Meet Our 2026 Jackie Bezos Researcher in Residence

August 19, 2026 - 19:54

The Foundation has announced the first two scholars selected for its new Jackie Bezos Researcher in Residence program, a fresh initiative designed to bridge the gap between high-level science and practical, on-the-ground change. These researchers will spend their residency working directly with the Foundation's teams, translating complex findings into actionable strategies that can improve the lives of children, families, and communities.

Rather than simply funding external projects, this program brings the researchers inside the organization. The goal is to foster a deeper, more continuous exchange between the latest academic work and the daily realities of program implementation. The two incoming residents bring a mix of expertise in early childhood development and community-based health interventions, and they will be embedded in ongoing initiatives from day one.

The residency is named in honor of Jackie Bezos, a longtime advocate for evidence-based philanthropy. The Foundation's leadership notes that the program is not about producing more papers or reports. It is about shortening the distance between a discovery in a lab or a field study and a tangible improvement in someone's daily life. The hope is that this model will become a permanent fixture, with new researchers rotating in each year to keep the work fresh and grounded.

Both residents are expected to start later this year, and their first task will be to identify specific projects where their expertise can have the most immediate effect. The Foundation will publish updates on their progress, but the real measure of success will be whether the insights they bring actually change how services are delivered. For now, the focus is on getting them settled and connected with the teams on the ground.