ANS Congressional Fellowship program seeks 2027 applicants

Each Congressional Fellow serves from January through December, working on Capitol Hill as a policy advisor. Fellows engage in legislative research, help craft policy proposals, and collaborate with congressional staff on issues such as nuclear energy, climate and environmental policy, infrastructure, and technological innovation. The immersive experience often influences future career paths and gives participants a deeper understanding of how scientific expertise informs national decision-making.

Policy reach: Through the program, established in 2000 and administered in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program, ANS supports evidence-based policymaking and ensures that nuclear expertise contributes meaningfully to national energy and technology discussions. Fellows provide scientific and technical insight to lawmakers while gaining hands-on experience in the legislative process.

Two Congressional Fellows sought: ANS expanded the program in 2023 to host two Congressional Fellows each year, acknowledging the increasing need for scientific and technical perspectives in federal policymaking. The ANS Congressional Fellows are part of a larger cohort of about 30 AAAS Science and Engineering Fellows from diverse scientific backgrounds.

Alyssa Hayes and Benjamin Kasper are serving as ANS Congressional Fellows in 2026. Jacob Christensen and Mike Woosley recently completed their terms as ANS’s 2025 Congressional Fellows.

Apply now: The application portal for the 2027 Congressional Fellowship opened February 2, and applications are due on June 6. First-round virtual interviews will be conducted in June, with finalist interviews and selections in July. The selected applicants will attend AAAS orientation in Washington, D.C., in September 2026. The fellowship term begins January 1, 2027. ANS strongly encourages interested members to apply early. For more information or to apply, visit ans.org/honors/cfellowship.