AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships 2027-2028: Paid Yearlong Policy Placements for U.S. Scientists and Engineers, Deadline 1 November 2026

AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships 2027-2028: Paid Yearlong Policy Placements for U.S. Scientists and Engineers, Deadline 1 November 2026

The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) are for scientists and engineers who want to work where technical evidence becomes public policy. The fellowship is a yearlong professional-development and public-service placement, not a short conference or a standard academic award. Selected fellows spend the 2027-2028 program year applying their scientific, engineering, analytical, and communication skills to policy work. Depending on the program area, the assignment may be in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the U.S. government, or through the Roger Revelle Fellowship in Global Stewardship and Pathways to Policy placements in eligible non-governmental organizations.

The 2027-2028 application cycle opened on 1 August 2026. The complete application and recommendation letters are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 1 November 2026. The fellowship begins on 1 September 2027 and ends on 31 August 2028. AAAS confirms that fellows receive a stipend, a yearlong professional-development workshop series, access to the STPF network, and opportunities related to leadership and science communication. The public application pages reviewed for this guide do not state the dollar value of the stipend for the 2027-2028 class, so applicants should not budget from an amount copied from an older cycle.

This guide explains the fit, eligibility, application sequence, selection timeline, and preparation choices that matter for this particular fellowship.

Key details at a glance

The most important practical point is that this is a professional transition. You are applying to use technical judgment with decision-makers and non-scientific audiences, not simply to continue a research project in a different building.

What the fellowship offers

STPF gives a technical professional a structured way to learn policymaking from inside the process. AAAS describes the program as an opportunity to learn first-hand about policymaking while contributing scientific knowledge and analytical skills to the federal policymaking process. That combination matters: the fellowship is not only training, and it is not only a job placement. The expected value is the ability to understand how policy is developed, communicate evidence under real constraints, and contribute useful analysis in an environment where decisions also involve political, economic, legal, and social considerations.

The support package includes a stipend. AAAS also lists a yearlong series of professional-development workshops, access to the fellows’ network, and professional opportunities in leadership and science communication. The exact stipend for the 2027-2028 class is not confirmed in the public materials currently available. Treat the award as paid support, but verify the amount, payment schedule, tax treatment, benefits, travel, and relocation terms with AAAS before accepting an offer or making a move.

There are four named fellowship areas. The executive branch track places fellows in federal agencies. The judicial branch track is connected with the Federal Judicial Center. The legislative branch track is carried out with congressional placements and partner societies. The Roger Revelle Fellowship in Global Stewardship can involve federal government and non-governmental placements. AAAS also describes Pathways to Policy placements in nonprofits, think tanks, and the private sector, using the same application and interview process. The available areas and host assignments can change, so applicants should read the current program-area descriptions inside the portal rather than assume that a past host office will return.

Who should consider applying

The strongest fit is a scientist or engineer who can show both technical competence and a sustained reason for working on public problems. AAAS welcomes a broad range of disciplines, career stages, and backgrounds. It is not looking only for people who already hold a policy title. A researcher who has advised a regulator, an engineer who has worked on standards, a physician who has communicated evidence to public officials, or a technical leader who has worked across community and government partners may all have a credible case.

The program’s own description points to several qualities: exceptional competence appropriate to career stage; strong endorsements from three references; an understanding of how science and engineering can support non-scientific issues; commitment to serving society; clear communication with decision-makers and non-scientific audiences; initiative; problem-solving; leadership; and flexibility when the policy question falls outside the applicant’s narrow specialty.

That list is a useful test of fit. If your proposed contribution is only “I want policymakers to fund my research,” the application is probably not ready. A better case explains a public problem, identifies where technical reasoning is currently weak or contested, and shows how your skills would help an office make or implement a decision. The fellowship can support a career that returns to academia, industry, government, or civil society, but the application needs a believable next step after the fellowship.

Eligibility requirements to check first

AAAS’s application overview lists a doctoral-level degree in a qualified discipline, such as a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or Ed.D., as a baseline route. The alternative route is an M.S. in engineering combined with three years of professional engineering experience. The degree or experience requirement must be satisfied in the form the application asks for; do not assume that a general master’s degree substitutes for the engineering route.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Dual citizenship with the United States and another country is acceptable. The portal also says applicants must be eligible to receive federal government funds through the System for Award Management and must be in compliance with applicable U.S. requirements. Selected placements may involve additional security clearance or background checks, and the final application agreement addresses ethics, conflicts of interest, outside employment, research, publishing, speaking, and honoraria.

You may apply to up to two fellowship program areas. That is a choice about fit, not a reason to send two copies of the same generic application. If you select two areas, make sure your statements explain why each area is a sensible setting for your experience and goals. AAAS also says that current or former fellows can apply again only with a compelling rationale for the value of another fellowship, and an individual may participate in no more than two program areas.

How to apply through the portal

The application has eight steps. First, complete the initial eligibility self-check. The system uses your answers to identify whether you meet the basic requirements and, if not, what would need to change in a future cycle. Second, enter your applicant background and complete the verification step. Third, select the fellowship program area or areas that match your goals.

The references step is a major part of the application. Three recommendation letters are required for each program-area application. Ask people who have directly observed your work, judgment, leadership, communication, or service—not simply the most famous person in your network. Give them the official deadline, your current CV, a short description of the fellowship, and a focused explanation of the policy direction you are pursuing.

The statements section asks about reasons for applying, qualifications, areas of interest, the role you imagine playing as a fellow, and career goals. It also asks for extracurricular activities, with examples such as work with community groups, professional associations, advisory or editorial committees, nonprofit organizations, outreach, and teaching to non-scientific audiences. The application overview says to upload the requested CV and not to send additional documents beyond what the system requests. Finish the review step, then complete the applicant agreement and signature. The application is not submitted until the final step is completed.

Timeline for the 2027-2028 class

The application opened 1 August 2026 and closes 1 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. AAAS expects eligibility notifications in mid to late November. Applicants should expect status and interview notifications in late January or early February 2027.

Semi-finalist interviews are scheduled for late February to early March 2027 and are conducted online. Semi-finalists will be asked to write and present a one-page briefing memo on a designated science-policy topic. AAAS says semi-finalists will have ten days to write the memo. Finalist Interview Week for the executive branch program area and Pathways to Policy is scheduled for spring 2027 and will be virtual. Placement offers begin from May through early June. The fellowship starts 1 September 2027, orientation is in early September, and the term ends 31 August 2028.

Work backward from 1 November, not from the interview notification. Allow time for references, degree verification, CV refinement, and a serious first draft of every statement. The ten-day briefing-memo window comes much later and is not a substitute for preparing now; it tests concise policy writing under a short deadline.

Materials and evidence to prepare

Start with a one-page inventory of evidence. For each example, record the problem, your responsibility, the audience, the action you took, and the result. Include technical work only when you can explain why it mattered outside the immediate project. A publication may demonstrate expertise, but a regulatory comment, public briefing, cross-sector project, community partnership, or implementation decision may better demonstrate policy usefulness.

Your CV should make the transition legible. Put leadership, public communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, service, and policy-facing work where a reviewer will see them. Do not hide the technical record; connect it to outcomes. If you have written for non-specialists, briefed senior leaders, taught across disciplines, or worked with communities affected by a technical decision, show the setting and result in plain language.

For the statements, draft one central through-line: the public problem you care about, the technical perspective you bring, what you need to learn, and what you will do with the experience afterward. Then adapt that through-line to each selected program area. Three references should reinforce the same story from different vantage points. Ask them for concrete examples rather than a list of adjectives.

How to make the case competitive

Write for a reviewer who is intelligent but may not know your field. Define the policy consequence before explaining the method. Replace “my work is important” with evidence of a decision, constraint, or population affected. Show that you understand uncertainty and tradeoffs. Policy work rarely offers the clean control conditions of a laboratory, so reviewers need to see that you can distinguish a strong finding from a plausible hypothesis and communicate both responsibly.

Demonstrate range without becoming vague. AAAS values the ability to work outside the scientific community, but breadth must be anchored in examples. One concise story about translating a difficult result for a public agency is more persuasive than a paragraph claiming to be an excellent communicator. One example of changing course when evidence or stakeholder needs changed is more useful than a generic leadership label.

Be specific about the fellowship year. Name the kinds of policy questions, institutions, audiences, or skills you want to understand. Do not promise to solve a national problem in twelve months. A realistic plan might involve learning how evidence enters a rulemaking process, improving technical briefings for legislative staff, or building a career that connects research and implementation. The best application makes the fellowship feel like a necessary next step, not a prestigious pause.

Common mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is waiting to contact references. Three letters per program area can become six requested letters if you apply to two areas, depending on how the portal handles submissions. Confirm the current instructions and give recommenders enough time to write specific letters.

The second is treating the CV as the whole application. STPF is assessing motivation, service, communication, flexibility, and policy awareness in addition to technical credentials. The third is submitting a research abstract where the application asks for a policy trajectory. Your subject expertise matters, but explain how it informs decisions and public outcomes.

The fourth is ignoring the formatting rules. AAAS says incomplete or incorrectly completed applications may be excluded and that only requested information will be considered. Check every character limit, file format, reference status, and final-signature screen. The fifth is assuming that a program area or host office from a prior year is guaranteed to be available in 2027-2028. Use the current portal descriptions.

Finally, do not treat the stipend as a confirmed salary figure until AAAS gives you the current terms. The public materials confirm paid support but do not publish the amount for this class. Ask about taxes, insurance, travel, relocation, and any placement-specific arrangements before accepting an offer.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027-2028 application open now?

Yes. AAAS states that the application opened on 1 August 2026. The complete application and recommendation letters are due 1 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

What is the stipend amount?

AAAS confirms that fellows receive a stipend, but the current public 2027-2028 pages reviewed do not publish a dollar amount. Treat the opportunity as paid and verify the current figure and payment terms with AAAS.

Can international scientists apply?

The general eligibility page requires U.S. citizenship, although dual U.S. citizenship is acceptable. An applicant who does not meet that requirement should not rely on the international scope of the policy work as a substitute.

Can I apply to more than one fellowship area?

Yes. AAAS permits applications to up to two program areas. Each choice should be supported by a clear fit argument, and the portal’s current instructions control how materials and references are handled.

Do I need a Ph.D.?

Not necessarily. A doctoral-level degree in a qualified discipline is one route. An M.S. in engineering plus three years of professional engineering experience is the alternative route listed by AAAS.

Where do fellows work?

Placements may be in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch, or in eligible non-governmental settings through the Roger Revelle and Pathways to Policy offerings. The exact placement depends on the program area and selection process.

Official links and next steps

Begin with the AAAS STPF application portal. Read the application overview, process and timeline, and About STPF pages before drafting. The application FAQ is the place to check questions about the current cycle, while the selection process page explains how applications move from eligibility review to interviews and placement.

Your immediate checklist is short: confirm citizenship and degree or engineering-experience eligibility, choose no more than two plausible program areas, ask references, download or review the current application prompts, and build a calendar that finishes the complete submission before 1 November 2026. Because the fellowship begins in September 2027, applicants have time to make a thoughtful career case—but only if the preparation starts during this open window.