Policy Fellowships: Breaking Into US Policy

Horizon Public Service
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Want to enter US policy? These short guides walk through the structure, benefits, and tradeoffs of specific fellowship programs serving as springboards into US tech policy—whether you’re a recent grad or a mid-career professional. Narrations of emergingtechpolicy.org guides by the Horizon Institute for Public Service.

Episodes

  1. 03/31/2025

    “AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship” by Horizon Institute for Public Service

    The AAAS Science & Technology Policy (STP) Fellowship allows scientists and engineers to gain first-hand policy experience by serving for 1-2 years in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the federal government. --- Outline: (00:20) Introduction (03:45) Why you should consider the AAAS STPF (05:24) Why you might not like the AAAS STPF (08:01) What's the AAAS S&T Policy Fellowship like? (08:06) What type of work do you do? (09:20) Congressional track (10:55) Executive branch track (11:55) Can I do work that is relevant to emerging technology policy? (12:47) Having a successful fellowship (16:23) What can I do after the fellowship? (17:33) How does the fellowship compare with other opportunities? (18:45) Salary and benefits (20:30) Renewing the fellowship after the first year (21:35) Becoming a AAAS S&T Policy Fellow (21:40) Eligibility (23:01) Positions sponsored by partner societies (24:56) Application process and interviews (26:37) Placement process (26:53) Executive branch fellows (28:44) Congressional fellows (29:40) Orientation (30:13) Resources --- If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests. The original text contained 5 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- Last updated: July 10th, 2024 Source: https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/policy-fellowships/aaas-science-and-technology-policy-fellowship

  2. 03/31/2025

    “US Google Public Policy Fellowship” by Horizon Institute for Public Service

    A summer or semester-long fellowship for college and graduate students offering part-time and full-time opportunities at tech policy think tanks and industry groups in Washington, DC. --- Outline: (01:00) Why you should consider the Google Public Policy Fellowship (02:30) Eligibility (03:05) Fellowship structure and experience (03:10) What is the time commitment? (03:32) Where can you work as a fellow? (04:34) What type of work do you do during your placement? (05:48) What are the salary and benefits? (06:08) What are the options after the fellowship? Can I stay at the host organization? (06:30) What are professional development opportunities? (07:07) Can I do work that is relevant to emerging technology policy? (07:21) Becoming a Google Public Policy Fellow (07:25) How selective is the fellowship (07:56) What does the application process involve? (08:39) What qualities does the fellowship look for? --- If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests. --- Last updated: October 31st, 2024 Source: https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/policy-fellowships/google-public-policy-fellowship

  3. 03/31/2025

    “STPI Science Policy Fellowship” by Horizon Institute for Public Service

    A 2-year full-time science and technology policy fellowship with US executive branch offices for recent college graduates. --- Outline: (01:24) Who is eligible? (02:15) The STPI Science Policy Fellow experience (02:20) Which government offices do you work for? (03:39) What type of work do you do? (04:37) Who are your coworkers? (05:53) What are the salary and benefits? (06:43) Can you stay in government afterward? (07:37) What are professional development opportunities? (08:41) Can I do work that is relevant to emerging technology policy? (10:24) What are potential downsides of the fellowship? (12:13) Becoming a STPI Science Policy Fellow (12:17) How selective is the Science Policy Fellowship? (13:02) What does the application process involve? (13:24) Written application (14:27) Interview (15:06) In-person interview (18:06) What qualities does the Science Policy Fellowship look for? (20:24) Further reading --- If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests. The original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- Last updated: February 25th, 2025 Source: https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/policy-fellowships/stpi

  4. 03/31/2025

    “Scoville Peace Fellowship” by Horizon Institute for Public Service

    A 6-9 month full-time security policy fellowship with DC-based NGOs and think tanks for early-career bachelor’s or master’s graduates. --- Outline: (00:15) Summary: Why you should consider the Scoville Fellowship (00:58) Who is eligible? (01:58) Why you might not want to apply (02:35) The Scoville experience (02:38) When does the fellowship take place? (03:11) What types of work do you do during your placement? (07:11) Which organizations host Scoville Fellows? (08:05) What are the salary and benefits? (09:16) What do Fellows go on to do after their fellowship? Can you stay on at the host organization? (10:26) What activities besides work are involved in the fellowship? (11:58) How the Scoville Fellowship compares with other opportunities (13:25) Becoming a Scoville Fellow (13:28) How selective is the Scoville Fellowship (13:57) What does the application process involve? (14:01) Initial Application (15:02) Finalist (15:52) Host organization selection (16:36) What qualities does the Scoville Fellowship look for? --- If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests. --- Last updated: May 13th, 2024 Source: https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/policy-fellowships/scoville

  5. 03/31/2025

    “TechCongress Fellowship” by Horizon Institute for Public Service

    TechCongress offers 10-12 month bipartisan full-time congressional fellowships for early- to mid-career professionals with technical experience. No prior policy experience is required. --- Outline: (01:09) Why you should consider the TechCongress Fellowship (02:16) Eligibility (04:13) Fellowship structure and experience (04:18) Structure and timelines (06:41) Where can you work in Congress? (07:12) What type of work do you do during your placement? (08:55) What are the salary and benefits? (10:01) What are professional development opportunities? (10:51) What are (government) opportunities after the fellowship? (11:46) Can I do work that is relevant to emerging technology policy? (12:10) What are potential downsides of the fellowship? (13:11) Becoming a TechCongress Fellow (13:14) What does the application process involve? (14:02) Applications tips (15:23) What qualities does the fellowship look for? (16:01) Appendix: Helpful resources --- If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests. --- Last updated: July 10th, 2024 Source: https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/policy-fellowships/techcongress

  6. 03/31/2025

    “Boren Awards” by Horizon Institute for Public Service

    A 2-12 month language scholarship for US undergraduates and graduate students that facilitates post-fellowship employment with the US government. --- Outline: (00:14) Summary (01:01) Program details (04:28) Getting a Boren Award (04:31) Eligibility (06:10) Language and country choice (07:53) Optimizing language and country choice (08:51) Application process (11:22) The Boren Award experience (11:26) Upsides of doing a Boren Award (11:30) Substantial financial support for studying abroad (12:40) Extreme flexibility regarding program chosen and material studied (13:56) Career support and hiring privileges (16:19) High admissions rate for specific programs (16:50) Credential and signaling (17:13) Downsides of doing a Boren Award (17:25) Flexibility in program choice can be a curse (18:13) No guarantee of obtaining a government job (20:22) Few professional opportunities to use Boren language skills (21:06) Regional Flagship Language Initiatives (FLIs) (22:10) Upsides of FLIs (23:16) Downsides of FLIs (24:35) Boren Awards relative to other US federal awards --- If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests. The original text contained 10 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- Last updated: July 10th, 2024 Source: https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/policy-fellowships/boren

  7. 03/31/2025

    “Presidential Management Fellowship (discontinued)” by Horizon Institute for Public Service

    A prestigious 2-year full-time executive branch fellowship for graduate and post-graduate degree holders—among the best entryways for agency work. --- Outline: (01:07) Summary: Why you should consider PMF (03:00) Who is eligible? (05:02) Why the PMF might be a bad fit for you (06:21) The PMF experience (06:39) Which government offices host PMFs? (09:32) What types of work do you do during your placement? (12:49) What skills do you get to use and build? (15:04) What are the salary and benefits? (17:23) Can you stay on in government afterward? (20:58) Becoming a PMF (21:18) How selective is the PMF program? (22:16) What does the application process involve? (24:48) What qualities does the PMF program look for? (26:14) How does the finalist stage work? (29:00) Can I match at an office that works on emerging technology and security policy? (31:04) Conclusion --- If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests. The original text contained 25 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- Last updated: March 21st, 2024 Source: https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/policy-fellowships/pmf

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Want to enter US policy? These short guides walk through the structure, benefits, and tradeoffs of specific fellowship programs serving as springboards into US tech policy—whether you’re a recent grad or a mid-career professional. Narrations of emergingtechpolicy.org guides by the Horizon Institute for Public Service.

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