THE
STUDENT
FELLOW
SHIP
The Assembly Student Fellowship brings together a cohort of Harvard students from a range of disciplines and schools. Student Fellows regularly convene for problem-solving seminars and student-led discussions to explore real-world disinformation problems. Students are supported by a community of Berkman Klein Center and Harvard faculty and staff.
ABOUT THE 2020-21 STUDENT FELLOWSHIP
The 2020-21 Assembly Student Fellowship is a program for Harvard undergraduate and graduate students interested in exploring the complex challenges of disinformation on online platforms, engaging with faculty working on the cutting edge of the field, and building a diverse community of learning across disciplines.
Structured to complement existing coursework, the Student Fellowship is grounded in a tailored seminar series and offers the opportunity to connect with and learn from other students, as well as with esteemed scholars, technologists, and journalists working in the disinformation space, from the Berkman Klein Center and beyond. Previous students have described the program as “one of the highlights” of their year, noting in particular that guest speakers share a wealth of insights and knowledge and that the fellowship creates a community of exceptional students from across the University.
Now in its third year, the Assembly Student Fellowship is a multidisciplinary learning and teaching initiative that brings together Harvard students and faculty around quickly-emerging issues in technology policy; this year, the program is focused on disinformation. Based at the Berkman Klein Center, the Student Fellowship is supported by a diverse network of Harvard faculty and staff from across the University, including faculty from the HBS Digital Initiative and the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy.
Due to the pandemic, this year’s Assembly Student Fellowship will be entirely virtual. There will be no physical presence at Harvard University.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
The cornerstone of the Student Fellowship is a seminar series with faculty and staff affiliates that span a diverse range of real-world disinformation topics, including election security, race and disinformation, and health misinformation. Led by experts from academia, journalism, government, and industry, students engage with rapidly evolving problems from multiple perspectives to understand complex problem sets and generate more comprehensive solutions.
COMMUNITY OF LEARNING
Assembly Student Fellows build a community that fosters meaningful connections within their cohort, practice multidisciplinary and collaborative learning, and engage deeply and creatively with the diverse expertise offered by guest speakers and their peers. Working in small groups, student fellows will actively participate in shaping the seminar series: developing questions to help guide each talk, and designing and leading cohort-wide activities to process and discuss each seminar. In addition, the program staff team will organize additional cohort-wide virtual meetings, and fellows will be encouraged to create their own opportunities to connect.
MENTORSHIP
Through the seminar series and other activities, Student Fellows are connected to faculty and staff working on disinformation issues at the cutting edge of their respective fields.
COHORT
Learn more about this year's cohort and read about their work on the Student Fellowship platform and the Assembly Medium.
PROBLEM BASED LEARNING
The cornerstone of the Student Fellowship...
MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION
Student Fellows have the opportunity to put their learning into practice through work on concrete group projects. Students will develop project management skills while collaborating on meaningful projects supported by faculty in the Assembly community and a small research fund.
MENTORSHIP
Student Fellows are connected to faculty working on these issues at the cutting edge of their respective fields. Not only do they meet faculty during sponsored events, but they can also receive faculty advising on group projects.
PROGRAM COMMITMENTS
The Assembly Student Fellowship runs from the beginning of October 2020 through the duration of the academic year (excluding term breaks). Student Fellows are expected to attend a regular seminar series, participate in collaborative group discussions, and join occasional events and special opportunities. We are looking for students who will be dedicated to fostering a robust community.
Student Fellows benefit from small, personal seminars with a range of faculty members, opportunities for mentorship, connections with industry, and a collaborative space where they can learn from one another. They receive a $1,000 yearly stipend. The program does not give course credit.
"One of the highlights of my year! [The program] completely shaped my Harvard experience.
"The [Assembly Student Fellowship] helps students find like-minded individuals
WHY BECOME A STUDENT FELLOW?
Emerging digital technologies and evolving social and political dynamics are changing the landscape into which Harvard students will graduate. The multifaceted challenges arising from these changes necessitate leaders who champion a more ethical and holistic problem-solving approach. The Assembly Student Fellowship is a space for Harvard undergraduate and graduate students interested in disinformation to build community across disciplines, to engage with faculty working on the cutting edge of related issues, and to integrate skills and knowledge from different fields to tackle complex problems as part of a diverse team.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
2020-21 COHORT!
The 2020-21 cohort brings together 19 Harvard graduate and undergraduate students interested in collaboratively learning about online disinformation.
Our students are enthusiastic about transcending boundaries between disciplines to solve challenging problems related to disinformation.
