What it is: As an ANS Congressional Fellow, you will be one of nearly 30 scientists and engineers participating annually in the Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program under the umbrella of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). More than 2,000 congressional fellows have served on Capitol Hill since the inception of the AAAS program in 1973. ANS initiated its program in 2000. The ANS Congressional Fellowship term runs from January through December each year.
What you’ll do: As the ANS Congressional Fellow, you will have an opportunity to work either in a U.S. senator's or representative's office or on a Senate or a House committee, becoming a direct contributor to the federal policymaking process.
“The ANS Congressional Fellow will be in a unique position to provide significant technical assistance to the U.S. Congress on nuclear energy, particularly now, as there are important discussions shaping the future of U.S. energy policy and direction,” said Harsh Desai, chair of the ANS Congressional Fellowship Committee and a former congressional fellow himself.
Along with providing Congress with expertise in nuclear science and technology, the fellow will support other issues of importance. In return, the fellow will gain a better understanding of how the legislative process works. The year as a “Beltway insider” often results in a new career direction.
Two Fellows wanted: Due to the success of the ANS Congressional Fellowship program, ANS was able to secure funding to expand the program. In 2023, for the first time, ANS will sponsor two congressional fellows.
Each ANS Congressional Fellow receives a stipend of $80,000, payable in monthly installments over 12 months, plus up to $5,000 in reimbursement for travel expenses related to attending the two-week AAAS orientation in September prior to the start of the fellowship and the ANS Annual Meeting in June and Winter Meeting in November of the fellowship year.