“Society for Research in Child Development’s (SRCD) mission is rooted in an understanding of child development as an integrated part of lifelong development that takes place in complex and interrelated contexts… developmental science must explore a diverse array of biological, cognitive, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of development …” One event marks the cumulation of such ideals, the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Conference. This year, the conference was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, against the backdrop of beautiful mountain views and unpredictable weather. As new-ish SRCD fellows placed at the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation within the Administration for Children and Families, the conference gifted us with opportunities to discuss OPRE’s current work, to present our own research, and to engage with other researcher and prospective SRCD federal policy fellows.
Over the last two decades, SRCD fellows placed in OPRE have supported federal staff in conducting rigorous research and evaluation efforts with the mission to improve the wellbeing of children and families served by the Administration for Children and Families. In addition to supporting fellows’ placement into federal offices, SRCD also supports various professional development activities for fellows, including their travel to the Biennial meeting where research and policymakers alike connect. There, fellows connect with diverse audiences and network with experts, program and research partners, and various organizations involved in and relevant to OPRE and ACF’s work. Together, the fellowship experience is a balance between training opportunities and foundational connections to strengthen science policy and practice in early care and education.
This year, the three SRCD fellows from OPRE attended the conference in Salt Lake City.
The conference held two panels related to the experiences of being a fellow: one panel on SRCD fellowships and Non-Academic careers and another panel that spanned State, Federal Executive Branch, and Federal Congressional fellowship programs. Both panels showcased a variety of career options to explore with a PhD and what life outside academe can look like. They highlighted the fact that a PhD holder need not limit their options to academic research and that the skills and discipline acquired while getting the degree are extremely valuable and can be utilized in various sectors, including the federal government. Indeed, there are many opportunities for developmental scientists to support policy making in various roles throughout the government and research partners that support ACF-sponsored work.
In addition to participating in the panels, fellows had several opportunities to present their work at SRCD. Some presented on research that was conducted prior to beginning the fellowship. We also were involved in presenting on current projects that we support as fellows within OPRE. For example, we presented a poster on OPRE’s current work at the federal poster session with other federal offices. We used this opportunity to provide SRCD’s audience with information on OPRE’s current projects across the Division of Child and Family Development including work on Head Start, Child Care, and Child Welfare.
OPRE’s engagement in the Biennial meeting is not just limited to fellows participating on panels and presenting their own work. Other OPRE staff often serve as chairs, discussants, or presenters in larger conference sessions. As fellows, we assist federal staff in managing research and evaluation contracts and grants, many of these projects present their work at conferences such as SRCD. Since fellows are involved through the various life cycles of a project, we work to provide input on conference submissions, discuss creative ways to synthesize and showcase the project’s research findings, and highlight new and upcoming products as they are published on the OPRE website. In this way, fellows can be involved in important and novel dissemination efforts for various research projects.
“I find it so rewarding to be a part of projects that are shared at SRCD as some of the premier, frontline efforts that connect research and policy goals,” says Kylee Probert, current fellow. “To be a part of those conversations at a national level, as they’re being developed, at the frontline of some of the most innovative research in the field, has shaped how I view my work.”