The Computing Research Association (CRA) and Computing Community Consortium (CCC) are pleased to announce a new Computing Innovation Fellows (CIFellows) Program for 2020. This program recognizes the significant disruption to the academic job search caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic uncertainty and aims to provide a career-enhancing bridge experience for recent and soon-to-be PhD graduates in computing. 

The goal of the program is to create career growth opportunities that support maintaining the computing research pipeline. Computing research is defined as any area included under the National Science Foundation (NSF) Computing and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate. This effort takes inspiration from CRA/CCC’s NSF-funded Computing Innovation Fellows Programs with cohorts starting 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Pending anticipated funding by the National Science Foundation, the CIFellows 2020 program will offer 2 year postdoctoral opportunities in computing, with cohort activities to support career development and community building for this group of Fellows. Realizing the many unknowns we are currently dealing with in this pandemic and that situations are different across the nation, there will be some flexibility in the program. Applicants must create a career development plan and coordinate with one or more proposed mentors. 

Details of the program are still being finalized and will be updated on our website. We anticipate applications being due around mid-June 2020, with decisions being made around mid-July 2020 for positions beginning this fall or winter. Please check the website regularly for application requirements and submission details.