The Graduate Center, CUNY invites applications for Summer Fellows who will be based at the Center for Court Innovation’s New York City offices. These $4000 fellowships will be offered by the Graduate Center to up to two (2) Ph.D. students from any program with primary research interests in the work of the Center for Court Innovation. The primary responsibilities of the award winners will be to collaborate with researchers at Center for Court Innovation on the specific projects described below.
Founded as a public/private partnership between the New York State Unified Court System and the Fund for the City of New York, the Center for Court Innovation creates operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performs original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and provides expert assistance to justice reformers around the world. For more information, visit the Center for Court Innovation’s website: www.courtinnovation.org.
Fellowship recipients will be required to be in residence for 120 hours over the summer of 2018 at the Center for Court Innovation working for scheduled times from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Monday through Friday. In addition, recipients will be required to attend an orientation session at the Graduate Center, to do a brief presentation on their work in August of 2018 at the Graduate Center, and write a blog post for the Graduate Center about their experiences before the end of the Fall 2018 semester.
To apply please send a letter of interest describing your research interests and related experience with specific reference to one of the projects described below, a c.v., a current Graduate Center transcript (Students may submit the unofficial student copy that can be printed from banner), and a letter of support from your primary advisor.
Instructions for submitting your application:
1) Please combine the above materials (except for the letter of recommendation) into a SINGLE file (saved as either as a pdf document or a word document).
Use the following format when naming your document: Last Name, First Name, Program
2) Email your file directly to fellowshipapps@gc.cuny.edu
Please use your graduate center email address when sending the file.
Instructions for Faculty Recommenders
1) Prepare your reference letter as a regular word or pdf document.
2) Please use the following format when naming your document:
Student Last Name, First Name
3) Email your file directly to fellowshipapps@gc.cuny.edu
Application Deadline: February, 5th, 2018 by 3:00 PM
CUNY Graduate Center / Center for Court Innovation Student Fellowships
Available projects, Summer 2018
I. Evidence-Based Practice in Criminal Justice Reform
The research department is seeking a graduate student to assist with several academic articles about the current state of evidence-based practice in criminal justice reform. Topics may include the challenges of implementation, risk assessment, and the implications of behavioral economics. The ideal candidate will be a strong writer with some familiarity with relevant subject matter and/or the willingness to get up to speed quickly. Strong project management skills a must. Ability to work independently and collaboratively is a must. Good sense of humor is a strong plus.
II. The Gun Epidemic Reconsidered: Creating a Foundation to Reduce Firearm Violence Among Urban Youth
The research department is seeking a graduate student to assist with a mixed-method study on firearm violence among New York City youth. The research will employ respondent-driven sampling and will include at least 375 subjects who are ages 16-24; live in one of five purposively selected neighborhoods spanning three boroughs; and are at a high risk for future gun violence, defined by recent gun carrying, shooting victimization, arrest for a violent crime, or membership in a gang or crew.
Youth recruited into the study will participate in up to 90-minute semi-structured interviews designed to capture patterns across respondents using quantitative scales, as well as nuanced and detailed narratives of gun-involvement through qualitative methods. It is anticipated that the research will generate new knowledge regarding the illegal acquisition of firearms by youth and provide an in-depth understanding of the motivations for gun carrying and use—including the influence of social contexts, networks, and norms—in this critical population.
The ideal candidate will be familiar with qualitative coding. Strong writing skills are a plus as there will be opportunities to assist with research products, including an accessible summary of the study methodology and major findings; one to three journal articles; and a white paper for the benefit of policymakers and practitioners. There will also be opportunities for fieldwork.
