U.S. General Services Administration Opens Applications for 2026 Office of Evaluation Sciences Fellowship @Unknown

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), through its Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 Evaluation Fellowship Program. The highly competitive fellowship offers researchers, policy professionals, and evaluation experts the opportunity to work directly with federal agencies to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and improve government effectiveness.

Selected fellows will join an interdisciplinary team of evaluators and social scientists working across the U.S. government to design, implement, and analyze impact evaluations that address some of the nation’s most pressing challenges.

Applications are currently open for one-year fellowship appointments beginning in Fall 2026.

About the Office of Evaluation Sciences

The Office of Evaluation Sciences is a specialized team within the U.S. General Services Administration that helps federal agencies build and use evidence to improve programs, policies, and services.

OES collaborates with government agencies to:

• Design and conduct rigorous impact evaluations.
• Generate evidence for decision-making.
• Improve public service delivery.
• Increase government efficiency and effectiveness.
• Promote transparency and accountability.

To date, the office has completed more than 130 collaborations, including over 100 impact evaluations, across numerous federal agencies.

Its work has contributed to addressing issues such as:

• Improving government efficiency.
• Reducing improper payments.
• Enhancing public service delivery.
• Supporting veterans and military families.
• Strengthening evidence-based policymaking.

Fellowship Overview

The OES Evaluation Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for professionals interested in applying behavioral science, evaluation methods, economics, public policy, and data analysis within a large-scale government environment.

Fellows serve as Evaluators and work directly alongside agency partners to develop evidence-based interventions and assess their effectiveness.

Key responsibilities may include:

• Designing impact evaluations.
• Conducting policy and program research.
• Analyzing administrative data.
• Developing recommendations for government agencies.
• Producing research publications and reports.
• Supporting evidence-building initiatives across federal agencies.

The fellowship provides participants with the opportunity to influence programs that affect millions of people across the United States.

Fully Remote and Flexible Work Environment

One of the major advantages of the fellowship is its flexible work structure.

All fellowship positions will be:

• Fully remote.
• Location-flexible within the United States.
• Available to professionals across different geographic regions.

The programme is designed to accommodate fellows from a variety of institutional backgrounds while enabling close collaboration with government partners and fellow researchers.

Fellowship Duration

Selected applicants will initially serve a minimum one-year term beginning in Fall 2026.

OES notes that:

• One-year appointments are standard.
• Additional years may be available depending on interest and availability.
• Full-time participation is preferred.

Federal employees applying through temporary detail assignments may have greater flexibility regarding start dates and assignment lengths, provided the minimum service requirement is met.

Eligibility Requirements

The fellowship welcomes applications from professionals affiliated with academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.

Eligible applicants include employees of:

• Universities and higher education institutions.
• Nonprofit organizations.
• State governments.
• Local governments.
• Tribal governments.

Participants typically join the programme through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program.

Past fellows have come from leading institutions and organizations, including:

• Harvard University
• University of California, San Diego
• Reed College
• Miami University
• ideas42
• MDRC
• Association for Psychological Science

Opportunities for Federal Employees

Current U.S. federal government employees may also participate through temporary detail assignments.

Federal staff can join OES via:

• Inter-Agency Agreements (IAA)
• Reimbursable detail assignments
• Rotational placements

Previous detailees have joined OES from agencies such as:

• U.S. Department of Treasury
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of Education

The office has also hosted Presidential Management Fellows as part of rotational assignments.

Impact-Driven Research and Evaluation

The fellowship is particularly attractive for individuals interested in applying rigorous social science methods to real-world policy challenges.

OES evaluators work at the intersection of:

• Public policy
• Behavioral science
• Economics
• Data science
• Program evaluation
• Government innovation

Participants gain experience conducting large-scale evaluations while collaborating directly with policymakers and senior government officials.

The work often results in:

• Academic publications.
• Public reports.
• Policy recommendations.
• Evidence-based interventions implemented nationwide.

Application Process

Interested applicants must submit their applications through the official fellowship application portal before the deadline.

Applicants who cannot access the online application form may request a PDF version directly from OES.

The fellowship application process includes submission of supporting materials, including a writing sample and other documentation demonstrating research and evaluation experience.

Important Deadline

Prospective applicants should take note of the following application deadline:

Application Deadline: 24 June 2026

Submission Time: 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET)

Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

A Unique Opportunity to Improve Government Through Evidence

The Office of Evaluation Sciences Fellowship provides an exceptional opportunity for researchers and policy professionals seeking to apply their expertise to large-scale public sector challenges. By working directly with federal agencies and decision-makers, fellows help generate evidence that improves programs, strengthens accountability, and enhances government performance.

For professionals interested in policy evaluation, behavioral science, public administration, and evidence-based decision-making, the OES Fellowship represents a valuable platform to contribute to meaningful change while developing advanced research and leadership skills within the U.S. federal government.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.