Research Communications Fellows

Every year, the Office of the Vice President for Research will choose 10-12 faculty members from the University of Virginia faculty as Research Communications Fellows. Through the program, Research Communications Fellows will learn how to present their research clearly and concisely through presentations, a website, articles and on-air interviews, and learn about the available resources for faculty at UVA.

The period of the fellowship will be one year (August 1-July 30). During that year, the fellows can use some or all of these services:

  • Science communication training through a program like Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science
  • Assistance with their slides and presentations to better communicate their research
  • Mentorship by the Research Development Team, assistance with their CV, and given personalized help to find funding opportunities
  • High quality portraits taken by UVA photographers for articles/applications
  • Assistance creating a functional and attractive website (WordPress or otherwise)
  • Social media and media training
  • Assistance to write an article for The Conversation and/or press release for media
  • Learn the paths to promote research stories in the news by working with their department, research deans, school communicators, and UVA Communications
  • Be celebrated in a UVA Today article and recognized at the Research Achievement Awards
  • Fellows will receive individual attention by the VPR: one-on-one meetings with research development team, as well as meetings with communications members from VPR and their school to help learn how to promote their research
Interview with researchers

Time Commitment: Time will vary, but should be roughly 2-6 hours a month, depending on their needs and interest

Required Events:

Reception for incoming fellows: September 1, 2022 at 4:30PM

1/2 day Training with Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science: October 4, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Certification: To receive certification and to successfully complete the program, Research Communications Fellows must complete three out of five of the following tasks

  • Participate in in-person communication and media training
  • Finish a slide deck for a research presentation
  • Amplify their social media and web presence
  • Engage with department or school communicator to pitch a story idea
  • Get interviewed on-camera by media outlet or another approved event

Eligibility: Fellows must be full-time faculty at the University of Virginia.

Nominate: Faculty may nominate themselves or others by emailing Meredith Cole (Meredith-vpr@virginia.edu) a name and email address, or they can reach out to the Associate Research Dean of their school. The cohort will chosen by a VPR committee will begin in fall 2022.

Deadline: May 15, 2022.

Questions? Contact Meredith Cole at Meredith-vpr@virginia.edu