Sign-up to Participate

Benefits: Build cross-disciplinary skills in public sector services and engineering, AI, and data governance – without extending time to degree.

Eligibility: Duke graduate and professional students from any department or school. 

Program requirements: Students complete the Core Compendium Course (EGR790/PUBPOL890/ENVIRON790), plus two elective courses drawn from two of the three ISEPS domain areas, and must also participate in at least one external engagement or leadership experience, such as internships, community outreach, or research collaboration with public sector partners. Students must also participate in seminars and workshops during their time in the program; these opportunities are optional and do not count toward required coursework. Learn more about the requirements on the Program Page. 

Please complete the form to express your intent to participate in the ISEPS certificate program. We ask for general profile information and four short response (maximum of 300 words) statements. You also have the option to upload a CV/resume. Note: You will also need to apply for the certificate through The Graduate School certificate application form.

• Please describe your research or professional interests.
• Please describe how your participation in the ISEPS certificate program will help you achieve your professional goals.
• Please describe how your research or professional experiences, skill sets, and/or perspectives could contribute to the interdisciplinary community of the ISEPS program.
• Have you already taken courses at Duke that are applicable to the certificate? If so, please list them here, and briefly describe how they connect to the certificate.

Apply to be an ISEPS Fellow (PhD Funding & Graduate Certificate)

Benefits: ISEPS Fellows receive 12 months of full fellowship funding, including stipend and tuition, during their first year in the program—supported by the IGEC initiative. Fellows join a vibrant interdisciplinary cohort and gain structured research, professional development, and engagement opportunities with public sector partners at local, state, and federal levels. 

Eligibility: At the time of application in the spring, eligible PhD students should be in their first year of doctoral study or admitted but not yet matriculated students. (Second year students may also be eligible to apply in special circumstances and should communicate with program leadership before applying.) 

Program Requirements: Fellows complete all requirements of the Graduate Certificate—Core Compendium Course and two domain electives—and must also participate in at least one external engagement or leadership experience, such as internships, community outreach, or research collaboration with public sector partners. Fellows are also expected to participate in the workshop and seminar series throughout their doctoral studies. Full details are available on the Program page.

Application Process: To apply for the fellowship, you need to sign-up to participate in the ISEPS program (linked above), and then complete the ISEPS fellowship application form, where you will be asked to provide your resume, Duke academic transcript, and a reference letter from your faculty research advisor. The reference letter should describe your ability to work in an interdisciplinary team, briefly explain the relevance of the ISEPS program to your graduate research, and confirm your availability to complete the program requirements as an ISEPS PhD Scholar. You can order an unofficial transcript via DukeHub.

“Applicants for ISEPS Fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year should complete the Sign-up to Participate form and then submit a Fellows application. The submission deadline is May 4, 2026, 11:59 pm ET.”

Partner with ISEPS

Partner with ISEPS to help train the next generation of public sector innovators. We invite external organizations to bring real-world challenges, datasets, and project ideas for students to tackle through course projects or collaborative research. To explore a partnership, please email ISEPS Director Dr. Heileen Hsu-Kim or Associate Director Dr. Nathan Bossa.

Join Our Scholar Community

There are many ways to connect with the ISEPS community even if you choose not to pursue the certificate or fellowship. Sign up for our email newsletter to receive updates about resources, opportunities, events, discussions, and more. By staying connected, you’ll be part of a vibrant interdisciplinary network committed to advancing data-driven solutions for the public good.