APPLICATION DUE DATE EXTENDED to Sunday March 19, 2023.

The scientific Citizenship Initiative (SCi) is seeking highly motivated students for a 10-week summer fellowship working in the Massachusetts State House or Boston-based community organizations.

State House Fellows will serve in the office of a legislator or committee focused on policies that could benefit from scientific input. Responsibilities will include: researching science and technology-related policy areas, drafting reports, memos, and testimony for legislative hearings, interacting with constituents, advocates, and community groups, and attending formal legislative activities. Community Organization Fellows will serve in one of three partner organizations, working on topics such as health care delivery, science communication, and environmental and food justice. This year’s partner
organizations are: Fenway Health, Eastie Farm, and Essential Partners. This fellowship is tailored to the student’s interests and provides direct mentorship from experienced policy practitioners and community leaders. Selected students will work part-time (20 hours per week)
and receive a $5,000 stipend.

The Civic Science Clinic (CSC). The CSC is designed to:

  • Improve communication skills through community engagement,
  • Demonstrate how research training can be applied to various career paths,
  • Inform future research by experiencing real world interactions between science and society,
  • Not impede doctoral research progress, and
  • Be of service to society.

Fellows will spend the summer working part-time in service to either the Massachusetts State House or a Boston-based community organization. This will receive mentorship and training from SCi and practitioners with deep experience in fields related to their fellowship placement.

Serve in a Boston-based Community Organization

Community Organization Fellows based in Boston will have the opportunity to work with one of three partner organizations on topics such as health care delivery, health policy, and the environmental impact of community farming. Fellows will work on defined projects that are co-created with the host organization result in substantive work products. For example, fellows may research science and technology-related topics, draft memos and reports, or provide high-level expertise that informs the organization’s work. All projects will include some degree of community or stakeholder engagement as well as participation in the day-to-day work of the organization. A complete list of partner organizations can be found below.

Serve in the Massachusetts State House

Massachusetts State House fellows will serve in the office of a legislator or committee focused on policies that could benefit from scientific input. Fellows’ assignments will vary based on the needs of the host office, but will include tasks such as: researching science and technology-related policy areas, drafting reports, memos, and testimony for legislative hearings, interacting with constituents, advocates, and community groups, and attending formal legislative activities such as hearings or House and Senate Sessions.

Application and Eligibility

CSC is open to Harvard STEM graduate students. Applications require a CV and a one-page statement of interest. All materials are due by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, March 19.