AIP Civic Science Fellow: Discovery & Innovation in the Physical Sciences
AIP seeks a Civic Science Fellow to co-develop an initiative to explore how scientific communities identify, support, and advance ideas with the potential to transform the physical sciences.
Supported through funding from the John Templeton Foundation and the Civic Science Fellows program, this 18-month fellowship offers a unique opportunity to engage scientists, scientific societies, funders, entrepreneurs, historians, policymakers, and other stakeholders in better understanding how discovery in the physical sciences happens and how institutions can better support it.
The Fellow will be affiliated with AIP’s research team and participate in the national Civic Science Fellows cohort organized by the Rita Allen Foundation.
About the Fellowship
Scientific breakthroughs are largely recognized in hindsight. Yet scientific communities, funding organizations, and research institutions continually make decisions about which ideas, people, and opportunities to support with the goal of facilitating new discoveries.
This fellowship will support exploration of how the physical sciences enterprise recognizes promising opportunities for discovery and how institutions can make better decisions about supporting transformative research in a world of finite resources.
Working with AIP’s federation of scientific societies and a broad network of stakeholders, the Fellow will help investigate questions such as:
- How do scientific communities identify and nurture promising new ideas?
- What conditions enable transformative discoveries to emerge?
- How do scientific societies shape pathways for scientific innovation?
- What can the physical sciences community learn from philanthropic, entrepreneurial, and private-sector approaches to supporting discovery?
- How can institutions better recognize and support high-potential ideas and investigators?
The project will be co-designed by the Fellow and staff on AIP’s research team. Potential activities may include interviews, workshops, stakeholder convenings, landscape analyses, historical and contemporary case studies, and the development of practical frameworks or reports.
The Fellow will have opportunities to engage leaders from scientific societies, philanthropic organizations, industry research laboratories, FFRDCs, universities, government agencies, and other communities that advance scientific discovery.
Who Should Apply
We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
Potential fields include:
- Science policy
- Science and technology studies
- History of science
- Sociology of science
- Innovation studies
- Entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems
We are particularly interested in candidates who enjoy working across disciplines and sectors, connecting diverse forms of expertise, and exploring how scientific discovery and innovation occur.
Qualifications
Successful candidates will typically demonstrate:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience conducting research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, or related work.
- Ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and communities.
- Experience organizing conversations, workshops, interviews, collaborations, or other forms of collective inquiry.
- Interest in science, innovation, research culture, philanthropy, or science policy.
- Ability to work independently and manage complex projects.
There are no specific degree requirements for this fellowship. We welcome applicants from academic, nonprofit, philanthropic, policy, and industry backgrounds.
Fellowship Structure
The fellowship term is 18 months, beginning in September 2026.
The Fellow will devote approximately 75 percent of their time to the fellowship project with AIP’s research team and 25 percent of their time to participation in the Civic Science Fellows cohort, including learning activities, peer coaching, virtual convenings, and other professional development opportunities.
Over the course of the fellowship, the Fellow will develop at least one substantial work product that contributes learning both to AIP and to the broader civic science community. This may take the form of a report, framework, convening series, toolkit, pilot initiative, public resource, or other contribution developed through the fellowship.
Benefits
- Fellowship stipend: $7,000 per month, for 18 months, with an additional stipend of $600 a month for benefits.
- Initial allowance of $3,000, which can be used for expenses in support of the fellowship.
- Support for approved travel and fellowship-related activities.
- Participation in the national Civic Science Fellows learning network.
- Mentorship from AIP staff and access to leaders across scientific societies, philanthropy, science policy, and research communities.
The fellowship may be completed remotely, although candidates located in the Washington, DC region will have opportunities for in-person engagement with AIP staff and partners, including access to the Niels Bohr Library & Archives (NBLA), one of the world's leading collections documenting the history of modern physics, astronomy, and geophysics.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit the following two documents together as a single PDF in an email attachment to Judith Mulvey jmulvey@aip.org . For best consideration, applications should be submitted by July 9th, but applications will continue to be accepted until the fellow is selected.
- A cover letter describing their interest in the fellowship, relevant experience, and what they hope to learn or contribute through the opportunity.
- A resume or curriculum vitae, which includes full contact information (name, full address, email address, and phone number).
About AIP
AIP advances, promotes, and serves the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. Through its federation of scientific societies, research programs, history initiatives, and public policy activities, AIP helps strengthen the physical sciences enterprise and support positive change across the scientific ecosystem.
About the Civic Science Fellows Program
The Civic Science Fellows program is building a network of leaders committed to ensuring that all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation. Fellows and host organizations work together to develop new approaches that connect science, communities, and public decision-making while contributing to a growing national community of learning and practice.