Funded by the American Indian Research Centers for Health at the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and organized by the top Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance experts in the U.S. at the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance led by Dr. Stephanie Russo Carroll, Indigenous DataSET aims to fill knowledge gaps in the ethics and infrastructure for research that impacts Indigenous rights holders to promote a future of more equitable science practices. Ultimately, the project aspires to protect Indigenous communities and their data by enhancing Tribal research and data governance across the U.S.

In pursuit of this goal, the Indigenous DataSET team is looking to recruit 15 early career faculty (post-doc through assistant-professor level) in any discipline from public universities and Tribal colleges* across the U.S. to participate as 2026 Indigenous DataSET Fellows.

Researchers with any level of knowledge and experience in the fields of Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) and Indigenous Data Governance (IDGov) – including those with no previous exposure to these subjects – are eligible.

*Preference will be given to individuals who are employed by the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Diné College, San Carlos Apache College, Navajo Technical University and Tohono O’odham Community College however researchers across the U.S. are invited to apply.

2026 Indigenous DataSET Fellowship Structure and Schedule

Indigenous Peoples and their communities have been targets of extractive research practices for centuries. And, in the absence of comprehensive guidelines, standards, and laws outlining how ethical research involving Indigenous subjects is to be performed and how Indigenous data and knowledge are to be used, questionable practices persist in this area today.

As a Indigenous DataSET Fellow, you will be equipped over the course of the 2026 academic year with the knowledge, tools, and perspectives necessary to conduct research and steward data in ways that comport with the Arizona Board of Regents Tribal Consultation Policy, university policies, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights and interests. After six months of education and discussion, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a national Indigenous Data Sovereignty gathering.

As part of the program, each Indigenous DataSET Fellow will design and complete a year-long project that advances Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance within their field of study. Fellows will receive ongoing guidance from the project team, with opportunities to address questions and refine their work throughout the year. To strengthen connections and provide timely feedback, Fellows may also join weekly optional chats, which have proven valuable for building community and fostering collaboration. Fellows will also be required to attend mandatory quarterly check-ins via Zoom. 

How to Apply

To apply for the Indigenous DataSET Fellowship, you’ll need to provide:

Questions?

Please contact Andrew Martinez andrewmartinez@arizona.edu with any questions. 

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ITCA is pleased to take park in this collaborative project with the University of Arizona Indigenous DataSET Training Program, ITCA serves as the administrative support for the work of the project.

This work is funded by the National Institutes of Health grant ITCA NARCH XII (S06GM146125), as a Faculty/Researcher Career Enhancement Project entitled Enhancing early career research ethics to support Indigenous data governance in Arizona.