The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship, run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, places scientists, engineers and mathematicians in media outlets across the United States for 10 weeks each summer.
Fellows research, write and report as working journalists at hosts such as NPR, the Los Angeles Times and STAT, learning to explain science to non-specialists. Applications for Summer 2027 are open until January 4, 2027.
Benefits & funding
- $10,000 stipend for the summer.
- Travel to and from AAAS and the host site is covered.
- No housing, housing allowance, health care or employee benefits.
- 10 weeks, including orientation and wrap-up in Washington, DC.
Eligibility
- Upper-level undergraduate or graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, or people applying within one year of finishing either.
- Field: life, physical, health, engineering, computer or behavioral/social sciences, mathematics or related fields; students of English, journalism or other non-technical communications fields are ineligible (science journalism students qualify only with a STEM degree).
- US citizens (those studying abroad must pay their own way back), or holders of a visa that already allows paid summer work in the US, such as international students studying there; AAAS cannot help obtain or keep visas.
- Fellows must attend the early-June orientation and mid-August wrap-up at AAAS headquarters.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Applicants must a) be enrolled as students (upper level undergraduate or graduate), b) be a postdoctoral trainee, or c) apply within one year of the completion of a) or b).” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Residents of USA can also apply.
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD
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Application process
- 1Apply in the AAAS online portal by January 4, 2027.
- 2Submit six 250-word answers, a 1,000-word general-audience writing sample, a 750-word news story on primary research published on or after July 1, 2026 (not a paper you are named on) with its source article, and a CV of up to five pages.
- 3Affirm that no AI-generated text or images were used; declare any limited editing tools.
- 4Semi-finalists are generally interviewed by phone or video in March or early April.
Program timeline
Application deadline
Jan 4, 2027
Semi-finalist interviews
March–early April 2027
Final notifications
Mid-April 2027
Fellowship starts (DC orientation June 9–11)
Jun 9, 2027
Fellowship ends after DC wrap-up
Aug 24, 2027