Are you an experienced communications, journalism, health policy, science communication, community engagement, or digital audience development professional interested in using evidence to reach wider public audiences?

AcademyHealth is seeking a Civic Science Fellow, Evidence & Creator Partnerships to lead an innovative 18-month initiative focused on connecting health policy research and evidence with social media creators, community communicators, and other trusted messengers.

The fellowship, hosted by AcademyHealth, will focus on understanding how evidence can reach new and diverse audiences through creator partnerships, social media platforms, community networks, and civic dialogue.

The successful candidate will lead an initiative titled “Bridging Science and Social Media for Better Health Policy.” The project will seek to develop an Evidence Creator Pipeline connecting health policy research with social media creators and community communicators who influence civic conversations and reach millions of people.

The fellowship is scheduled to run from September 2026 through March 2028 and offers a stipend of $85,000 per year. The position also includes paid leave, although health insurance and other benefits are not provided as part of the fellowship position.

About the AcademyHealth Civic Science Fellowship

AcademyHealth describes itself as the professional home and leading national organisation for health services researchers, policymakers, healthcare practitioners, and other stakeholders.

Its work focuses on improving understanding of methods and data used in health services research, strengthening professional skills, supporting the use of evidence in policy and practice, and advocating for evidence-based improvements in health and healthcare.

The organisation says it has also become a leading nonpartisan national voice on scientific integrity, federal data access, and the role of evidence in public debate. It emphasises an inclusive and equitable working environment and seeks to transform the field toward higher-impact and more equitable research.

The Civic Science Fellow will become part of this environment while leading a major project at the intersection of:

• Health policy
• Evidence and research
• Science communication
• Social media
• Creator partnerships
• Community engagement
• Audience development
• Civic dialogue
• Digital communications
• Public-interest communication

What Is the Evidence & Creator Partnerships Fellowship?

The Civic Science Fellow will lead an 18-month initiative designed to explore how evidence-based health policy information can reach audiences beyond traditional academic, scientific, and health policy institutions.

The initiative recognises that social media creators, community communicators, journalists, and other trusted messengers can play an important role in shaping how people encounter and interpret information.

Rather than relying solely on traditional methods of communicating research, the project will investigate how organisations can develop relationships with creators and community communicators who already have established audiences and trusted relationships.

The Fellow will therefore combine:

1. Landscape research
2. Relationship building
3. Audience and network analysis
4. Creator recruitment
5. Partnership development
6. Content experimentation
7. Communications strategy
8. Knowledge sharing
9. Toolkit development
10. Sustainability planning

The ultimate goal is to understand who can effectively carry evidence into new audiences, what makes creator partnerships successful, and how organisations can build sustainable networks of trusted evidence creators.

About the “Bridging Science and Social Media for Better Health Policy” Initiative

The central project is titled “Bridging Science and Social Media for Better Health Policy.”

The initiative will build an Evidence Creator Pipeline that connects health policy research with social media creators, community communicators, and other trusted messengers.

The project will pay particular attention to audiences that may not traditionally engage with scientific, academic, or health policy organisations.

This includes an interest in:

• Cross-partisan audiences
• Nontraditional audiences
• Diverse communities
• Social media audiences
• Community networks
• Trusted messengers
• Alternative routes through which evidence can reach the public

The Fellow will not simply conduct research and produce a report. They will also apply the findings through live AcademyHealth communications and engagement initiatives.

This means the position combines research with practical experimentation.

The Fellow will use AcademyHealth’s organisational priorities as opportunities to test different approaches, learn from the results, and refine the Evidence Creator model.

Key Responsibilities of the Civic Science Fellow

The successful Fellow will have significant responsibility for designing and implementing the project.

1. Conduct a Landscape Assessment

The Fellow will lead a landscape assessment of social media creators and community communicators working at the intersection of:

• Health
• Policy
• Evidence

The assessment will include a survey and rapid network analysis.

The purpose will be to understand factors such as:

• What drives trust among audiences
• How different audiences interact with information
• Audience dynamics
• Preferred partnership models
• The characteristics of potential evidence creators
• How evidence moves through different networks

2. Identify and Recruit Evidence Creators

The Fellow will develop and execute a strategy for identifying and recruiting a cohort of 5 to 10 emerging evidence creators.

The cohort is expected to represent diverse:

• Backgrounds
• Platforms
• Communities
• Audiences
• Experiences

The goal is to identify creators who can potentially help communicate evidence to audiences that may not normally engage with traditional health policy or scientific institutions.

3. Develop Creator Partnership Models

The Fellow will pilot different partnership approaches with the selected creators.

These partnerships may involve:

• Compensation
• Skill-building
• Content co-creation
• A combination of these approaches

Importantly, the partnership models will be co-designed with the creators themselves.

This means the Fellow will need strong relationship-building skills and the ability to understand the needs, interests, audiences, and working styles of potential partners.

4. Develop and Produce Pilot Content

The Fellow will oversee the development and production of pilot content pieces.

The content will be:

• Co-created with members of the creator cohort.
• Designed for public audiences.
• Distributed across at least three platforms.

This responsibility makes the position particularly relevant to professionals with experience in social media, digital communications, content strategy, creator partnerships, audience development, or public-interest communications.

5. Develop a Publicly Available Toolkit

Another major responsibility will be creating protocols and a publicly available toolkit.

The toolkit will be designed so that other scientific societies can use it to develop similar evidence creator networks.

This means the Fellow will need to document what works, develop practical processes, and translate lessons from the project into resources that other organisations can apply.

6. Present Findings

The Fellow will present project findings at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.

They will also contribute to a final report intended for broad dissemination.

The ability to communicate findings clearly to professional and public audiences will therefore be important.

7. Develop a Sustainability Plan

The Fellow will develop a plan for sustaining the Evidence Creator Network beyond the fellowship period.

This responsibility involves thinking beyond the initial 18-month project and considering how the network, partnerships, and lessons developed during the fellowship can continue to have an impact.

8. Establish and Manage an Advisory Group

The Fellow will also establish and manage a project advisory group.

The advisory group will draw on:

• AcademyHealth staff
• AcademyHealth members
• External experts
• Professionals with expertise in network analysis
• Experts in policy influence
• Health communications specialists

The Fellow will therefore need to be comfortable coordinating multiple stakeholders and managing relationships across different professional areas.

Who Is AcademyHealth Looking For?

AcademyHealth is looking for an emerging leader who is comfortable working with complex and ambiguous challenges.

The ideal candidate should be able to take an idea from the concept stage through to implementation.

The organisation is seeking someone who can:

• Work independently.
• Build relationships with people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise.
• Translate complex evidence into compelling ideas.
• Communicate effectively with public audiences.
• Understand how people encounter and interpret information.
• Explore new approaches to connecting evidence with civic dialogue.
• Develop innovative approaches to creator and community partnerships.
• Manage a major project with multiple stakeholders.
• Adapt as the initiative develops.

AcademyHealth also states that applicants do not need to meet every listed expectation in order to apply. The organisation welcomes applications from a broad range of candidates and values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

Desired Qualifications

Applicants should carefully consider the qualifications outlined by AcademyHealth before applying.

Educational Qualification

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.

A Master’s degree is preferred, although it is not listed as mandatory.

Professional Experience

Candidates should have approximately 3 to 5 years of substantive professional experience in one or more relevant fields.

These include:

• Health communications
• Science communications
• Health policy
• Journalism
• Community engagement
• Related fields

The position is therefore aimed at candidates with meaningful professional experience rather than applicants who are completely new to communications or public engagement.

Project Management Experience

Applicants should have demonstrated experience managing or leading a complex project involving multiple stakeholders and moving parts.

This is particularly important because the Fellow will be responsible for an 18-month initiative involving creators, researchers, policymakers, community organisations, AcademyHealth staff, members, and external experts.

Creator, Influencer or Partnership Strategy Experience

AcademyHealth is seeking candidates with experience developing or executing:

• Influencer strategies
• Creator strategies
• Audience-development strategies
• Partnership strategies

Experience with public-interest, scientific, health, or policy organisations is particularly relevant.

Social and Digital Platform Knowledge

Candidates should understand social and digital platforms as ecosystems for:

• Audience development
• Relationship building
• Civic engagement
• Community engagement
• Content strategy
• Audience growth
• Creator partnerships

This means the opportunity may be particularly attractive to professionals with backgrounds in digital communications, social media strategy, content creation, journalism, communications, or audience development.

For more information, VISIT HERE.

Relationship-Building Skills

Applicants should be able to identify potential partners and establish credible, authentic, and productive relationships across different sectors and communities.

These relationships may involve:

• Researchers
• Policymakers
• Community organisations
• Content creators
• Professional networks
• External experts

Strong interpersonal and networking skills will therefore be essential.

Ability to Experiment and Adapt

The successful candidate should have experience experimenting with new communication or engagement approaches.

AcademyHealth is particularly interested in candidates who can use:

• Audience insights
• Partner feedback
• Evidence
• Project results

to refine and improve strategies.

Communication Skills

Highly developed written and oral communication skills are required.

The Fellow must be able to take complex or technical subject matter and transform it into:

• Compelling narratives
• Public-facing content
• Engagement strategies
• Accessible communications

This is an important component of the role because the project is specifically concerned with helping evidence reach non-specialist audiences.

Understanding Communities and Trust

Applicants should demonstrate curiosity about how different communities:

• Form opinions
• Establish trust
• Encounter information
• Engage with information
• Respond to evidence

The ability to understand differences between communities and audiences will be important to the project’s focus on diverse and nontraditional audiences.

APPLY HERE.

Health Policy Knowledge

Knowledge of health policy issues is preferred.

It is therefore an advantage for candidates who have previous exposure to health policy, health services research, healthcare communications, or related subjects.

Self-Motivation and Project Management

The Fellow should be self-motivated and have strong project management abilities.

They will be expected to manage an evolving 18-month initiative with limited supervision.

This makes independence, organisation, prioritisation, adaptability, and initiative important qualities for the position.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to inclusive working and learning environments.

AcademyHealth emphasises the importance of diversity within its organisational culture.

AcademyHealth Allows Flexibility in Candidate Backgrounds

One important aspect of the opportunity is that AcademyHealth says it remains flexible regarding the types and depth of training and experience that potential Fellows may bring.

The organisation indicates that it expects to work with the selected Fellow to refine the project scope according to the Fellow’s background and help ensure the project’s success.

This means candidates should not necessarily eliminate themselves from consideration simply because their professional experience does not match every single item in the desired qualifications list.

Fellowship Duration

The Civic Science Fellowship is an 18-month fellowship position.

The scheduled fellowship period is:

September 2026 – March 2028

This is a substantial professional fellowship rather than a short-term internship or brief mentorship programme.

The Fellow will be responsible for leading a major initiative while also participating in the broader Civic Science Fellows cohort.

Fellowship Time Commitment

The Fellow will spend approximately:

• 75% of their time, equivalent to approximately 30 hours per week, working with AcademyHealth as the host organisation.
• 25% of their time, approximately 10 hours per week, participating in shared learning and networking activities as part of the Fellows cohort.

The cohort activities include weekly virtual sessions and an in-person convening.

This structure means the fellowship combines direct project work with professional development, peer learning, and networking.

Weekly Fellows Labs

From September 2026 through September 2027, the Fellow will participate in weekly virtual Fellows Labs.

These sessions take place on:

Tuesdays, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

The sessions are designed to support:

• Shared learning
• Peer exchange
• Professional development
• Collaboration across the Fellows cohort

This component provides Fellows with opportunities to learn alongside other professionals participating in the Civic Science Fellows programme.

Fellowship Stipend

The Civic Science Fellows programme provides a stipend of:

$85,000 per year

The position also includes paid leave.

However, applicants should note that health insurance and other benefits are not provided as part of this fellowship position.

The stipend is described as being set by the Civic Science Fellows programme.

Work Location and Remote Work

AcademyHealth operates a hybrid work environment, with options for remote and office work.

Importantly, candidates do not need to be physically located in the Washington, DC area.

The organisation specifically encourages candidates who live outside the Washington, DC area to apply.

This makes the opportunity potentially accessible to professionals who are not based in Washington, DC.

However, applicants should carefully consider the programme’s required travel commitments before applying.

Travel Requirements

Some travel is required as part of the fellowship.

The source identifies required participation in:

• The Civic Science Fellows and Partners Convening in February 2027.
• The AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting in Boston in 2027.

Travel costs associated with required fellowship activities are covered by the fellowship grant.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to participate in required in-person fellowship activities when necessary.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

AcademyHealth states that it is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The organisation says applicants and employees will receive equal opportunity regardless of factors including:

• Sex
• Race
• Colour
• Religion
• National origin
• Age
• Marital status
• Personal appearance
• Sexual orientation
• Family responsibilities
• Disability
• Matriculation
• Political affiliation
• Source of income
• Place of business or residence

The organisation also states that diversity is an integral part of its organisational culture and that it seeks to maintain staff diversity at all levels.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is intended for qualified professionals whose background aligns with the fellowship’s focus on evidence, health communications, science communications, public engagement, social media, creator partnerships, audience development, journalism, or related fields.

The source does not specify a particular nationality, race, country, or continent as an eligibility requirement.

Instead, AcademyHealth describes itself as an Equal Opportunity Employer and says it welcomes a broad range of candidates.

Candidates should therefore focus on demonstrating the required education, professional experience, communication abilities, project management skills, partnership experience, and interest in evidence-based civic engagement.

Is This a Fellowship?

Yes.

This opportunity is explicitly described by AcademyHealth as an 18-month fellowship position.

The fellowship runs from September 2026 to March 2028, provides an annual stipend of $85,000, includes paid leave, and combines project work with shared learning and networking activities.

It should therefore be categorised as a Fellowship, rather than a job, internship, scholarship, grant, competition, conference, or award.

Application Requirements

Qualified applicants are asked to submit:

1. A resume
2. A cover letter

Applications should be submitted to AcademyHealth Human Resources by email at:

jobs@academyhealth.org

The organisation states that its hiring process will be conducted virtually, with interviews taking place by phone or video.

Applicants can also visit the AcademyHealth website for additional information.

Is There an Application Deadline?

The provided opportunity announcement does not state a specific application deadline.

Therefore, prospective applicants should not assume a deadline that is not included in the announcement.

Because the fellowship is scheduled to begin in September 2026, interested candidates should review the official AcademyHealth opportunity information and contact the organisation if they require confirmation of the current application status or closing date.

Why This Fellowship Could Be Valuable

The Civic Science Fellow position offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of several rapidly evolving areas.

These include:

• Science communication
• Health policy
• Digital media
• Social media
• Creator partnerships
• Public engagement
• Community communications
• Audience development
• Evidence-based communication
• Civic dialogue
• Network building

The Fellow will not only conduct research but will also develop practical partnerships, test communication models, produce content, create a publicly available toolkit, present findings, and develop a sustainability strategy.

This makes the fellowship particularly relevant for professionals interested in developing innovative approaches to communicating evidence to wider audiences.

Professional Development and Networking

Another significant component of the fellowship is participation in the wider Civic Science Fellows network.

The programme brings together professionals including:

• Scientists
• Scholars
• Community leaders
• Journalists
• Educators
• Media producers
• Public-interest organisations
• Funders

The broader Civic Science Fellows programme is designed to encourage collaboration between science, diverse communities, and civil society.

Fellows and host organisations work on new pilots, partnerships, knowledge, models, and approaches to civic science.

The programme therefore provides not only an opportunity to lead an individual project but also to become part of a wider network of people working to strengthen connections between science, technology, innovation, communities, and civil society.

Key Details at a Glance

Opportunity: Civic Science Fellow, Evidence & Creator Partnerships

Host organisation: AcademyHealth

Fellowship programme: Civic Science Fellows

Project: “Bridging Science and Social Media for Better Health Policy”

Duration: 18 months

Fellowship period: September 2026 – March 2028

Stipend: $85,000 per year

Paid leave: Yes

Health insurance: Not provided

Work arrangement: Hybrid, with remote and office options

Washington, DC location required: No

Travel: Required for certain fellowship activities

Required travel: Civic Science Fellows and Partners Convening in February 2027 and AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting in Boston in 2027

Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred

Professional experience: 3–5 years of substantive relevant experience

Application materials: Resume and cover letter

Application method: Email Human Resources at jobs@academyhealth.org

Application deadline: Not specified in the provided announcement

Recommended Applicant Profile

A strong candidate for this fellowship would ideally be someone who combines professional communications experience with an interest in evidence, public engagement, digital platforms, and relationship building.

For example, a candidate may have experience in:

• Health communications
• Science communications
• Journalism
• Digital communications
• Social media
• Community engagement
• Public policy communications
• Audience development
• Creator partnerships
• Influencer partnerships
• Content strategy
• Public-interest communications

However, applicants should not assume that they need to come from one specific professional background. AcademyHealth states that it remains flexible regarding the types and depth of training and experience candidates may bring.

Tips for Preparing an Application

Although the announcement does not provide a specific application essay or additional questionnaire, applicants can strengthen their resume and cover letter by clearly demonstrating how their experience relates to the fellowship.

A strong application should make it easy for the selection team to identify evidence of:

Project Leadership

Highlight substantial projects you have managed or led, especially projects involving multiple stakeholders, deadlines, platforms, or deliverables.

Digital and Social Media Experience

If you have worked with social media platforms, content strategy, digital campaigns, audience development, creator partnerships, or online communities, make those experiences clear.

Communications Skills

Show examples of how you have taken complicated information and communicated it in a way that ordinary audiences can understand.

Partnership Development

Highlight examples of building relationships with creators, organisations, researchers, policymakers, communities, media professionals, or other stakeholders.

Innovation

Demonstrate situations where you tested a new communication or engagement approach, evaluated the results, and changed your strategy based on feedback or evidence.

Audience Understanding

Explain any experience you have in understanding audiences, analysing engagement, building communities, or developing content for specific groups.

Relevant Health or Policy Knowledge

If you have experience in health policy, healthcare, health research, science communication, public policy, or a related area, make sure it is clearly visible in your application.

Final Thoughts

The Civic Science Fellow, Evidence & Creator Partnerships opportunity at AcademyHealth is an 18-month professional fellowship focused on an increasingly important challenge: finding effective ways to connect research and evidence with wider public audiences.

Through the “Bridging Science and Social Media for Better Health Policy” initiative, the successful Fellow will research creator and community networks, recruit 5–10 emerging evidence creators, develop partnership models, oversee content creation across multiple platforms, build a publicly available toolkit, present findings, and develop a sustainability plan for the Evidence Creator Network.

The fellowship offers a $85,000 annual stipend, paid leave, remote and hybrid working options, professional development through the Civic Science Fellows cohort, and opportunities to participate in significant research and communications activities.

It is particularly suited to professionals with approximately 3–5 years of experience in areas such as health communications, science communications, journalism, health policy, community engagement, digital communications, creator partnerships, audience development, or related fields.

Importantly, the announcement does not identify a specific nationality, race, country, or continent as a requirement for eligibility. AcademyHealth states that it is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from a broad range of candidates.

The provided announcement does not include an application deadline. Interested applicants should therefore review the official AcademyHealth opportunity information and submit the required resume and cover letter to jobs@academyhealth.org while confirming the current application status.

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