How We Work
Welcome to our Open Research Projects
Rooted in our core mission to optimize public service workforce policy, this space lists all active, open research tracks where we invite meaningful contributions from federal employees, public administration practitioners, policy researchers, labor representatives, and members of the public who bring firsthand experience or relevant expertise to the table. You do not need formal research credentials to participate: frontline federal staff with on-the-ground perspective, subject-matter specialists, and community advocates are all deeply valued contributors to our work.
Legal & Regulatory Review of Civil Service Workforce Rules
We systematically review U.S. Code, OPM guidance, and agency workforce regulations to flag outdated, conflicting provisions that block federal employee career growth. We deliver plain-language summaries for policymakers and staff, plus draft policy amendments fully aligned with existing civil service law.
Professional Development & Training Policy Evaluation
We audit federal training mandates, funding, and upskilling programs to spot underused resources, outdated rules, and unmet workforce skill gaps. Our reports highlight proven agency-led initiatives, and propose updates that turn one-off training into continuous, career-long learning support.
Equity & Inclusion in Federal Workforce Advancement
This research analyzes disparities in promotion access, leadership representation, and development support for underrepresented federal groups — veterans, disabled staff, rural workers, and first-generation public servants. We deliver targeted recommendations to build inclusive advancement systems that ensure no talented public servant is locked out of opportunity.
Career Pathway & Promotion System Analysis
We map structural gaps in federal promotion frameworks — including opaque criteria, inter-agency transfer barriers, and inequitable outcomes — and publish comparative assessments of high-performing agency career ladders, with data-backed fixes to make advancement predictable and accessible for all federal staff.
Submit Written Contributions
Share your perspective on federal workforce policy in whatever format works best for you. You can send structured written feedback on existing policy drafts, firsthand personal anecdotes about navigating federal career advancement, anonymized data insights from your agency, or a full formal research proposal aligned with our mission. All submissions are reviewed directly by our research team, and you may request full anonymity if you wish to keep your input disconnected from your name or agency affiliation.
Join a Confidential Virtual Roundtable
Join a small, closed, no-audience online discussion with 3–5 other federal employees, practitioners and advocates. No media, no agency leadership, no official meeting minutes will be distributed outside our research team. This space is built for you to share unfiltered, honest experiences about federal career development barriers, gaps and successes — without the workplace constraints that often limit public feedback. Every roundtable’s collective input is compiled into an anonymous summary that feeds directly into our formal policy recommendations.
Book a 1:1 Virtual Conversation
Schedule a private 30–60 minute online call with a member of our research team. This is your space to dive deep into your specific area of expertise, walk through nuanced career development challenges you have observed, or discuss targeted ideas you believe would move federal workforce policy forward. The conversation is fully confidential, no notes will be shared with third parties, and you can shape the full agenda to focus exactly on what matters most to you.
Co-Produce a Targeted Policy Analysis
If you bring specialized subject-matter experience, access to unique datasets, or deep professional insight on a specific federal workforce topic, we invite you to collaborate with our team to co-develop a full public policy analysis. You will work alongside our researchers to design the analysis framework, review findings, and co-author actionable, evidence-based recommendations that are published publicly under shared credit. This opportunity is open to individual contributors as well as teams from mission-aligned organizations.
Join Our Work Advancing Public Policy
Multiple flexible ways to get involved
You may submit written feedback, personal anecdotes, data insights, or formal research proposals directly to our team via email, join a confidential virtual roundtable to share unfiltered input, sign up for a one-on-one virtual conversation with our research staff, or collaborate with us on a targeted policy analysis aligned with your area of expertise. Every contribution we receive is reviewed by our policy team, and directly shapes the evidence-based recommendations we deliver to federal agencies, congressional oversight bodies, and national workforce stakeholders.
We believe the strongest federal workforce policies are not written in closed conference rooms in Washington, D.C. — they are built together, with input from the people who live and breathe public service every day.
To explore any of our open research tracks or propose a new collaboration aligned with our mission, email our research team at research contact@pspulse.org today.
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What services does Veto offer to political candidates? veto provides camp website development, social media management, and campaign strategy consulting to enhance voter engagement.
What services does Veto offer to political candidates? veto provides camp website development, social media management, and campaign strategy consulting to enhance voter engagement.
