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 to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive pathways to careers in research.
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 coursework at U-M or nearby college after six months of employment.
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
Applications for JPR open annually on the first of January. Details on the application process will be shared on this website at that time. Interested applicants can expect to submit a resume, cover letter, and a personal statement.
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.
No, sponsorship of a visa is not available for this position. We are only considering candidates who are eligible to work in the United States.
JPRs are able to take courses in ISR’s summer programs, but are not able to audit or enroll in classes at the University of Michigan at this time.
The JPR position is a full-time, research associate staff position. The primary responsibilities of the JPR are to the project they work on, and there will be weekly program workshops for the entire cohort.
All JPRs in a given cohort will start on the same date, some time at the beginning of July.
Transcripts are not required, but feel free to describe classes that were influential in your interest in social science research in your cover letter.
If your file is too big, try using Adobe’s free PDF Compressor to shrink its size.
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.
Please contact the JPR Program Manager, Paige Brann, with any questions.