Title
Leverage Your Advanced Degree
The Illini Science Policy Program matches highly motivated and qualified post-graduates with advanced degrees from one of University of Illinois’ three campuses with hosts in public agencies or the Illinois legislature for a 12-month paid appointment. Position may have the option to be renewed for an additional year dependent on funding or programmatic needs.
Scholar assignments address Illinois Extension’s strategic priorities — community, economy, food & agriculture, health, technology & discovery, and partnerships - and are identified by the host office, which may include municipal, state, and federal agencies and legislative offices in Illinois. As part of the program, Scholars also contribute to Illinois Extension projects.
The program is an initiative administered by Illinois Extension’s Office of Government Relations and was developed by an Investment for Growth grant from the Office of the Provost at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Additional support comes from participating host offices, University of Illinois System, UI System Office of External Relations and Communications, Illinois College of Agriculture , Consumer and Environmental Sciences, and PepsiCo.
Scholars are graduates from one of University of Illinois' three campuses who have completed a Master's, Doctoral, J.D., or professional degree within a year and a half prior to the appointment start date.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- University of Illinois Chicago
- University of Illinois Springfield
Applicants should have interest and expertise relating to Illinois Extension’s strategic priorities: community, economy, food & agriculture, health, technology & discovery, and partnerships.
Scholars must complete all degree requirements before starting the appointment unless prior approval has been given by the host agency and Illinois Extension.
Host Sites: 2024 to 2026
Legislative Host Placements
- Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation
- Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation
- Illinois Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Juliana Stratton
- Congressional Placement: Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) - Illinois Office (2024-25)
State Agency Host Placements
- Illinois Department of Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security
- Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, Education Group
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Broadband (2024-2025)
- Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (2025-26)
Previous Partners
State Agency Host Placements
- Illinois Board of Higher Education (2021, 2022)
- Illinois Department of Agriculture, Division of Natural Resources (2023)
- Illinois Department of Agriculture, Meat and Poultry Division (2020)
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Broadband (2020 to present)
- Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, Education Group (2020 to present)
Past Legislative Partners
- Illinois Legislative Black Caucus / Black Caucus Foundation (2020 to present)
- Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus / Latino Caucus Foundation (2020 to present)
- Illinois Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Juliana Stratton (2021 to present)