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    • Current and Past MRS/TMS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellows
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2013-2014 MRS/TMS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship

Program | Criteria | Award | Application | Additional Information 

Program 

The Fellow spends one year working as a special legislative assistant on the staff of a member of Congress or congressional committee. Activities may involve conducting legislative or oversight work, assisting in congressional hearings and debates and preparing briefs and writing speeches. The Fellow also attends an orientation program administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on congressional and executive branch operations, which includes guidance in the congressional placement process, and a year-long seminar series on science and public policy issues. The AAAS also administers many other aspects of the program for the MRS/TMS Fellow, as well as other Fellows sponsored by nearly two dozen other scientific societies.

Criteria 

A prospective Fellow must have a record of success in research or scholarship in a field relevant to materials science and technology. The Fellow must also demonstrate sensitivity toward policy issues and have a strong interest in applying scientific and technical knowledge to United States public policy issues. The Fellow must be able to work quickly and communicate effectively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences on a wide variety of topics and work cooperatively with individuals having diverse viewpoints. An applicant is expected to be a member of MRS or TMS (or an applicant for membership) and have a PhD by September 1, 2013, or a master’s degree with at least three years professional experience. US citizenship is not required; however, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Award 

The Fellow will have a one-year appointment beginning September 1, 2013. The Fellowship stipend will be $72,000, plus additional funds for health insurance, travel and relocation expenses to the Washington, DC area. The 2012-2012 MRS/TMS Congressional Fellow is Andrew Steigerwald of Vanderbilt University.  (View Current and Past MRS/TMS Fellows) 

Application 

Applications must be postmarked or emailed by Friday, January 4, 2013.  Candidates must submit the following materials:

1. A resume, no longer than two pages, providing information about educational background, professional employment, community and professional activities, public policy and legislative experience and committee and advisory group appointments plus one additional page for professional publications and presentations.
2. A statement of up to 1,000 words addressing the applicant's interest in the fellowship, career goals, contributions the applicant believes he or she can make as an MRS/TMS Fellow to the legislative process and what the applicant wants to learn from the experience.
3. Three signed letters of reference sent directly to gillespie@mrs.org, specifically addressing the applicant's qualifications for the fellowship as described in the “Criteria” section above. Letters of reference should be emailed directly to gillespie@mrs.org by the deadline and must be in PDF format, on official letterhead and include an electronic or scanned signature. Letters of reference should not be sent by the candidate themselves.

MRS/TMS Applications are required to be mailed or emailed to: 

Donna Gillespie
Government Affairs Coordinator
Materials Research Society
506 Keystone Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086
gillespie@mrs.org
Tel: 724-779-2732

For additional information contact: 

Mary Samsa

724-814-3130
msamsa@tms.org