Reminder: Deadline Approaching for AIP, APS Congressional Fellowships

For those scientists who want to experience the inner workings of the federal government, and who want to make a difference- the AIP and APS Congressional Science Fellowships are your chance! All application materials for the 2006-2007 AIP and APS Congressional Science Fellowships MUST BE POSTMARKED by the JANUARY 15, 2006 deadline. Please see below for further information on how to apply.

The AIP and APS Fellowships provide opportunities for qualified scientists to spend a year on Capitol Hill, learning more about their government and serving the nation by providing scientific and technical input to the legislative process. We invite applicants of all ages and career levels. The AIP Fellowship is open to members of one or more of AIP’s ten Member Societies, while the APS Fellowship is open to APS members. Applicants to both Fellowships should have a PhD in physics or a closely related field. In exceptional cases, the PhD requirement may be waived for candidates with compensating research experience. U.S. citizenship is required for both programs. If the society membership requirements are met, one application suffices for both the AIP and APS programs.

TO APPLY: Candidates should submit the materials requested below, and ensure that they are POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN THE JANUARY 15, 2006 DEADLINE:

COVER SHEET, indicating
name, address, phone, email
names of references
U.S. citizenship
PhD status
society membership(s)
Please indicate where you learned about the fellowship programs.

LETTER OF INTENT, providing information regarding
reason for applying
scientific training and professional background
public policy interest and experience
qualities and experience that would make the applicant effective in this position.
RESUME, limited to two pages.

THREE LETTERS OF REFERENCE from those having direct knowledge of the applicant’s character, professional competence, and attributes which would particularly qualify the candidate to serve in this capacity. Applicants should arrange to have the letters of reference sent directly to the address below.

Please send All Materials to:

APS and AIP Congressional Science Fellowship Programs
c/o Jacquelyn Beamon-Kiene, Executive Office
American Physical Society
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740-3844
Telephone: 301-209-3094 (AIP); 301-209-3269 (APS)

What issues might a Fellow work on? Judicial misconduct, digital piracy, dairy industry disaster relief, Native American issues, consumer privacy, and even commercial whaling, are all topics that have crossed the desks of former AIP Fellows, as well as the more commonly-cited issues of energy, environment, nuclear power, homeland security, nonproliferation, the S&T workforce, export controls, and technology transfer. It depends on the office in which you choose to work, the skills and interests you bring to the position, and what issues need attention or are “hot” during the time you are on Capitol Hill. Be prepared for a sharp learning curve and a whirlwind year!