected for research, MIF convenings (including the Media Impact Forum), external convenings, and Civic Science Fellows cohort activities, including an in-person Civic Science Fellows and Partners Convening (tentatively slated for February 2027)
• Program participation: Weekly virtual Fellows Labs on Tuesdays, 12-2 p.m. ET, plus periodic plenaries, for the duration of the cohort learning period

How to Apply

Please send the following to Executive Director Abby Rapoport at jobs@mediafunders.org. We will begin reviewing applications July 13:

• Resume
• Cover letter describing your relevant research experience
• Two writing samples (a research summary, article, report or similar) that demonstrate your ability to communicate complex material to a non-specialist audience

Please place “Civic Science Fellow” in the subject line of your email. No phone calls, please.