Graduate Opportunities
The Wisconsin Center for Education Research has enhanced the professional development and quality of life for thousands of graduate students over the decades. Currently, WCER employs about 500 people, including 100 UW–Madison students. Many of these students also participate in its training programs.
Working at WCER
The center’s grant-funded projects create an ongoing variety of shorter-term positions that often attract students. These jobs, usually part-time, offer a convenient way for students to earn income on campus while gaining hands-on research skills, expanding their professional networks and working as part of a close-knit and supportive team.
Many student employees at WCER go on to very successful careers in academia and related fields. Some become so interested in their work projects, they refocus their studies to pursue a specific area of inquiry related to their work at WCER.
Education Research Events for Students
WCER encourages students from across campus to attend its growing and diverse series of academic lectures and events, including an annual education research poster fair.
Graduate Student Training
In addition, WCER presents two training programs targeted at graduate students. The graduate training initiatives at WCER enrich the intellectual environment for graduate students by providing experiences that complement activities provided in students’ home departments.
- WCER’s Interdisciplinary Training Program, founded in 2005, prepares doctoral scholars for careers in education science. The program provides specialized academic, professional and financial supports and field research opportunities for up to 25 graduate fellows every year.
- The WCER Fellows Program contributes to the diversity of scholarly leaders in research professions. Successful candidates enroll in any doctoral program in the School of Education and are guaranteed four years of funding and receive annual travel stipends for research conference attendance. WCER Fellows gain a wealth of skills by engagement in a diversity of research experiences, without increasing time to degree completion.
