People become fellows at PAN Works because they are enthusiastic about the think tank and committed to the wellbeing of animals as well as of people and nature.
Fellows are the core of our learning community, and broadly share an interdisciplinary, interpretive and heterodox approach to ethics, science and public policy. What this means in practice is manifold. We recognize the role of moral and other values as an indispensable part of the practice of science and politics. Our work is grounded in the real world, a praxis that interweaves theory and practice in our approach to public policy. A plurality of worldviews requires situated interpretations that seek not absolute truth, but better from worse moral understanding. And finally, our fellowship exists beyond intellectual questions ‘about’ animals, and encompasses care for animals in and of themselves.
Fellows often work in collaboration as team leads or participants in various programs and projects focused on research, education and outreach. With an organizational team rich in experience and expertise, fellows are part of a supportive environment rich in intellectual substance and camaraderie.
Currently, all fellows are unpaid volunteers who align some or all of their work with the mission of PAN Works. This alignment brings individuals with common interest together in support of their own and shared professional work. In this respect, we are not unlike a professional affinity group, interdisciplinary lab, or artistic collaborative.
In addition, the demands of professional and personal life wax and wane, so fellowship status is dynamic. Some fellows start out as guests, and apply for one or another kind of Fellowship thereafter. Some go straight into the application process with a Letter of Inquiry (see below). Graduate Fellows may go on to become Visiting and thence Research Fellows. In all cases, attending to the wellbeing of individuals alongside the mission of PAN Works is key to onboarding new fellows.
Moreover, while the fellowship descriptions articulate baseline commitments, life happens. Scheduling conflicts, phases of life, and time zone differences across a global community mean our baselines are not inflexible requirements, but goals as we meet our responsibilities to ourselves and to each other.
Fellows
Fellows are enduring members committed to PAN Works. They directly contribute to our programs and projects as they align with their own intellectual or creative work, as well as participate in community activities such as the Commons slack channel, the PAN Thinks podcast, and the Salon book club. Fellows develop their own line of research in relevant areas of the natural and social sciences, as well as the arts and humanities. They publish in academic journals and venues of public scholarship, and/or engage in the creation and performance of literary and visual arts. Fellows contribute to our Medium column, act as sounding boards and peer editors, participate as co-authors on relevant publications, and offer public comment, expert opinions and testimony on relevant policy issues. Fellows complete an annual report of activities and meet with one or more members of the Board for an annual check-in. A doctorate or terminal degree is the usual expectation for Fellows.
Research Fellows
Research Fellows are aligned with the mission of PAN Works, and have a significant record of academic work relevant to animal studies (broadly understood). The difference between a Fellow and a Research Fellow is their level of commitment, something based on an individual’s circumstances. Research fellows contribute to our work primarily through their shared insights and participation in specific programs and projects. They are welcome to participate in our Commons slack channel, the PAN Thinks podcast, the Salon book club, and our Medium column. They also may act as sounding boards and peer editors, and participate as co-authors on relevant publications. This includes but is not limited to publishing in academic journals and venues of public scholarship, and the creation and performance of literary and visual arts. Research Fellows complete an annual report of activities and meet with one or more members of the Board for an annual check-in. A doctorate or terminal degree is the usual expectation for Research Fellows.
Graduate Fellows
Graduate Fellows are aligned with the mission of PAN Works, and make an annual commitment to the think tank to deepen their education in the natural and social sciences, arts and humanities. They participate in community activities such as the Commons slack channel, the PAN Thinks podcast, and the Salon book club. With a specific eye to developing their skills in public scholarship, they (co-)write four Medium articles over the course of the year. They may also participate as co-authors on relevant publications. Graduate Fellows complete an annual report of activities, may meet with one or more members of the Board for an annual check-in, and are potentially renewable on an ad hoc basis. These fellowships are open to graduate students with an avid interest in ethics who are pursuing a doctorate degree. Masters students with similar qualifications transitioning to a doctoral program are also eligible.
Visiting Fellows
Visiting Fellows make an annual commitment to the think tank, and participate in community activities such as the Commons slack channel, the PAN Thinks podcast, and the Salon book club. Visiting Fellows are pursuing an intensive immersion in the life of PAN Works, and develop a specific line of research with an eye to sharing their insights with the public at large. They (co-)write two or more Medium articles over the course of the year, and may participate as co-authors on other relevant publications. Visiting Fellows complete an annual report of activities, meet with one or more members of the Board for an annual check-in, and are potentially renewable on an ad hoc basis. A doctorate or terminal degree is the usual expectation for Visiting Fellows.
Community Fellows
Community Fellows are much like Research Fellows. They make a commitment to the think tank, primarily by sharing their insights through participation in community activities such as the Commons slack channel, the PAN Thinks podcast, and the Salon book club. In addition, they may (co-)write one Medium article over the course of the year, and may be invited as co-authors on relevant publications. Community Fellows complete an annual report of activities, meet with one or more members of the Board for an annual check-in, and are potentially renewable on an ad hoc basis. Community Fellows are open to those with relevant experience and expertise, even if they do not have a doctorate of terminal degree.
Associates
While not fellows, Associates are directly involved in some aspect of our work, such as participating in one of our research, education or public engagement projects. Associates are generally outside experts working on a distinct project. For instance they may serve as a researcher, writer or editor for a project.
Guests
Guests are individuals interested in some aspect of PAN Works, and invited to participate in the PAN Thinks podcast and/or the Salon book club.
Application Process
The Board of PAN Works decides who becomes a fellow, associate or guest. We do not take unsolicited applications, but letters of inquiry are welcome. The next opening for these letters is November 2024. Please contact Bill Lynn at wlynn@panworks.io.
An application may be requested after a letter of inquiry is reviewed. This application will include a cover letter articulating the reasons for one’s interest in PAN Works, a resume/vita, and a statement of proposed work. Graduate transcripts are required in the case of Graduate Fellows, and letters of recommendation may be required as needed. If approved for a fellowship, these materials may be accepted as is or edited, and constitute a memorandum of understanding between the fellow and PAN Works.