The Commerce Science and Technology Fellowship program, now managed by NIST, was established in 1964 give senior federal employees a look behind the scenes of science and technology policy-making and management in Washington, and at the highest levels of industry and academia. Those selected for the program get to study the national and international issues that drive the development, application and management of policies that concern the nation’s science and technology research effort. Applications for the 2009-2010 class, which begins in September, are due April 8.
The competition to fill the 20 fellowships is open to GS-13 (and above) executive branch employees. The program last 10 months and may involve intensive work assignments in a federal agency or on Capitol Hill. Besides learning about policy development, the ComSci fellows say the experience greatly extends their professional network.
“This is the only in-depth program exclusively for federal employees that focuses on science and technology policy and leadership,” says NIST’s Marie Marques Bravo, director of the ComSci Program. “It’s also rare in that it’s government-wide. Participants get to meet people from many other agencies. There’s lots of cross-fertilization.”
Full-time and part-time fellowships are available.