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An Evaluation of the AP Giannini Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program
Philanthropic contributions by private foundations in the form of academic fellowships are not well represented in literature, despite their influence on the career development of postdoctoral fellows in diverse professions, including social work. While evidence demonstrates that receipt of early-career fellowships impacts career trajectories and professional lives, research examining the long-term influence is limited.
The A.P. Giannini Foundation is one example of a private foundation funding early career research fellowships. Since its inception in 1945, the Foundation has supported innovative research in the basic sciences by funding over 700 postdoctoral researchers. To date, the foundation has distributed over $25 million to advance the translation of biomedical science into treatments, preventions and cures for human ailments.
This research fills an existing gap in the literature by examining the long-term outcomes of receipt of the A.P. Giannini Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (1951-2013). This marks the Foundation’s first formal evaluation of the impact that it has had on the lives of its fellows. The study relates to social work, given the profession’s growing reliance on philanthropy to support postdoctoral scholars.
Methods
A cross-sectional, mixed-methods case study design using non-probability sampling techniques was used, thus limiting internal and external validity. An electronic survey combining open and close-ended questions was distributed to 254 past fellows. One hundred and five surveys were collected from individuals awarded fellowships 1965-2013, a response rate of 41%. To date, follow-up interviews have been completed with 20 individuals with fellowship years 1973-2006.
Results
Survey data revealed that award recipients feel that the fellowship provided a unique opportunity to develop their research agenda and played an important role in launching their careers. Most were satisfied with their experiences and career trajectories. The sole exception involved relationships with mentors, with interviews corroborating that relationships with academic mentors are complicated.
A content analysis exposed the impact of the initial award interview. Fellows reflected that the experience had considerable effect on their professional identities, suggesting that it signified a turning point in their lives. A second theme centered on the validating effect of the award, in both the eyes of peers as well as in one’s own self-perception. All reflected that the award played a significant role in their career development, even if careers took unexpected turns. For some, the award offered freedom to develop a new set of skills in a protected environment. Others reveal that the fellowship presented opportunities to publish, making them more attractive for academic positions. A few note that the award provided credibility leading to larger awards. A final theme is that participants want to participate in a community of A.P. Giannini Fellows and many offered to mentor current and future post-doctoral scholars.
Conclusions and Implications
This study is a step in filling the literature gap on science philanthropy, representing one of the few longitudinal evaluations of philanthropic giving in the form of academic fellowships. Findings can be used to demonstrate the significance of early-career fellowships to facilitate cultivation of university-philanthropy partnerships supporting social work academics and researchers.