National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program

The Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is a full-time, hands-on workforce training and educational program that provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation. Launched in 1997, each year new Mirzayan Fellows join a National Academies unit where they are assigned to a mentor and learn about the world of science and technology policy. The fellowship helps fellows deepen their understanding of science and technology policy, discover new career paths that engage both science and policy communities, understand the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation, expand their perception of how the science and technology ecosystem operates in Washington, DC, obtain essential skills and knowledge needed to work in science policy at the federal, state, or local levels, and build a network of Fellows and program alumni. The fellowship includes orientation, program unit work with mentors, weekly guest speaker series, science and technology policy assignments, networking and external events, and cohort community building activities.