The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF), run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, place scientists and engineers in yearlong assignments across the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the US federal government.
Fellows work in the Washington, D.C. area, mostly in person, learning how policy is made while applying their expertise. The program places more than 150 fellows a year; the 2025–26 cohort is its 53rd class.
Benefits & funding
- Stipend of $101,401–$131,826 a year, plus reimbursement for health care insurance.
- Pay, benefits and hiring type can differ by placement.
- 12 months, 1 September to 31 August; some placements renew for a second year by mutual agreement.
- A two-week orientation and a year of professional development.
Eligibility
- US citizenship required; dual citizens holding US citizenship qualify.
- By 1 November: a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., DVM, EdD, PharmD or similar) in a qualified field, or an MS in engineering plus three years of professional engineering experience.
- Legislative Branch AI Fellowship route: a Ph.D., an MS plus at least three years of post-degree work, or a BS plus five years of post-degree work.
- International degrees count if equivalent to a US degree; applicants supply the proof.
- Federal employees (including Title 42 positions and Presidential Management Fellows) and active-duty military cannot apply.
- Must be eligible for federal funding through SAM and comply with Selective Service requirements.
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.
Eligible nationalities
USA
Education required
Bachelor · Master · PhD
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Choose up to two fellowship program areas and apply through the AAAS portal by 1 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET.
- 2Three recommendation letters per program area must arrive by the same deadline; fewer makes the application ineligible.
- 3Pay a non-refundable verification fee (amount not published) once per year, for third-party checks of education and citizenship.
- 4Shortlisted candidates sit semi-finalist interviews and, in some areas, a virtual finalist interview week.
Program timeline
Application and letter deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
Nov 1, 2026
Interview status notices
Late Jan–early Feb 2027
Semi-finalist interviews
Late Feb–early Mar 2027
Placement offers begin
May–early Jun 2027
Fellowship starts (ends Aug 31, 2028)
Sep 1, 2027