Overview
The Junior Professional Researcher (JPR) Program is a unique opportunity for recent college graduates from backgrounds underrepresented in research to launch a career in the social sciences at a world renowned institution. Recent college graduates are selected for a paid, two-year immersion in social science research to gain the experience and skills necessary to support their next step in their careers.
JPRs are matched with a faculty mentor, and work for the duration of the program as a full-time research associate for that mentor on a variety of research projects. In addition to mentorship the program provides tailored training, professional development, and educational opportunities.
Why apply for the JPR Program?
The JPR Program offers the opportunity to gain practical work experience in a unique, multidisciplinary environment, while also being embedded in a cohort of peers and receiving the support of mentors as they take the next step in their career or academic journey. This program is for college graduates hoping to gain more experience in preparation for a career in social science research or future education.
Research: The core of the JPR Program is immersion in social science research in an interdisciplinary environment. Participants are matched to faculty mentors and work directly with them throughout their tenure, gaining experience across the research life cycle from data collection to publication.
Training: In addition to the seminars and events that the centers at ISR host each week, the JPR Program provides regular workshops and educational opportunities tailored to the cohort and career stage. All JPRs are provided a course stipend to be spent on one of ISR’s summer programs or engage in other professional development opportunities at U-M.
Community: The cohort of JPRs provides a built-in community of peers and support outside of the daily research work and seminars, making the transition from college to workplace smoother. Beyond your own group of JPRs, there are a myriad of other opportunities for connecting with early career researchers at ISR in one of our many training programs.
Application Process
The JPR program accepts applications from January 1st through February 1st each year. Applicants are required to submit a resume, cover letter, and personal statement as part of their application materials. For more information about these documents, please refer to the FAQ section below.
Applications for the 2026 cohort are now closed. Applicants will be notified of final decisions by early to mid-April. Please visit this page in the fall for updates regarding the next application cycle.
Eligibility
The JPR Program is specifically designed for recent college graduates. For the purposes of eligibility, we define recent as having graduated in the last two class years and not having a Master’s degree in any subject.
Junior Professional Researcher Program FAQ
Describe your interest in the program and why you’re specifically interested in working at ISR; your interest in and experience with social science research; the experiences you’ve had that led to your interest in research; how this position fits into your longer-term goals; any other relevant information. A cover letter should only be one page.
Include all relevant education, research experience, work experience, volunteer work, and skills. Please try to keep your resume to about one page in length. The University of Michigan Career Center provides generalized guidance.
The personal statement is the portion of the JPR application that gives the search committee a sense of you as a person, and you should describe how your background and experiences have influenced your research interests or interest in this program. It is an opportunity to share experiences that provide insights on how your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate your ability to be both persistent and resilient, especially when navigating challenging circumstances. This statement should provide insight into your potential to contribute to the University of Michigan’s values of inclusion and respect, where scholars from diverse backgrounds and perspectives can learn and work together.
Transcripts are not required, but feel free to describe classes that were influential in your interest in social science research in your cover letter.
We do not require or accept letters of recommendation in the application review process.
If your file is too big, try using Adobe’s free PDF Compressor to shrink its size.
No. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship. This includes applicants currently using or planning to use OPT or other temporary work authorization that may require future sponsorship.
The JPR position is a full-time, research associate staff position (40 hours per week). The primary responsibilities of the JPR are to the project they work on, and there will be regularly scheduled professional development workshops for both active cohorts.
No. This is an in-person position. After the first 60 days, a hybrid schedule may be available; however, employees are required to work on-site at least three days per week.
All JPRs in a given cohort will start on the same date. For the 2026 cohort, the start date is July 13, 2026.
After the first round interview, candidates will fill out a survey to rank their interest in the available projects. While we cannot provide a list of the projects participating in the program ahead of time, we encourage all applicants to explore ISR’s projects to learn about the work going on at the institute. Prior JPR cohorts have worked on projects investigating economic inequality, aging, and social epidemiology.
Candidates are expected to find their own housing in the Ann Arbor area. While the program does not provide housing assistance, we encourage candidates to review the following resources: U-M Housing and Ann Arbor Housing Guide.
Please contact the JPR Program Manager, Abby Bossio, with any questions.Applications for the 2026 cohort are now closed. Applicants will be notified of final decisions by early to mid-April. Please visit this page in the fall for updates regarding the next application cycle.