Applied Data Fellowship

Beyond
Good Data.

Good data alone cannot drive change. We embed elite, UChicago-vetted talent into mission-driven teams to provide the technical and operational capacity needed to turn analysis into action. Supported by expert mentorship, we ensure every Fellow is positioned to clear the frictions that stall progress and deliver systemic results.

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1 Year

Scoping

A mission-critical project and technical roadmap are defined together.

Selecting

A curated shortlist of vetted, post-graduate talent is presented.

Embedding

A Fellow is placed full-time inside the organization for 12 months.

Mentoring

Ongoing technical and managerial support is provided by the ADF team.

Exiting

Institutionalized systems remain, or the Fellow is transitioned to a permanent role.

ADF Model

At ADF, we believe data only becomes good data when it moves through the pipeline to become a systemic result. Our model bridges the gap between the math and the mission to turn analysis into coordinated action.

01 — Scope & Discover

We partner with mission-driven organizations to identify core priorities and operational frictions. Together, we scope high-stakes projects designed to turn data investments into lasting impact.

02 — Select & Embed

From a national pool of 1,200+ applicants, we rigorously recruit and embed elite professionals for 12 months. We prioritize UChicago graduates to ensure every partner receives top-tier technical and strategic capacity.

03 — Act & Lead

Fellows serve in roles tailored to each partner's specific needs to clear the frictions that stall progress. This specialized capacity includes:

Performing advanced statistical analysis, diagnostic modeling, and trend forecasting to turn complex datasets into actionable insights.

Translating complex datasets into insights, executive dashboards and geospatial visualizations using tools like R, Tableau, and PowerBI.

Translational leads who possess advanced organizational fluency and technical breadth to navigate complexity and connect analysis to action.

Building high-integrity architecture, automated ETL pipelines, and robust data warehouses using Python, SQL, and cloud infrastructure.

Deploying scalable machine learning models and large language model (LLM) integrations to automate complex workflows and provide predictive intelligence.

Bridging the gap between legislative requirements and service delivery through rigorous econometric modeling, impact evaluation, and program design.

Driving large-scale digital transformations and technical migrations using agile methodologies to ensure high-stakes milestones are met on schedule.

04 — Co-Manage & Succeed

Our dual-focus model provides partners with outcome-driven results through expert oversight, while Fellows receive year-long mentorship. We provide the safety net that ensures every project leads to permanent systemic change.

200+ ADF Fellows Vetted and Trained

100+ Organizations Impacted

70% ADF Fellows Retained

Velocity ADF Fellows eliminate the lag between data collection and executive decision. Months of backlog reduced to days of output.

Integrity ADF Fellows resolve technical debt into high-fidelity infrastructure. Fragmented records transformed into a reliable, coherent source of truth.

Stewardship ADF Fellows provide the analytical clarity required to prioritize high-stakes capital. Optimizing over US$500mn in community investments to ensure every dollar reaches its mission.

Continuity ADF Fellows serve as a permanent talent pipeline for the social impact sector. 70% of Fellows transition into full-time roles with our partners to lead long-term systemic change.