The University of Denver is recruiting 10 postdoctoral fellows for the Human Services Applied Research and Policy (HARP) Fellowship Program. Fellows will work in federal offices in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). Fellows will contribute to applied human services research, evaluation, and policy while receiving University-based supervision, mentoring, and professional development. Fellows will devote approximately 80% of their time to host-office research, evaluation, and policy activities and 20% to their own research and professional development.
The program is part of the federally funded National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families, based at DU’s Institute for Relationship Science.
Research That Informs Policy
Fellows will work with federal partners to answer questions that matter to human services programs and the people they serve. Assignments will reflect host-office priorities and each fellow’s expertise. Areas of interest include employment and earnings, economic mobility, public assistance and TANF, child well-being, child care, health services, and the effectiveness of human services programs.
Depending on the placement, fellows may analyze administrative or survey data; design, support, or assist federal staff with overseeing federally-sponsored evaluations; synthesize research; assess program implementation and costs; or prepare briefs and other products for policy audiences, among other duties. Fellows will learn how research questions and projects develop within the federal government and how to communicate findings clearly, including uncertainty and limitations, to policymakers and program administrators.
Mentorship & Professional Development
Each fellow will have a designated DU supervisor and a federal point of contact from the fellow’s placement office. An Individual Fellowship Plan will establish research assignments, expected products, professional development goals, and milestones. Fellows will participate in regular, individual supervision and be part of a cohort of scholars working across federal offices. The 20% of time reserved for independent research and professional development will support fellows’ own research interests and future career opportunities. Fellows will also receive a professional development allowance to support activities such as training and conference travel.
Specific professional development activities may include:
Substantive and methodological mentoring from DU researchers and the Center’s national network
Training in research design, measurement, administrative data, causal inference, implementation science, and qualitative and mixed methods
Workshops on policy writing, research communication, data protection, and career development
Peer learning, works-in-progress discussions, and professional development and conference opportunities
Current Openings
Applications to open early-mid November 2026
We are recruiting for 10 fellowship positions across the following federal host offices. The number of positions in each office and specific assignments will be determined through the placement process.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), HHS
Office of Family Assistance (OFA), ACF, HHS, including placements with the Research and Evaluation team and the TANF Data team
Office of Community Services (OCS), ACF, HHS
Learn more about the host offices: ASPE (https://aspe.hhs.gov/); OFA (https://acf.gov/ofa); and OCS (https://acf.gov/ocs). These websites describe each office’s mission and work. Specific fellowship assignments will be shared through the placement process.
Fellows will help inform leadership efforts to improve human services policy, work closely with teams of highly skilled analysts, and develop subject matter expertise in one or more HSP policy and program areas. They will work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues in HSP, other ASPE offices, and HHS.
Fellows may:
Plan, coordinate, and conduct research and analysis to answer leadership questions and inform decisions on program improvement, regulations, and policy development
Review and analyze policy, budget, programmatic, regulatory, legislative, evaluation, and other research for relevance to leadership priorities
Maintain current knowledge of policy and program trends, research, and promising and evidence-based practices in human services, including their intersections with other programs and leadership priorities
Track new ideas, policies, strategies, and partnerships that could improve policy and practice for low-income individuals and families; child welfare-involved children, youth, and families; and others facing barriers to economic mobility and self-sufficiency
Develop memoranda, briefs, talking points, issue papers, and other materials that identify issues, summarize the evidence base, and make defensible recommendations to leadership
Build and maintain collaborative relationships across HSP divisions, ASPE offices, federal agencies, and other partners to support program development and effectiveness
Coordinate intra- and interagency programmatic and policy initiatives, including participating in and staffing committees and working groups in HSP's issue areas
Candidate Qualifications
Candidates must have:
Strong research, analytic, and communication skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with competing demands
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Some knowledge of human services policy issues, and interest in learning about federal policy development processes
Fellows will help inform OFA efforts to strengthen TANF data collection, quality, and use, and will work closely with Federal staff and technical assistance partners. They will develop subject matter expertise in TANF data and reporting and work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues in OFA, ACF, and HHS.
Fellows may:
Conduct data analysis of TANF data to identify trends, data quality issues, and implications for program administration and policy
Review and interpret program, policy, and data reporting materials for their relevance to OFA leadership priorities
Support technical assistance to state, territory, and Tribal TANF agencies on data reporting, data quality, statistical methodologies, and the use of administrative data
Design technical assistance materials through collaborative feedback processes and coordinating the communication and dissemination of outputs
Deliver personalized, ongoing support to grantees and staff through technical assistance that meets people where they are, with clear communication that builds knowledge and capacity
Support implementation of Fiscal Responsibility Act work outcome measures and related reporting requirements
Maintain current knowledge of TANF policy, data reporting requirements, and promising practices in the use of data in human services programs
Build and maintain collaborative relationships across OFA divisions, ACF offices, ASPE, other federal agencies, and grantee partners to support program effectiveness
Identify data gaps and opportunities to improve reporting, data systems, and analytic products, and develop evidence-informed recommendations
Perform other duties, including related administrative tasks, as assigned
Candidate Qualifications
Candidates must have:
Strong research, analytic, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, verbally and in writing, with technical and non-technical audiences
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with competing demands
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Some knowledge of human services policy issues and data, and interest in learning about federal program administration and policy development processes
Preferred skills/experience: SQL, Python, and/or R; Databricks or cloud-based engineering platforms; knowledge of TANF or other human services programs.
Fellows will help inform OFA efforts to strengthen TANF data collection, quality, and use, and will work closely with Federal staff and technical assistance partners. They will develop subject matter expertise in TANF data and reporting and work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues in OFA, ACF, and HHS.
Fellows may:
Conduct data analysis of TANF data to identify trends, data quality issues, and implications for program administration and policy
Review and interpret program, policy, and data reporting materials for their relevance to OFA leadership priorities
Support technical assistance to state, territory, and Tribal TANF agencies on data reporting, data quality, statistical methodologies, and the use of administrative data
Design technical assistance materials through collaborative feedback processes and coordinating the communication and dissemination of outputs
Deliver personalized, ongoing support to grantees and staff through technical assistance that meets people where they are, with clear communication that builds knowledge and capacity
Support implementation of Fiscal Responsibility Act work outcome measures and related reporting requirements
Maintain current knowledge of TANF policy, data reporting requirements, and promising practices in the use of data in human services programs
Build and maintain collaborative relationships across OFA divisions, ACF offices, ASPE, other federal agencies, and grantee partners to support program effectiveness
Identify data gaps and opportunities to improve reporting, data systems, and analytic products, and develop evidence-informed recommendations
Perform other duties, including related administrative tasks, as assigned
Candidate Qualifications
Candidates must have:
Strong research, analytic, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, verbally and in writing, with technical and non-technical audiences
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with competing demands
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Some knowledge of human services policy issues and data, and interest in learning about federal program administration and policy development processes
Preferred skills/experience: SQL, Python, and/or R; Databricks or cloud-based engineering platforms; knowledge of TANF or other human services programs.
Fellows will contribute to OCS efforts to strengthen the evidence base for programs serving individuals, families, and communities with low incomes. They will participate in research, evaluation, policy, and programmatic activities and work with federal staff, grant recipients, researchers, and other partners.
Fellows may:
Conduct research and policy analysis, using quantitative and/or qualitative methods, on poverty reduction, economic security and mobility, family and community well-being, service delivery, implementation, and outcomes
Support program evaluations and evidence-building activities, including developing research questions, theories of change, logic models, evaluation designs, measures, data collection instruments, and analytic plans
Analyze and interpret administrative, survey, interview, focus group, performance, and other data to identify trends, implementation challenges, promising practices, and participant outcomes
Engage with grant recipients and program partners to conduct interviews, gather and interpret data, understand implementation experiences, and strengthen data collection and evaluation practices
Provide technical assistance to strengthen performance measurement, evaluation capacity, data quality, and the use of evidence for continuous improvement
Develop reports, briefs, presentations, memoranda, and other products that translate evidence into actionable information for technical and nontechnical audiences
Collaborate with federal agencies, state and local governments, Tribal organizations, researchers, grant recipients, and public and private organizations on issues affecting populations and communities with low incomes
Identify emerging research questions and evidence gaps, and translate complex program and policy questions into feasible research, evaluation, and analytic activities
Develop evidence-informed recommendations to strengthen program implementation, evaluation, performance measurement, technical assistance, and administrative practices
Candidate Qualifications
Candidates must have:
Strong research, methodological, and analytic skills
Strong problem-solving skills
Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, verbally and in writing, with technical and non-technical audiences and present to high-level management.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, particularly under tight timelines and shifting priorities
Some knowledge of human services programs and research, and interest in learning about program evaluation in the federal context
Ideal applicants are nearing completion of a Ph.D. or have completed their Ph.D. within the past two years at the time applications are due. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline such as economics, psychology, sociology, public policy, public administration, social work, education, and public health. Applicants should have a strong research record and an interest in contributing to evidence-based human services policymaking and practice. The Ph.D. must be completed before the fellowship begins.
Applicants should demonstrate strong research methods and communication skills, the ability to collaborate with government partners and work well in teams, and expertise relevant to one or more placement areas. Selected fellows must complete required federal credentialing and background checks before their fellowship can begin and meet University appointment requirements.
Though you'll be a University of Denver employee, you'll work side by side with federal staff, embedded in your host office and contributing to its daily work. Work arrangements will follow host-office requirements, but residence in or relocation to the Washington, DC, area is not required. Fellows will be expected to travel to Washington, DC and Denver a few times a year for in-person events and professional development activities. Appointments are generally for one to two years, with the second year contingent based on program and host-office needs, performance, and available funding.
Benefits: See DU employee benefits (https://www.du.edu/human-resources/benefits) for current plans and eligibility. Fellows will also receive a professional development allowance to support activities such as training and conference travel.
Applications will open mid-early November 2026. Application materials will include:
Curriculum vitae
Statement of research and policy interests, including relevant experience and preferred placement areas (up to 3 pages single spaced)
(3) References, including one non-academic reference, as specified in the position announcement.
Applications will be reviewed for research qualifications, methodological skills, policy interests, communication skills, and fit with the program and with available assignments. Finalists will be considered in consultation with federal host offices, and placements will reflect office needs, applicant expertise, and mutual interest.
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