Winter 2009 Fellows
The National Academies have just announced that they are soliciting applications for the next two sessions of their Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Graduate Fellowship Program. One is a Winter-Spring session (Feb. 3 – April 28, 2010) and the other is a Summer session (Aug. 30 – Nov. 19, 2010). Both take place in Washington, D.C., at one of the National Academies facilities.
Named in honor of a Fellowship who was killed while participating in a session in 1998, the program is meant to go beyond the technical side of science. It is designed to engage its participants in an analytical process that shapes U.S. science and technology policy. Applicants selected as Fellows learn how to work in science policy at the federal, state, or local levels.
To be eligible, applicants must be either a graduate student, a postdoctoral scholar or someone who has completed graduate studies or postdoctoral research in any social–behavioral science, medical–health discipline, physical or biological science, any field of engineering, law, business administration, public administration or any relevant interdisciplinary field within the last five years.
United State citizenship isn’t required, however non-citizens must be currently enrolled in a U.S. university and have proof of holding a valid J-1 or F-1 status.
Successful applicants receive an $8,240 stipend to offset expenses incurred during the 12-week sessions.
The National Academies – which consist of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council – provide an online application process. The application process also requires a reference from a mentor or adviser, and this reference can also be provided online.
The deadline for receipt of application material is Nov. 1, 2009, for the winter/spring program and May 1, 2010 for the fall program. The rules allow applicants to apply to both sessions concurrently.
To apply or find out more information about the program, go to the Academies’ Fellowship website,