MRS/TMS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship

 

Program | Purpose | 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 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. These aspects of the program are administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Purpose 

To provide MRS and TMS members with an invaluable public policy learning experience, to contribute to the more effective use of materials science knowledge in government, and to broaden awareness about the value of scientist and engineer-government interaction among MRS and TMS members and within the federal government.

Criteria 

A prospective Fellow must demonstrate 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 U.S. public policy issues. The Fellow must be able to work quickly and communicate effectively on a wide variety of topics, and be able to 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 doctorate, or a masters degree with at least three years professional experience.

Award 

The Fellow will have a one-year appointment beginning September 1, 2012. The Fellowship stipend will be $72,000, plus assistance 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 

The application period for the 2012-2013 MRS/TMS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship is now closed.  Information regarding the 2013-2014 application period will be posted to this page as it becomes availab;e.  Applications were required to be postmarked or emailed by January 6, 2012 and were to include the following materials:

  1. A detailed 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 approximately 1,000 words addressing the applicant’s interest in the fellowship, career goals, contributions the applicant believes he or she can make as a Fellow to the legislative process and what the applicant wants to learn from the experience
  3. Three signed letters of reference specifically addressing the applicant’s ability to work on Capitol Hill as a special legislative assistant.

The deadline for applications was January 6, 2012.
Letters of reference should be mailed or emailed directly by the reference to the appropriate address below and must be in PDF format, on official letterhead and include an electronic or scanned signature. Letters of reference should not be submitted by the candidates themselves.  Information regarding the application period for the 2012-2013 Fellowship will be announced from this page when it becomes available. 

Additional Information
For additional information, contact:

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

or

Mary Samsa
724-814-3130
msamsa@tms.org  

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