As the program's inaugural judicial fellow, Shubha Ghosh enjoyed an instructive experience at the Federal Judicial Center (FJC). He researched and drafted reports on patent litigation and the federal judiciary. “My activity overlapped with my research and teaching interests. The fellowship was a great environment in which to open up new avenues for research and to make contacts.” -Shubha Ghosh, 2014-15 Judicial Branch Fellow
Since 1973, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows have brought technical expertise and scientific insight to the federal government.
- The program
- The result
- Who are the fellows?
- What do fellows do?
- Participating agency: Federal Judicial Center
Questions? Please email us here.
The program
The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships® program (STPF) provides an opportunity for accomplished scientists and engineers to contribute to the policymaking process. The program fosters evidence-based policy and practice by engaging the scientific and analytical skills of scientists and engineers, and builds leadership for a policy-savvy science and technology enterprise that benefits society. Fellows serve in one year assignments that begin each September.
The result
In addition to the contributions to the host office, fellowships have a profound ongoing effect. Those who transition into government, the nonprofit arena and industry often take leadership roles applying and communicating science broadly. Many STPF fellows who return to academia incorporate modules on policy and communicating science to non-scientists into their teaching, and focus more of their research toward addressing policy challenges. STPF fellows are an ever-growing network of professionals helping improve policy outcomes and mentoring new generations of scientists and engineers.
Who are the fellows?
AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows are highly skilled, doctoral-level (with a few exceptions) scientists and engineers. They represent a vast spectrum of scientific disciplines including behavioral/social, biological, health/medical, physical and computational sciences, and all fields of engineering. They range from early- to senior-career professionals and come from academia, industry, nonprofits, government labs, and international organizations.
Fellows are selected through a highly competitive review process. Selection criteria include: educational and professional credentials and references; competence in a specific area of science or engineering; interest in the application of science to policy; excellence in communication; and leadership capacity.
What do fellows do?
Fellows serve alongside staff in the Research Division of the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) for a full year from September through August. They serve as a resource to FJC staff in his or her substantive areas of science and technology expertise.
Activities may include:
- Providing informed advice, analysis, and recommendations for senior leaders.
- Conducting substantive research and preparing reports on science, technology, and law-related policy matters.
- Synthesizing data from a wide variety of sources.
- Presenting analyses of the information.
- Preparing project reports, briefings, talking points, and related correspondence.
- Advising and assisting staff in formulating and developing policy-related options for the federal judiciary.
- Advising staff on science and technology-related research project data collection needs and requirements to assist in developing policy.
Federal Judicial Center
The Research Division of the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) undertakes empirical and exploratory research on federal judicial processes, court management, and sentencing and its consequences. The FJC is the research and education agency of the federal judicial system. Its statutory duties include: 1) conducting and promoting research on federal judicial procedures and court operations; 2) conducting and promoting orientation and continuing education and training for federal judges, court employees, and others; 3) conducting and fostering the study and preservation of federal judicial history; and 4) providing information and advice to improve the administration of justice in the courts of foreign countries and inform federal judicial personnel of developments in foreign court systems that could affect their work.