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Fall 2025/Spring 2026 - CUNY Applied Justice Research Fellow

Brooklyn, NY

Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 230 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

About the team:

Vera’s research is an essential component of our work to deliver justice and end mass incarceration. Our research is founded on social science principles of independence and methodological rigor and designed to deliver the knowledge that will lead to real world impact. Vera researchers generate and interpret the evidence required to understand problems, develop solutions, shift policies, and change beliefs and norms that perpetuate inequity and impede justice. 

Vera researchers work as part of inter-disciplinary teams to develop and implement theories of change that weave together research, advocacy, communications, and site-based technical assistance (TA). We conceptualize issues and collect the evidence that is needed to understand problems, highlight inequities, design interventions, and advocate for transformative change. With impact at the fore, we work with our teammates and allies to ensure that the knowledge we produce reaches decision-makers in a format that is designed to spur action.

About the role:

Vera’s Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Applied Justice Research (AJR) Fellow will spend a full academic year at Vera, working with Vera research staff on ongoing projects related to the institute’s core areas of focus and supporting work across the institute. The research may include original data collection, data analysis, dissemination, and working jointly with various initiatives and special projects at Vera to produce a variety of research deliverables, from memos for system stakeholders and community partners, to reports for publication. Fellows will be encouraged to identify opportunities to publish and otherwise disseminate products from various Vera projects and to explore opportunities to expand Vera’s work in new directions. The AJR fellow will work closely with the Director of Research, Dr. Nina Siulc PhD, within Vera's Central Research department  in supporting Vera’s strategic research priorities and projects

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera interns and employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule. Full-time positions generally amount to 10 days per month. Part-time positions generally amount to 5 days per month.

Schedule:

20 hours per week working on Vera projects during the 2025 - 2026 academic year

How to apply:

Please combine the below materials (except for the letter of recommendation) into a SINGLE file (saved as either a Word or PDF file).  

  • Letter of interest addressing your interest in the fellowship, being sure to describe the area of research of your PhD and/or your dissertation topic, an overview of methodological expertise and projects that you have utilized this research expertise. (not to exceed 2 pages)
  • Resume/ CV 
  • Current Graduate Center transcript (you may submit the unofficial student copy that can be printed from banner)  
  • Letter of support from your primary advisor to be emailed to hiring@vera.org 

Application Deadline: EOD Sunday , August 17, 2025

Instructions for Faculty Recommenders 

  • Prepare your reference letter as a Word or PDF file. 
  • Please use the following format when naming your document: Student Last Name, First Name 
  • Email your file directly to hiring@vera.org

Questions? Please reach out! 

  • Nico Montano (they/them), Senior Research Associate for Participatory Action Research (Nmontano@vera.org)

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / CUNY Applied Justice Fellow
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

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