Call For Fellowship Applications: Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program

The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program has launched the application for the 2024 Mirzayan Fellowship! We are seeking early-career scientists, engineers, and medical professionals and/or late-stage graduate students with a strong interest in science and technology policy work.

Key Dates

Application Deadline: October 16, 2023, 11:59 PM ET
Session Start: March 4, 2024

Session End: May 24, 2024

Please visit our website for details or reach out to MirzayanFellowship@nas.edu with any questions.

Overview

The Mirzayan Fellowship is a full-time, hands-on training and educational program that provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation.

Each year, applicants from around the world join a National Academies unit where they are assigned to a mentor and learn about the world of science and technology policy. An immersive experience, the goals of the Mirzayan Fellowship are to help Fellows:

• Deepen their understanding of science and technology policy;
• Discover new career paths that engage both science and policy communities;
• Understand the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation by working closely with a mentor within the National Academies;
• Expand their perception of how the science and technology ecosystem operates in Washington, DC by attending meetings and policy-related activities outside of the National Academies;
• Obtain essential skills and knowledge needed to work in science policy at the federal, state, or local levels; and
• Build a network of Fellows and program alumni who will stay connected with each other and with the Academies.

Eligibility

We are seeking early-career scientists, engineers, and medical professionals and/or late-stage graduate students with a strong interest in science and technology policy work. International students and individuals with under-represented backgrounds in the sciences, engineering, and medicine are encouraged to apply. We highly encourage those with strong interest but little experience in policy to apply.

The Mirzayan Fellowship is open to applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Able to attend the full 12-week program in-person in Washington, D.C. from March 4 – May 24, 2024.
• Are one of the following:
• Current graduate, postdoctoral, or professional school student pursuing a terminal degree (e.g., Ph. D, M.D., etc.) in any discipline within the sciences, engineering, or medicine (including the social sciences); OR
• Have obtained their terminal degree or completed post-doctoral/medical doctor training within the last five (5) years in any discipline within the sciences, engineering, or medicine (including the social sciences). Note: Applicants who exceed this limit due to caregiving leave or military service can still apply.
• Are based in the United States and do not require visa sponsorship from the National Academies in order to remain in the U.S. during the program dates.

How to Apply

To submit an application for the Mirzayan Fellowship, please complete our online application by following these steps:

1. Visit our websiteto learn more or read our FAQs.
2. Set up an account on our online application platform by clicking the Register button at the top right of this page. If you have applied before, use the Login button.
3. Review the 2024 Mirzayan Fellowship Application Preview document posted on our website to understand the application requirements.
4. Review thelist of Prospective Program Unitsand select up to five that are of interest to you.
5. Prepare your application materials, including:

• Short Bio (maximum 250 words)
• Short CV (maximum 3 pages, PDF)
• Preferred program units (Choose 5)
• Two references, which demonstrate how you fulfill the selection criteria outlined in the Selection Process section below. (maximum 2 pages per letter, PDF).

Note: We recommend that current graduate students include one letter from an academic advisor who knows them well and can confirm the anticipated degree completion date.

• Statement of Interest (maximum 500 words)

1. Notify your referees. Provide their email address in your application as soon as possible to maximize their time to submit. Note: Mailed reference letters will not be accepted.
2. Submit your application materials via our online application platform by October 16, 11:59 pm. Note: All application materials must be complete and submitted via our online form to be considered.

For questions, please contact MirzayanFellowship@nas.edu.