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Policy ContactAGU Congressional Science Fellowship
Term, Stipend, and Administration
Fellows perform as regular staff members. In the past they have performed every type of work normally asked of the permanent staff, whether they are in individual offices or with committees. Activities may range from assisting in the preparation of major parts of budget authorization bills, writing press releases or speeches for Members on a wide range of topics, answering constituent mail, assisting in legislative debates on the floors of the House and the Senate, or meeting with lobbyists, special interest groups or agency representatives.
Fellows are requested to write at least four short articles about their experiences on the Hill throughout their Fellowship year and submit them for publication in Eos.
Fellowships are for one year. The Fellowship year for most Fellows usually begins the Wednesday after Labor Day with an intensive two week orientation program organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The orientation program provides exposure to various aspects of the legislative process, to pertinent issues before Congress, and to many agencies and organizations interacting with Congress at various levels. Following orientation, the Fellow will select a position in the House or Senate.
The AGU Fellowship carries with it a stipend of up to $65,000 for 12 months, plus allowances of $2,000 for vouchered travel and moving expenses incurred during relocation, $2,000 for appropriate vouchered travel expenses incurred during the fellowship year and $1,000 for travel to AGU meetings. Health care coverage is reimbursed by AGU.
Although AAAS coordinates the entire Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program on behalf of the scientific, engineering and professional organizations participating in the program, each organization selects, sponsors and supports its own Fellow(s). The AGU Fellows stipend is paid by AGU. The stipend level and selection criteria are established by AGU. The selection process is highly competitive. A committee of former AGU Congressional Science Fellows reviews applications and interviews finalists before making its selection.
Selection Criteria
All members of AGU who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States are invited to apply for the fellowship. Though the program is aimed at geoscientists with a doctorate degree, there are no absolute restrictions on age, educational or career level, or specific scientific background.
Applicants are not required to have experience in public policy, although such experience and/or a demonstrable interest in applying science to the solution of public problems are desirable. In their assignment, Fellows will be doing a variety of work, some of which may be directly related to their training, but all of which will put demands on their scientific education. For this reason it is very important that prospective Fellows have a broad background in science. In addition, they are expected to be articulate, literate, flexible, and able to work on a variety of public policy problems with people from diverse professional backgrounds.
Ph.D. candidates should be absolutely sure that work on their degree will be completed prior to the commencement of the program year since experience has shown that fellows do not have time to work on their thesis. Degree candidates should include among their references a letter from their adviser stating the status of their thesis and the anticipated date of completion.
Candidates must be members of or applying for membership in AGU.
Application
In addition to the online application, interested candidates should submit a letter of intent, a curriculum vitae (including publications), and three letters of recommendation. All credentials must be received no later than 1 February 2013. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.
LETTER OF INTENT, including:
- a statement of why the fellowship is desired,
- how the candidate is qualified for it,
- what issues and congressional situations interest the candidate,
- what role the candidate envisions as a Congressional Science Fellow and,
- what outcome the candidate hopes for in relation to career goals.
CURRICULUM VITAE detailing personal and professional data, including a publications appendix.
THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION should be from individuals who are able to discuss not only the candidates professional competence, but also other aspects of his or her background that would make the candidate particularly qualified to serve as a Congressional Science Fellow. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to AGU by the writer.
It is the candidates responsibility to make sure all application materials arrive at AGU by the deadline, 1 February 2013. AGU will not notify individuals of incomplete applications.
All questions about the fellowship should be directed to Kristan Uhlenbrock at kuhlenbrock@agu.org.