Lurie Institute for Disability Policy Student Fellowships Application Instructions 2026

Applications for the Disability Policy Student Fellowship are now open.

The Lurie Institute Student Fellowship in Disability Policy provides an opportunity for Brandeis University undergraduate and Heller MPP graduate students with a strong interest in disability policy to develop research skills and expand their knowledge of disability policy. The goal of the fellowship program is to identify future researchers and offer them direct research training with established investigators currently working at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy. 

Apply now

For Application FAQs, click here.

Application/Selection Process 

Applications are now open and are due by April 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. 

Applications are accepted from current freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors on the 5-year track, and Heller MPP students. The submission of application materials will include a completed online application with a one-page statement of interest, resume, and your Brandeis transcript. A letter of recommendation from a Brandeis professor should be sent directly to aabushanab@brandeis.edu from the faculty member. Applications are due by April 10, 2026 at 11:59pm. Candidates from the total pool of applicants may be asked to interview with the Lurie Institute team. Selected students will be then chosen as research fellows for the upcoming year; notification of acceptance will occur by mid-May of 2026. 

Fellowship Opportunities/Outcomes 

Fellows will be compensated $20 per hour and will be expected to work approximately 6–8 hours per week during the school year (September 2026–early May 2027), with Lurie Institute for Disability Policy senior researchers. Fellows will partner with a Lurie mentor to conduct ongoing research in disability policy at the Lurie Institute and will be expected to attend workshops to complement their research. Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in local disability community events and may be able to attend a disability-related research conference and co-author a peer reviewed publication. Toward the conclusion of the fellowship, students will be expected to create a dissemination product related to the topic they have been studying, and to present their research to the Heller School for Social Policy and Brandeis community. 

Your application should be proofread carefully, assembled according to the instructions provided, and submitted online by 11:59pm of the announced deadline date. Late applications will not be considered. 

Application Checklist 

1. Applicant information submitted into the online form. 
2. Statement of Interest, no more than 700 words in length, describing the following: 
   1. What interests you about disability policy? 
   2. What do you hope to accomplish in this fellowship? 
   3. How does this fellowship align with your professional goals? 
   4. What are significant barriers that you've faced and how have you overcome them? 
3. Resume, including honors, special programs in which you are enrolled, extracurricular activities, etc. 
4. Your transcript — one PDF copy. An unofficial transcript is acceptable. 
5. Letter of Recommendation from a Brandeis professor. Your reference should send their letter directly to aabushanab@brandeis.edu. 

Reminder: Your statement of interest, resume, and transcript may be submitted through the online form. Letters of Recommendation should be sent directly from your professor to aabushanab@brandeis.edu. 

If you have any questions, please contact: Amy AbuShanab Associate Director of Engagement and Administration, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy aabushanab@brandeis.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions