Position Description

Our Research Fellows program is a self-directed and self-designed program for young people who have shown exceptional interest in the neurodiversity and learning disability landscape to explore a topic of their choosing and develop a training, resource, activity, or virtual event that will be incorporated into our curriculum or programming calendar for the upcoming school year. The Neurodiversity Alliance is proud to include the voices of young people in all facets of our work, and the Fellowship is no exception. We want to hear from you the latest research, best practices, and more through your lens as a member of the community.

In this position, you will work closely with our staff to pitch a topic of interest, conduct research, and develop your capstone project. You will also have the opportunity to meet with and receive mentorship from The Neurodiversity Alliance’s Founder & CEO, David Flink, over the course of the summer to share your ideas and receive feedback. 

External research is a key component of this fellowship and will require reading articles, watching videos, contacting experts within the field, conducting interviews, and summarizing research findings to present to the ND Alliance team. The capstone project will require a combination of written, oral, and visual communication elements that will allow you to strengthen all forms of communication and leave a lasting impact on our organization through the training, resources, activity, or virtual event that you develop.

Role-Specific Qualifications

• Ability to work independently
• Interest or experience in research, gathering and presenting information, curriculum development, event planning, or similar
• Prior experience or interest in topics related to Neurodiversity or Learning Disabilities

Commitment & Responsibilities

• The Research Fellow position is a 2-month commitment beginning June 15, 2025 and continuing until August 15, 2025.
• Attend weekly 60-minute virtual meetings – date/time to be determined
• Attend two 90-minute group meetings with Founder & CEO David Flink. The tentative dates are below, but please note they may change based on organizational needs. We will work with you if a new date needs to be scheduled.
  • Meeting 1: Wed, June 25 at 2pm ET
  • Meeting 2: Wed, July 23 at 2pm ET
• Dedicate up to 10 additional hours per week to meet their assigned goals.
• Attend the National Neurodiversity Leadership Summit from August 7-10, 2025.
  • Travel, meals, and expenses paid for by The Neurodiversity Alliance.