The Herbert Institute Research Fellowship, offered through the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University, works to promote impactful faculty and student public policy research. This fellowship provides an opportunity for UVU faculty members to engage in a collaborative research project that addresses critical public policy issues in the state of Utah.

Faculty selected for the Wildlife and Land Conservation Fellowship will hold the distinguished title of "Herbert Faculty Fellow." Students hired to assist in research and general support will be recognized as "Herbert Student Fellows." An internal advisory committee will guide and supervise the fellowship research and publication.

Project Overview

Through the 2024-2025 academic year, the Wildlife and Land Conservation Fellowship for UVU faculty will explore and evaluate the impact of Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative, a critical area of public policy in the state.

 

Application Criteria and Deadlines

Applicants interested in the Herbert Institute Research Fellowship should submit their written proposals by April 17, 2024. Proposals will be scored on the components outlined in the table below. 

 

Application Proposal Form

 

Proposal Objective	Proposal	Score
1. Introduction and Historical Overview (600 words max)	Outline how you intend to complete an overview of key concepts, history, program origin, and funding sources of Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative.	1-4
2. Biological Assessment and Evaluation (1,000 words max)	Describe how you intend to evaluate the degree to which the WRI is fulfilling its mission and objectives?	1-6
3. Policy Assessment and Evaluation (600 words max)	Describe how you will make recommendations for potential public policy adjustments to manage Utah’s land and watersheds better.  Share what criteria you plan to use to make effective recommendations.	1-6
4. Community Involvement (250 words max)	Indicate how you plan to collaborate with others, including Herbert Institute employees, student interns, and points of contact at the WRI.   How will this communication aid in the research paper’s progress?	1-2
5. Research Timeline and Publication (250 words max)	Provide a timeline that outlines the progress and completion of the paper.  Explain how you will address the audience of the paper, which is both Utah policymakers and the general public. Are there others you think should be included as part of our audience? If so, list them.  This research paper will be published as a policy white paper. If you think the research paper warrants publication in other locations such as an academic journal, industry magazine, or online platforms, please provide your suggestions and rationale for alternative publication avenues.	1-2
Total		20

Grant Details

The Herbert Institute Research Fellowship provides funding and support for the selected proposals in the following areas: 

 

• Stipends and Financial Support: Faculty members may choose to receive up to one course relief buyout of $3500 and up to one stipend of $3500. Alternatively, faculty may elect to forego either their course buyout or stipend and instead put that monetary amount toward research expenditures; in this case, $3500 will be made available by the Herbert Institute to support research expenses including intern support, materials, travel, or other costs.  
• Student Support: Herbert Student Fellows may be hired to assist faculty members in their research endeavors. If a Student Fellow is hired, they will be available up to 20 hours per week to assist in all research areas, fostering a collaborative learning environment while gaining practical experience. Existing Herbert policy interns may be assigned to conduct policy research.  
• Community Engagement: The fellowship encourages faculty to engage students and collaborate with community partners throughout the research process, ensuring that the project's findings benefit a wider audience. Faculty and students will have access to the Department of Natural Resources staff and data. This will be coordinated with the Herbert Institute Executive Director.  
• Research Publication: This primary deliverable will be a policy white paper, published and disseminated to Utah policymakers and the public, contributing valuable insights to public policy. 
• Payment: The Herbert Institute will issue half ($1,750) of the stipend or course relief upon initiation of the project. The remaining half will be withheld until successful completion of the final draft. 

 

Conclusion

The Herbert Institute Research Fellowship offers UVU faculty members a unique opportunity to engage in impactful research that addresses critical issues in Utah's public policy landscape. Through the fellowship, faculty can collaborate with students and community partners to assess the effectiveness of Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative and contribute to informed policymaking. 

We invite UVU faculty to seize this opportunity and join the Herbert Faculty Fellows in advancing the understanding and improvement of public policy in Utah.  

Thank you for considering the Herbert Institute Research Fellowship as a valuable opportunity to support UVU's commitment to research, community engagement, and the advancement of public policy.  

See below for the PDF Versions of the information included in this webpage.

 

 

 

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Justin Jones, Executive Director of the Herbert Institute.