Fellows at a Year End Summit.
The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) is a cooperative initiative of more than 30 scientific and engineering societies, each of which selects and supports highly skilled scientists and engineers for one year fellowships in Washington, DC. Each partner society has its own application deadlines, procedures, degree requirements, and stipend levels. Applicants may apply to more than one society.
Fellowships provide accomplished individuals the opportunity to contribute to the policymaking process, and gain first-hand experience with federal decision-making, policy development, and implementation. Fellows serve in executive branch agencies, on the staffs of Members of Congress, and in congressional committees. They also participate in a two-week orientation in September conducted by AAAS, and a yearlong professional development program.
- List of partner societies
- What is a partner society?
- How to become a partner
- What are the criteria for partnership?
Partner Societies
Some fellows are sponsored by partner societies. Each society has distinct application deadlines, procedures, degree requirements, and stipend levels. Contact them directly for details. Applicants may apply to more than one society.
* American Statistical Association, Association for Computing Machinery, American Mathematical Society, Institute of Mathematical Statistics, Mathematical Association of America, and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics.
What is a partner society?
A partner society is a national or international scientific or engineering association that sponsors one or more fellows under the umbrella of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships. Societies are typically 501(c)(3) organizations with a majority of members at the doctoral levels who are professionally involved in research or education related to science and engineering. Partner societies conduct their own application and selection processes, and may offer different stipends and support.
How to become a partner
After reviewing the partnership criteria below, please contact Christine Rovner for a partner society application. The Fellowship Advisory Committee meets three times a year to review applications – typically in May, January and October. Applications are due at the beginning of the month prior to the meeting.
What are the criteria for partnership?
Partnership is open to scientific or engineering societies. Partnership is not open to universities or university associations, academic institutions or consortia, trade associations, foundations, or commercial sponsors, or professional societies without a significant focus on science or engineering.
All partner societies agree to sponsor at least one congressional fellow; in addition, they may choose to sponsor an executive or judicial branch fellowship. Final judgment as to whether or not an organization fully satisfies the criteria below is made by AAAS in consultation with the Fellowship Advisory Committee.
Partner societies must:
- Be national or international in scope/membership.
- Have individual members of whom a significant portion:
- Hold a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or other terminal degree level (engineers with a master’s degree or higher).
- Are directly involved professionally in science and engineering research or applied activities, or in education related to science and engineering.
- Exhibit one or more of the following metrics:
- Publication of one or more reputable peer-reviewed journals.
- Members who have published in other recognized peer-reviewed journals.
- Funding of research or other scientific activities (i.e., scientific conferences, publications).
A society’s fellowship program criteria, policies, and procedures must:
- Require candidates to be scientists with a Ph.D. or equivalent level doctoral degree, or engineers with a master’s degree or higher, who demonstrate exceptional competence in their fields.
- Be committed to the concept of “free agency,” allowing its fellows to select a placement assignment and to work without direction, influence, or an agenda from the sponsoring organization.
- Be sensitive to both real and perceived conflicts of interest in all interactions with fellows.
- Adhere to the principles, policies, and ethics guidelines of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships.