PIPETTES TO POLICY:
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND TIPS
FOR ENHANCING YOUR APPLICATION
Yvette R. Seger, PhD
Director of Science Policy, FASEB
Topics Covered
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Is science policy for you?
What science policy fellowships are available?
What kind of experiences will help you prepare
for a career or fellowship in science policy?
Tips for preparing a competitive application for
a science policy fellowship
Is Science Policy for You?
What Is Science Policy?
 Science for Policy
 Using science to develop and drive policy decisions
 Policy for Science
 Government laws, regulations, and policies that affect
scientists and the research and development enterprise
The Science Policy Mentality
Do you enjoy…
 Learning a little bit about a lot of issues (instead of a lot
about one topic)?
 Keeping up with current events and issues in science?
 Interacting with people and resolving disagreements?
 Teaching scientific concepts (explaining scientific
information to non-scientists?)
 A fast-paced working environment?
 Writing for non-scientific audiences?
 Working under the pressure of tight deadlines?
Careers in Science Policy
Where do you find science policy professionals?
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Government and government advisory bodies
 Congress
 White House
 Science agencies (NIH, NSF, etc.)
 National Academies
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Associations (scientific societies, disease organizations)
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Industry (pharmaceutical and biotech companies)
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Universities (government relations offices)
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Think Tanks
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Start Ups
Science Policy Fellowships
Reasons to Pursue a Fellowship
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Enrich scientific training with policy experience
Interest in assisting with the development of
policy in a specific area
Desire to “test-drive” a career in policy
Fellowship Goals
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Increase awareness of the policy process
within the scientific community
Incorporate subject matter experts (e.g., YOU)
into the development of policy
Engage researchers in advocacy activities
Enhance communication skills of scientists
Expand career opportunities available for PhDtrained scientists
Finding a Fellowship
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Professional Societies/Associations
Foundations
Government Agencies (State & Federal)
Institutional
AAAS S & T Policy Fellowships
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Fellowships in 7 program areas:
 Congressional
(2/cycle)
 Diplomacy, Security & Development (30-40/cycle)
 Energy, Environment, Agriculture (30-40/cycle)
 Health, Education & Human Services (3040/cycle)
 Big Data & Analytics (5-15/pilot)
 Judicial Branch (1-2/pilot)
 Roger Revelle Fellowship in Global Stewardship
(1/cycle)
AAAS S & T Policy Fellowships
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Eligibility
Must hold doctoral degree
 Must be U.S. citizen
 Cannot be federal employee
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Three-tier Application/Review Process
Application
 Semi-finalist Interviews
 Placement Interviews
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Commitment
One-year fellowships, option for one renewal
 Stipend (varies) and relocation benefits
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AAAS S & T Policy Fellowships
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Congressional
 Fellows
work on Capitol Hill
 Offices
of Members of Congress
 Congressional Committees
 Assist
in research, development and drafting of
legislation and provide input to policy review and
oversight
 AAAS places two Fellows, but also partners with
~30 professional societies to administer
Congressional Fellowships
Congressional Fellowship Partners
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Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
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Acoustical Society of America
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American Association of Colleges of
Pharmacy
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American Chemical Society
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American Geosciences Institute
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American Geophysical Union
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American Institute of Physics
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American Mathematical Society
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American Meteorological Society
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American Nuclear Society
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American Psychological Association
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American Physical Society
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American Society of Agronomy/Crop
Science Society of America/Soil
Science Society of America
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American Society of
Anesthesiologists
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American Sociological Association
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American Society of Civil Engineers
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American Society for Microbiology
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American Society of Mechanical
Engineers
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American Veterinary Medical
Association
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Biophysical Society
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Federation of Animal Science
Societies
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Geological Society of America
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Institute of Electric and Electronics
Engineers
Congressional Fellowship Partners
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Institute of Food Technologists
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Institute of Navigation
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Materials Research Society
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The Optical Society
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The International Society for Optics
and Photonics
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Society for Research in Child
Development
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Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and
Exploration, Inc.
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Society for the Psychological Study
of Social Issues
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Society for Automotive Engineers
International
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The Minerals, Metals, and Materials
Society
AAAS S & T Policy Fellowships
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Health, Education, & Human Services
Program
 Fellows
placed at federal agencies
 Department
of Health & Human Services
 National Institutes of Health
 National Science Foundation
 Department of Veterans Affairs
 Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA)
 Support
improved programs, policies, planning,
risk analysis, regulation, monitoring and
evaluation for a broad range of initiatives
 AAAS places 30-40 Fellows per cycle
Mirzayan S & T Policy Fellowship
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Sponsored by The National Academies
12-week fellowship with an Academies
Committee, Board, or Unit
$8,500 stipend
Open to current graduate or professional school
students or applicants within five years of
completing degree
Open to international applicants (F-1 [CPT or
OPT], J-2 dependents, J-1 students or research
scholars, DACA recipients, adjustment
applicants/refugees/asylees/other select visa
categories
FASEB Society Fellowships
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American Society for Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology
 12-18
month Fellowship (1/cycle)
 Stipend and healthcare benefits
 Fellows work in ASBMB Office of Public Affairs
 Research
and Analysis
 Advocacy
 Communications
 Recent
doctoral graduate
 U.S. citizen or permanent resident
FASEB Society Fellowships
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American Society for Human Genetics
 16
month Fellowship (1/cycle)
 Rotations on NHGRI Education Office, ASHG
Office, and optional third rotation (e.g.,
Smithsonian, NSF, etc)
 Advanced degree in human genetics
 Must be eligible to work in U.S.
FASEB Society Fellowships
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American Association for Immunologists
 12
month Public Policy Fellowship Program (up to
10/cycle)
 Opportunity for postdocs and early career
investigators to learn about and participate in
AAI’s Public Policy and Legislative Activities
 Participate in AAI Capitol Hill Day
 Attend the AAI Annual Meeting and participate in
Public Policy sessions
 Serve on AAI Public Policy Committee
FASEB Society Fellowships
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American Society for Nutrition
12 month Fellowships (2/cycle)
 Must be ASN members
 Based at home institution, but will travel once to D.C.
during fellowship
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Participate in Capitol Hill and federal agency visits
 Mentorship component
 Serve on ASN’s Public Policy Committee
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Advanced grad students, postdocs, early career
professionals, medical interns, residents, or fellows
 Must be eligible to work in U.S. and based at U.S.
institution during fellowship
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FASEB Society Fellowships
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American Society for Pharmacology and
Experimental Therapeutics
12 month Fellowships (up to 10/cycle)
 Must be ASPET members
 Based at home institution, but will travel to D.C. during
fellowship
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Participate in Capitol Hill and federal agency visits
 Attend Experimental Biology (annual meeting)
 Serve as science advocates in home district
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Open to grad students, postdocs, and early career
researchers (within 4 years of degree completion)
 Must be eligible to work in U.S.
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Hellman Fellowships
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American Academy for Arts & Sciences
 12
month Fellowship (possibility of renewal)
 Based in Cambridge, MA
 Fellows contribute to ongoing projects within the
Academy’s Initiative
 Open to grad students, postdocs, and early
career researchers (within 4 years of degree
completion)
 Must be eligible to work in U.S.
Skills and Experiences
Skills For Science
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Many scientific research skills are actually
applicable to science policy…
 Scientific
content knowledge and
understanding of the scientific process
 Analytical and critical thinking skills
 Ability to learn quickly and master new topics
 Project management and organization
 Understanding how to interpret data
 Presentation skills
Skills For Science Policy
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Communication
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Consensus Building
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Convey scientific information and its importance
to non-scientists
Non-technical writing
Public speaking
FASEB statements reflect the views of 27 diverse
organizations
Networking
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Being well-connected and fostering professional
relationships
Pathways to Careers in Science Policy
Great ways to develop science policy skills:
 Join and participate in a scientific society or
organization
 Contribute articles or letters to local newspapers
and/or institution or society newsletters
 Teach or mentor in your community
 Volunteer at a local science museum
 Participate in a Capitol Hill Day
 Stay informed on science issues in the news
 Network to make contacts outside your field (and
keep them)
Pathways to Careers in Science Policy
Great ways to develop science policy skills:
 Internships with institutional Offices of Government
Relations, Technology Transfer, or Sponsored
Research
 Internships with foundations or advocacy
organizations
 Organize policy discussion groups
 Invite elected officials to your lab
 Work on a political campaign
 Informational interviews
Preparing Your Application
Application Tips
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Be aware of deadlines!
Be sure you are eligible before you apply
Provide references with relevant program
information and copies of your application
materials
Contact program manager if you have any
questions
Speak with former fellows about their
experiences in the program
Personal Statement
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Avoid the trap of preparing a “one-size-fits-all”
personal statement
Review for grammar and spelling
Avoid scientific jargon/acronyms
Have multiple friends (scientific and nonscientific) review your statement
Express clear areas of policy interest/focus
Incorporate aspects of fellowship program to
which you are attracted
Curriculum Vitae/Resumé
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Reorganize to emphasize policy activities
Beware the oversell
Review for grammar and spelling
Avoid scientific jargon/acronyms
Speak with potential references about your
career goals prior to listing them on your CV
Writing Samples
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Preferably not scientific papers!
 Seek
opportunities to write for institutional
newsletters or press releases
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Many programs ask for two-page policy brief
If multiple authors, be prepared to discuss your
contributions
Interview
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Prepare your personal “elevator speech”
Do not assume interviewers are scientists
Develop a list of questions (avoid salary!)
Review key materials from website
Dress for the job you want
Have copies of CV, personal statement,
reference contact information, and writing
samples
Questions?
For More Information…
FASEB Office of Public Affairs
http://www.faseb.org/Policy-and-Government-Affairs.aspx
Yvette Seger, PhD
Director of Science Policy
yseger@faseb.org
(301) 634-7124
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