FAQs for the Inclusive Reflexive Facilitation Fellowship Call for Applications, Cohort 2

1. What is the deadline to apply for this fellowship?
   • July 8 2025, 11:59 pm PT
2. When can applicants expect to be notified about acceptance?
   • You will be notified by email in mid-August 2025. The program begins with a virtual session in September 2025.
3. How long is the program? When does it start and when does it end?
   • The fellowship program comprises 10 sessions from September 2025 to February 2026. Virtual sessions are on Thursdays at 8 am PT/10 am CT/11 am ET unless specified – Sept 11, Sept 25, Nov 6, Nov 20, Dec 4, Jan 15, Jan 29, Feb 12. The 2-day, in-person session Oct 15-17 (attendance to in-person sessions covered by the IRFF) is required as it is a key aspect of community building in the fellowship. Thus, applicants who cannot commit to participate in the in-person meeting will not be considered.
4. Are there any attendance requirements? What happens if I miss any sessions?
   • Fellows will be required to attend the two-day, in-person session in St. Louis, Missouri from Oct 15 to Oct 17. The IRFF will cover travel and accommodations. For the virtual sessions, if sessions are missed, it is required to watch the recordings. Fellows who attend sessions synchronously fully benefit from peer-instructor and peer-peer interactions. If you cannot attend the covered in-person sessions, please do not apply.
5. How long does it take to fill out the application? What is the application like?
   • The application contains questions about your interests and experiences and how the program aligns with your career goals, and demographics. Responses are requested to be no longer than 150 words. A 2 page CV highlighting facilitation experience and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion work is also required. No references, personal statements, or letters of recommendations are required. For a list of the essay questions, please see the “Application Components” section of the program website.
6. Who is this fellowship for?
   • This fellowship is for individuals with at least 3 years experience of working in a training capacity supporting the career development for scientists, and who understand the academic science culture in the US, are interested in improving their facilitation skills, are committed to improving inclusion in science, and seek a community of mid-career professionals with these similar goals.
7. Do I need to be affiliated with an organization, or institution? Can I be an independent contractor/freelancer?
   • Applicants can work at a university, non-profit, science society, government, pharma, or biotech company. They can also be independent contractors or freelancers. Anyone within the ecosystem of science and supporting the career development of scientists may qualify.
8. Does the IRF fellow need to be a US citizen?
   • No, however, international persons interested in applying must be living and practicing their facilitation in the US and with a US-based audience. Additionally, they must have work authorization in the US. Upon completing the program, fellows will become part of a network of mostly US-based career development professionals. Program trainers are mostly based in the US and their work is informed by these perspectives.
9. Does the fellow need to be from a marginalized social identity such as a person of color, first generation, etc.?
   • No, being from a historically underrepresented group or having a marginalized identity(ies) is not a requirement to be considered for this fellowship. We are interested in people who are committed to promoting inclusion and equity in science and meet the program requirements.
10. What educational background must the IRF Fellow have to qualify?
    • Priority will be given to applicants with at least a master’s degree who understand the US based scientific ecosystem, work with STEM trainees, and have at least 3 years of facilitation experience.
11. How much experience should I have to be a strong applicant?
    • The fellowship will be most useful for someone who has at least 3 years of experience developing and providing career or professional development training for scientists. Fellows will actively workshop and rehearse an existing presentation, session or workshop they have already developed. Someone who has just completed their doctorate may be considered if they can show that they have developed and delivered trainings on professional development topics for at least 3 years. Hosting or participating in career panels would not fulfill the experience requirements.
12. Is this fellowship in person, hybrid or online?
    • This fellowship is mostly online, with 9 virtual sessions and two in-person sessions. Virtual sessions are on Thursdays at 8a PT/10a CT/ 11a ET, unless specified – Sept 11, Sept 25, Nov 6, Nov 20, Dec 4, Jan 15, Jan 29, Feb 12. The in-person sessions from October 15 to 17, in St. Louis Missouri, is required. Your roundtrip flights and accommodations will be covered.
13. What training topics are prioritized?
    • Career development training tailored for scientists and related to leadership, engaging community, building community, science communication, well being and other relevant topics.
14. What are other benefits of the fellowship?
    • 1:1 mentoring from instructors will be available to each fellow according to specific needs and goals. As a cohort-based fellowship, participants will also have access to each other as peer mentors. Mentoring may take place during the fellowship or afterwards. Fellows will receive a variety of tools and templates to help hone their facilitation skills. Fellows will cultivate a community, expand their network, and meet potential collaborators.
15. Is this a free program? Would I need to pay anything if selected? Will I receive a stipend?
    • This is a free program, made possible by grant funding. We estimate the market value of the program to be $10,000. The program will also provide each fellow $2,000 to use for any conference or tool to help your own facilitation training upon completion of the program. The program covers the travel and accommodation to the two-day in-person event (Oct 15 - Oct 17) in St. Louis, Missouri.

Still have questions? Email us @ irf@cienciapr.org