The SRCD Congressional Fellowship Program is designed to provide greater interaction between the developmental research community and Congress. Fellows spend one year with a placement that involves working for a Congressional committee, in the office of a member of Congress, or in a Congressional support agency that works directly for members or committees of Congress. Although the responsibilities of each Fellow varies by office, past Fellows have worked on drafting legislation, bringing research to bear on re-authorization of programs or appropriations, and advising members of Congress through research that bears on both local and Federal programs and services affecting children, youth and families. Fellows may also prepare or assist in Congressional hearings and briefings, or preparing briefs and speeches.
Following the two-week science policy orientation program at AAAS in September, Fellows interview with Congressional offices to determine a placement. Placements for Congressional Fellows are not determined until after the orientation process in September of the Fellowship year, and ethics rules prohibit contact between Fellows and offices until that time.
Award
Applications are reviewed by the Fellowship Selection Committee, which often includes members of the SRCD Committee for Policy and Communications. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their research accomplishments, references, and written statement of interest. Candidates who will be interviewed are then selected. Notification regarding interviews typically occurs by February and interviews are held in the spring. SRCD selects up to two Fellows for one-year appointments to begin the first week of September. When candidates are notified that they have been selected for a Fellowship, they will have up to one week to accept the offer. Under rare circumstances, Congressional Fellows may request to extend the Fellowship for the remainder of a legislative session. They must do so by March 1 of the Fellowship year.
Fellowship stipends use the government pay scale, taking into consideration previous experience and salary. For information about Fellows stipends, please visit the Fellowship FAQ’s.