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Request for Proposal ListingsUT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program (Spring 2027)

UT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program (Spring 2027)

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The University of Texas at Dallas

UT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program (Spring 2027)

02/03/2027 to 05/05/2027

Maheen Merchant

Collaboration Overview

About Students

Students participating in this program are upper-level undergraduate students studying Sociology and Public Health at The University of Texas at Dallas, with many completing the experience near the end of their undergraduate studies.

The course functions as a capstone-style experience in which students apply knowledge and skills developed throughout their academic programs to a real organizational challenge. By this point in their studies, students have significant exposure to research methods and are prepared to explore how those capabilities can be applied in professional environments.

UT Dallas Public Health students study the social, structural, and cultural factors that influence health at the individual and population levels. Their curriculum includes preparation in social epidemiology, statistics, research methods, program development, and program evaluation.

Sociology students similarly develop skills in empirical analysis and professional communication while learning to apply sociological perspectives in settings such as corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, policy research, social services, education, and health care.

Depending on team composition and project needs, students may bring capabilities in qualitative and quantitative research, secondary data analysis, survey and interview research, literature review, program evaluation, stakeholder analysis, data interpretation, social inequality, health disparities, community research, and professional communication.

The experience is also intentionally designed to develop students' confidence operating in professional environments. Students practice interacting with organizational stakeholders, asking effective questions, responding to feedback, managing project responsibilities, presenting research findings, and explaining how their academic skills create value outside the classroom.

About Program Goals

Through the Applied Research Consulting Project, students will:

Apply sociology, public health, and social science research skills to an authentic organizational challenge.
Translate an ambiguous organizational problem into focused and answerable research questions.
Determine which qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research approaches are appropriate for the project.
Conduct credible secondary research using academic, governmental, nonprofit, industry, and other appropriate sources.
Analyze existing organizational or public datasets where appropriate.
Design and conduct surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, or other forms of primary research when feasible.
Apply research methods outside of a traditional academic research-paper environment.
Analyze stakeholder, employee, community, client, patient, or population needs as appropriate to the challenge.
Evaluate organizational programs, interventions, policies, or services using available evidence.
Identify meaningful patterns, gaps, barriers, disparities, and opportunities.
Translate research findings into clear, evidence-based recommendations for organizational decision-makers.
Consider social context, equity, health disparities, community impact, and unintended consequences when appropriate.
Communicate research findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Strengthen teamwork, project management, client communication, professional writing, and presentation skills.
Learn how to solicit, interpret, and respond professionally to substantive client feedback.
Build confidence explaining how social science and public health research skills can create value in professional settings.
Develop a meaningful, resume-ready experience that students can discuss in interviews and future professional opportunities.

About the Collaboration Format

The UT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program connects upper-level undergraduate students with organizations seeking research, analysis, evaluation, and evidence-based recommendations related to a meaningful organizational, community, workforce, social, or public health challenge.

Students work in small teams with an external partner throughout the semester. Student teams use research methods developed through their academic programs to understand the challenge, gather and analyze relevant evidence, engage stakeholders when appropriate, and translate their findings into practical recommendations.

Projects may involve nonprofit programs, public health initiatives, workforce and community needs, program evaluation, stakeholder research, policy questions, social impact, health disparities, education, organizational effectiveness, or other issues where structured research can help an organization make a better decision.

The defining characteristic of the experience is a clear research component. Appropriate projects should require students to investigate a question, collect or analyze information, interpret findings, and explain how the evidence supports their recommendations.

Depending on the challenge, student teams may conduct literature and secondary research, analyze existing organizational or public datasets, design surveys or interviews, conduct qualitative research, benchmark peer organizations, evaluate programs, identify stakeholder needs, examine policy or workforce trends, and develop implementation recommendations.

The program also emphasizes professional development. Students work directly with organizational leaders, practice communicating with clients, receive substantive feedback, manage responsibilities as a team, and learn how applied research functions outside an academic environment.

For participating organizations, the program provides additional research capacity and a fresh interdisciplinary perspective while offering an opportunity to mentor emerging professionals and contribute to their career readiness.

Benefits for Industry Partners

Participating organizations receive focused research and analysis from a team of upper-level Sociology and Public Health students while helping prepare emerging professionals for careers in public health, nonprofits, research, government, community organizations, and other sectors.

Applied Research Capacity

Student teams can investigate organizational questions that staff recognize as important but may not have the time or resources to research comprehensively.

Program & Service Evaluation

Students can examine existing programs, initiatives, interventions, or services; assess available evidence; identify gaps; and develop recommendations for improvement.

Stakeholder & Community Insight

Projects can help organizations better understand the needs, experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers affecting employees, clients, patients, students, residents, or other stakeholder populations.

Public Health & Social Impact Perspective

Students can apply frameworks related to social determinants of health, health disparities, inequality, community well-being, organizational systems, and social context where relevant to the project.

Evidence-Based Recommendations

The goal is not simply to produce a deliverable. Student teams investigate the underlying problem and use research findings to explain why a particular recommendation should be considered.

Fresh Interdisciplinary Thinking

Teams may combine Sociology and Public Health students, giving organizations perspectives that cross population health, social science, organizational, workforce, policy, and community lenses.

Emerging Talent & Mentorship

Partners interact directly with students approaching the workforce and have an opportunity to observe their research ability, communication, initiative, professionalism, teamwork, and responsiveness to feedback.

Program Details

Students Include: Bachelor Degree

Students Enrolled: Students Enrolled

Program Duration: 13 weeks

Program Launch Date: 02/03/27

Program End Date: 05/05/27

Student Commitment: 8-13 Hours hrs/week

Course Format: Applied Research Consulting Project, Multiple Projects Multiple Teams

Modality: Fully Remote

# of Projects: 5

View All Program Details

Project Requirements

Industry Partner Requirements
Project Topics	Corporate Social Responsibility Data Management Employee and Labor Management Innovation Organizational Culture Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy Public Administration Research, Analysis, Evaluation Strategic Planning Sustainability & ESG Training & Development
Location Preferences	Located Anywhere
Compensation	No Compensation Required
Sponsorship	Sponsorship Requested (Optional): Pre-Revenue Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Growth Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Small to Medium Business an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Large Enterprise an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Government Organization an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Non-Profit an exact contribution amount of $500.0
Other Requirements	The strongest projects will begin with a real research question or organizational problem rather than a predetermined production task. Participating Industry Partners should be prepared to: Provide a meaningful organizational, community, workforce, policy, social, or public health challenge that requires investigation and analysis. Ensure the project contains a substantive research component. Allow students to explore the problem and develop findings rather than simply execute predefined instructions. Designate an engaged project manager or mentor who is interested in working directly with students. Participate in a kickoff meeting to explain the organization, challenge, stakeholders, and desired outcomes. Meet with students regularly throughout the project, ideally weekly or biweekly. Provide candid, substantive feedback rather than simply approving student work. Challenge students to revise or deepen their work when additional analysis is needed. Share appropriate organizational context, reports, datasets, research, policies, or other relevant materials when possible. Facilitate reasonable access to employees, clients, community members, users, subject-matter experts, or other stakeholders when primary research is appropriate. Help students understand how research is used in the organization's actual decision-making process. Participate in a final presentation or review final recommendations whenever possible. Projects should not primarily consist of routine administrative or production work such as simply creating a website, producing social media content, entering data, or completing repetitive tasks. Communication, marketing, or digital deliverables may be part of a project when they emerge from a substantive research and analytical process. Partner engagement is particularly important. Dr. Skaggs noted that prior projects were strongest when organizational mentors provided explicit feedback, asked students to revisit work, and helped them understand professional expectations rather than merely approving each step.
Project Management Time Commitment	1 Hour per week
Interested Industries	Education & Ed-Tech Government Health Care & Life Sciences Non-Profit & Social Impact Public Works Sustainability & Climate

Skills & Expertise

Applied Research Benchmarking Community Engagement Community Health Research Community Needs Assessment Community-Based Research Comparative Analysis Data Analysis Data Cleaning Data Collection Data Interpretation Data Visualization Demographic Research Descriptive Statistics Employee Research Environmental Health Research Equity Analysis Evidence-Based Recommendations Executive Presentations Focus Group Design Health Disparities Research Health Policy Research Interview Design Literature Review Mixed Methods Research Needs Assessment Nonprofit Research Organizational Analysis Policy Analysis Policy Research Population Health Primary Research Professional Communication Professional Writing Program Analysis Program Design Program Evaluation Project Management Public Health Research Qualitative Analysis Qualitative Research Quantitative Analysis Quantitative Research Research Design Research Ethics Research Reports Research Synthesis Secondary Data Analysis Secondary Research Social Determinants of Health Social Impact Analysis Social Science Research Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholder Interviews Stakeholder Mapping Stakeholder Presentations Statistical Analysis Survey Design Survey Research Team Collaboration Workforce Research

Key Program Dates	Due Date
Request for Proposal published Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.	Oct 05 2026, 05:16 PM UTC
Interview Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.	Oct 17 2026, 05:16 PM UTC
Proposal Application Deadline Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.	Dec 28 2026, 05:16 PM UTC
Finalize Project Charter Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.	Jan 09 2027, 05:16 PM UTC
Official Program Launch We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.	Feb 03 2027
Official Program End We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.	May 05 2027

* We’ve got some inspirational project ideas below! These are related project topics that you can mix and match the components for the best cross-functional project experience possible.

See Examples

Corporate Social Responsibility

See Examples

Data Management

See Examples

Employee and Labor Management

See Examples

Innovation

See Examples

Organizational Culture

See Examples

Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy

See Examples

Public Administration

See Examples

Research, Analysis, Evaluation

See Examples

Strategic Planning

See Examples

Sustainability & ESG

See Examples

Training & Development

Program Overview
Program Title	UT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program (Spring 2027)
Organization	The University of Texas at Dallas
# of Students Enrolled	0
# of Projects Running	4 Project/s Added (of 5 Projects Expected)
Program Timeline Project Duration	Start Date: 02/03/27 End Date: 05/05/27 3 months

Collaboration Overview
About Students	Students participating in this program are upper-level undergraduate students studying Sociology and Public Health at The University of Texas at Dallas, with many completing the experience near the end of their undergraduate studies. The course functions as a capstone-style experience in which students apply knowledge and skills developed throughout their academic programs to a real organizational challenge. By this point in their studies, students have significant exposure to research methods and are prepared to explore how those capabilities can be applied in professional environments. UT Dallas Public Health students study the social, structural, and cultural factors that influence health at the individual and population levels. Their curriculum includes preparation in social epidemiology, statistics, research methods, program development, and program evaluation. Sociology students similarly develop skills in empirical analysis and professional communication while learning to apply sociological perspectives in settings such as corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, policy research, social services, education, and health care. Depending on team composition and project needs, students may bring capabilities in qualitative and quantitative research, secondary data analysis, survey and interview research, literature review, program evaluation, stakeholder analysis, data interpretation, social inequality, health disparities, community research, and professional communication. The experience is also intentionally designed to develop students' confidence operating in professional environments. Students practice interacting with organizational stakeholders, asking effective questions, responding to feedback, managing project responsibilities, presenting research findings, and explaining how their academic skills create value outside the classroom. Student Level: Bachelor Degree Student Time Commitment: Full Time Team Structure: 4 - 6
Program Goals	Through the Applied Research Consulting Project, students will: Apply sociology, public health, and social science research skills to an authentic organizational challenge. Translate an ambiguous organizational problem into focused and answerable research questions. Determine which qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research approaches are appropriate for the project. Conduct credible secondary research using academic, governmental, nonprofit, industry, and other appropriate sources. Analyze existing organizational or public datasets where appropriate. Design and conduct surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, or other forms of primary research when feasible. Apply research methods outside of a traditional academic research-paper environment. Analyze stakeholder, employee, community, client, patient, or population needs as appropriate to the challenge. Evaluate organizational programs, interventions, policies, or services using available evidence. Identify meaningful patterns, gaps, barriers, disparities, and opportunities. Translate research findings into clear, evidence-based recommendations for organizational decision-makers. Consider social context, equity, health disparities, community impact, and unintended consequences when appropriate. Communicate research findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Strengthen teamwork, project management, client communication, professional writing, and presentation skills. Learn how to solicit, interpret, and respond professionally to substantive client feedback. Build confidence explaining how social science and public health research skills can create value in professional settings. Develop a meaningful, resume-ready experience that students can discuss in interviews and future professional opportunities.
Format Structure	Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Format Title	Applied Research Consulting Project
Format Description	The UT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program connects upper-level undergraduate students with organizations seeking research, analysis, evaluation, and evidence-based recommendations related to a meaningful organizational, community, workforce, social, or public health challenge. Students work in small teams with an external partner throughout the semester. Student teams use research methods developed through their academic programs to understand the challenge, gather and analyze relevant evidence, engage stakeholders when appropriate, and translate their findings into practical recommendations. Projects may involve nonprofit programs, public health initiatives, workforce and community needs, program evaluation, stakeholder research, policy questions, social impact, health disparities, education, organizational effectiveness, or other issues where structured research can help an organization make a better decision. The defining characteristic of the experience is a clear research component. Appropriate projects should require students to investigate a question, collect or analyze information, interpret findings, and explain how the evidence supports their recommendations. Depending on the challenge, student teams may conduct literature and secondary research, analyze existing organizational or public datasets, design surveys or interviews, conduct qualitative research, benchmark peer organizations, evaluate programs, identify stakeholder needs, examine policy or workforce trends, and develop implementation recommendations. The program also emphasizes professional development. Students work directly with organizational leaders, practice communicating with clients, receive substantive feedback, manage responsibilities as a team, and learn how applied research functions outside an academic environment. For participating organizations, the program provides additional research capacity and a fresh interdisciplinary perspective while offering an opportunity to mentor emerging professionals and contribute to their career readiness.
Benefits For Industry Partners	Participating organizations receive focused research and analysis from a team of upper-level Sociology and Public Health students while helping prepare emerging professionals for careers in public health, nonprofits, research, government, community organizations, and other sectors. Applied Research Capacity Student teams can investigate organizational questions that staff recognize as important but may not have the time or resources to research comprehensively. Program & Service Evaluation Students can examine existing programs, initiatives, interventions, or services; assess available evidence; identify gaps; and develop recommendations for improvement. Stakeholder & Community Insight Projects can help organizations better understand the needs, experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers affecting employees, clients, patients, students, residents, or other stakeholder populations. Public Health & Social Impact Perspective Students can apply frameworks related to social determinants of health, health disparities, inequality, community well-being, organizational systems, and social context where relevant to the project. Evidence-Based Recommendations The goal is not simply to produce a deliverable. Student teams investigate the underlying problem and use research findings to explain why a particular recommendation should be considered. Fresh Interdisciplinary Thinking Teams may combine Sociology and Public Health students, giving organizations perspectives that cross population health, social science, organizational, workforce, policy, and community lenses. Emerging Talent & Mentorship Partners interact directly with students approaching the workforce and have an opportunity to observe their research ability, communication, initiative, professionalism, teamwork, and responsiveness to feedback.
Project Modality	Fully Remote

Industry Partner Requirements to Participate
Project Topics	Corporate Social Responsibility Data Management Employee and Labor Management Innovation Organizational Culture Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy Public Administration Research, Analysis, Evaluation Strategic Planning Sustainability & ESG Training & Development
Target Industries	Education & Ed-Tech Government Health Care & Life Sciences Non-Profit & Social Impact Public Works Sustainability & Climate
Skills & Expertise	Applied Research Benchmarking Community Engagement Community Health Research Community Needs Assessment Community-Based Research Comparative Analysis Data Analysis Data Cleaning Data Collection Data Interpretation Data Visualization Demographic Research Descriptive Statistics Employee Research Environmental Health Research Equity Analysis Evidence-Based Recommendations Executive Presentations Focus Group Design Health Disparities Research Health Policy Research Interview Design Literature Review Mixed Methods Research Needs Assessment Nonprofit Research Organizational Analysis Policy Analysis Policy Research Population Health Primary Research Professional Communication Professional Writing Program Analysis Program Design Program Evaluation Project Management Public Health Research Qualitative Analysis Qualitative Research Quantitative Analysis Quantitative Research Research Design Research Ethics Research Reports Research Synthesis Secondary Data Analysis Secondary Research Social Determinants of Health Social Impact Analysis Social Science Research Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholder Interviews Stakeholder Mapping Stakeholder Presentations Statistical Analysis Survey Design Survey Research Team Collaboration Workforce Research
Location Information & Preferences	Located Anywhere The program welcomes organizations from Dallas–Fort Worth, throughout the United States, and internationally. Local organizations are especially attractive when students can benefit from optional site visits, community exposure, or in-person interaction. However, strong remote projects are equally appropriate. International projects are explicitly welcomed when the project can be completed virtually, and the organization can maintain regular communication with the student team.
Sponsorship	Sponsorship Requested (Optional): Pre-Revenue Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Growth Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Small to Medium Business an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Large Enterprise an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Government Organization an exact contribution amount of $500.0 Non-Profit an exact contribution amount of $500.0
Compensation	No Compensation Required
Other Requirements	The strongest projects will begin with a real research question or organizational problem rather than a predetermined production task. Participating Industry Partners should be prepared to: Provide a meaningful organizational, community, workforce, policy, social, or public health challenge that requires investigation and analysis. Ensure the project contains a substantive research component. Allow students to explore the problem and develop findings rather than simply execute predefined instructions. Designate an engaged project manager or mentor who is interested in working directly with students. Participate in a kickoff meeting to explain the organization, challenge, stakeholders, and desired outcomes. Meet with students regularly throughout the project, ideally weekly or biweekly. Provide candid, substantive feedback rather than simply approving student work. Challenge students to revise or deepen their work when additional analysis is needed. Share appropriate organizational context, reports, datasets, research, policies, or other relevant materials when possible. Facilitate reasonable access to employees, clients, community members, users, subject-matter experts, or other stakeholders when primary research is appropriate. Help students understand how research is used in the organization's actual decision-making process. Participate in a final presentation or review final recommendations whenever possible. Projects should not primarily consist of routine administrative or production work such as simply creating a website, producing social media content, entering data, or completing repetitive tasks. Communication, marketing, or digital deliverables may be part of a project when they emerge from a substantive research and analytical process. Partner engagement is particularly important. Dr. Skaggs noted that prior projects were strongest when organizational mentors provided explicit feedback, asked students to revisit work, and helped them understand professional expectations rather than merely approving each step.
Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers	1 Hour per week

Key Program Dates	Due Date
Request for Proposal published Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.	Oct 05 2026, 05:16 PM UTC
Interview Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.	Oct 17 2026, 05:16 PM UTC
Proposal Application Deadline Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.	Dec 28 2026, 05:16 PM UTC
Finalize Project Charter Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.	Jan 09 2027, 05:16 PM UTC
Official Program Launch We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.	Feb 03 2027
Official Program End We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.	May 05 2027

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Project	Organization	Topics

UT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program (Spring 2027)

The University of Texas at Dallas

UT Dallas Sociology & Public Health Applied Research Consulting Program (Spring 2027)

02/03/2027 to 05/05/2027

Collaboration Overview

About Students

About Program Goals

About the Collaboration Format

Benefits for Industry Partners

Program Details

Project Requirements

No Compensation Required

Sponsorship Requested (Optional):

Skills & Expertise

Corporate Social Responsibility

Data Management

Employee and Labor Management

Innovation

Organizational Culture

Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy

Public Administration

Research, Analysis, Evaluation

Strategic Planning

Sustainability & ESG

Training & Development

Sponsorship Requested (Optional):

No Compensation Required

Maheen Merchant

Yuliia Sobko

Sheryl Skaggs

Bethany Edwards

Jose Villasenor

Jamie Williams

Katie Steele

Resources

Projects