Pre-Doctoral
Training Program in Interdisciplinary Methods for Field-based
Research in Education
The Program
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The IES Pre-Doctoral Training Program is designed to support and enhance the
Ph.D. training of students committed to careers in applied, field-based education
research. In addition to the graduate training offered through their home departments
within the University, fellows will receive training and field based experience
in multi-disciplinary research methods, including randomized controlled trials
of educational interventions and innovations. Program-supported field-based
projects are flexible and can include students, teachers, and/or administrators in
K-12 schools as well as research that involves studies of preschool age
youth and postsecondary school students. Settings for the research
may include both inner city schools serving high-poverty neighborhoods and schools
in working-to-middle class communities. |
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Benefits |
Fellows receive a $30,000 apprenticeship stipend and up to $10,500 to support
tuition and academic fees annually for up to four years through the completion
of the dissertation, or through the termination of the program support from the U.S. Department of Education, whichever comes first*. This financial support may come
from a combination of IES Pre-Doctoral Training Grant monies, school support,
and/or funded research projects. |
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Research Assitantships |
Fellows will participate in research assistantships supervised by faculty
members or other senior professionals who are partnering with the training program
for 20 hours a week, year round which includes teaching assistanships if the student has that opporunity. During the period a student is supported
through this fellowship program, he or she may not do other work for the University.
Both the stipend and tuition
support may be provided through a blend of fellowship monies and funded research
projects. There is great flexibility for students to work on multiple and different projects to develop their expertise. |
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Seminars |
Fellows will be regular participants in the Lecture Series organized by the Training Program. In this capacity, they will have voice in
selecting the invitees, planning and organizing
special colloquia, and scheduling summer workshops and technical training programs.
In addition, they will have access to program resources such as computer hardware
and software and financial support for participation in relevant professional conferences. |
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Mentoring and Professional Development |
Trainees are expected to achieve proficiency in seven areas: (1) education
foundations; (2) disciplinary foundation (demography, economics, political
science, psychology, or sociology); (3) field research design and methods; (4)
information sources, survey design, and data collection methods; (5) research
synthesis methods; (6) protection of human subjects; and (7) project development
and management. Students may achieve these proficiencies through standard course
offerings, summer workshops in advanced methods, weekly seminars, weekly
visits by field experts, and participation in collaborative field-based
research projects directed by members of the faculty leadership team in collaboration
with program partners. |
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Coursework |
Fellows should be committed to becoming a scholar of and/or active contributor
to field-based researcher in education. All fellows are expected
to pursue academic coursework in a discipline — such as, economics, sociology,
political science, psychology, and demography — and in education. Students may
have matriculated in the Ph.D. within the Graduate School of Education or in
another academic department within the University. All fellows will be expected to
complete a minimum of two foundation courses in an academic discipline.
It is expected that the foundations requirements will consist of a minimum of
two courses in education and two foundation courses in the chosen academic discipline. The courses should build on and complement each other, and serve as a relevant foundation for research in education/education policy. The education and disciplinary foundation course requirements will be determined
by the relevant degree-granting department within the University, in consultation
with the IES Pre-Doctoral Training Program Leadership Team (Laura Perna, Laura Desimone, Henry May, & Lilian Wu). |
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Coursework supported under the fellowship that is in fulfillment
of Ph.D. requirements will be approved by the degree-granting program within
the University; other coursework supported under the fellowship will be approved
by the IES PreDoctoral Training Program faculty. |
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Expectations |
Fellows are expected to participate in the ongoing workshops and seminars organized
by the program. In addition, all fellows are expected to contribute to the
design and conduct of collaborative field-based projects. However, the level
of engagement in such projects may vary depending on the extent to which fellows
are committed to funded research projects as a part of their research apprenticeship. |
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If you have any questions, please contact:
Laura Perna - Program Director
Lilian Wu - Program Associate Director
or ies@gse.upenn.edu |
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