The Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research (MAPOR) Executive Council enthusiastically invites graduate and undergraduate students to apply to the MAPOR Student Fellowship Program. This program is a wonderful opportunity for students to pursue research ideas and publish their work. If accepted, you will be invited to present your research at this year’s MAPOR conference in Chicago, which is scheduled for November 13-14, 2026.

MAPOR is committed to supporting student professional development, learning, and network-building. The Student Fellowship Program is an important way to advance this goal by helping the next generation of scholars in public opinion research grow their knowledge and skills, expand their networks, and engage and collaborate with senior researchers.

Students who are accepted to the Student Fellowship Program will work with and be mentored by a more senior MAPOR member on a shared topic of interest, submit an abstract to MAPOR’s annual conference, and present their work. 

Who should apply?  

  • Any graduate or undergraduate student with a research interest related to public opinion research, survey methodology, survey statistics, qualitative research, or applications of survey data.

Why should I apply? 

  • Pursue your research interest in public opinion research and have an opportunity to present it at the annual MAPOR conference!
  • Work 1-on-1 with a more senior MAPOR member having a shared research interest and who is a leader in the field of public opinion research.

Eligibility

  • This fellowship is open to graduate and undergraduate students with a strong interest in survey research or qualitative research. Applicants make a commitment to attending and presenting at this year’s MAPOR conference.
  • Preferences will be given to first-time MAPOR presenters, students who are in their first or second year of graduate education, or senior year in undergraduate education. 

Application Process and Requirements

To be considered, please submit your application and letter of recommendation by April 20th.

Applications will be reviewed and decided on a rolling basis. The sooner students apply, the sooner the mentor-matching process can begin!

 Your proposal should be no more than 1,000 words. It should include:

  • Brief statement of importance
  • Brief literature review
  • Description of the methods and data source(s)/collection
  • Description of the dataset(s) if quantitative research
  • Status of data collection

The applicant should identify a faculty mentor/advisor and ask them to write a letter of recommendation. 

Additional requirements for undergraduate applicants:

  • Data collection must be completed at time of application
  • Faculty mentor/advisor must commit to overseeing the research project

Send your proposal by email to paul@edchoice.org by Monday, April 20th. Include the subject line “MAPOR Student Fellowship Program”.

Contact

If you have any questions about the MAPOR Student Fellowship application process, please feel free to contact Paul DiPerna, email: paul@edchoice.org