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Building upon the success of the Massachusetts Summer Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (MASSTPF), the Civic Science Clinic (CSC) offers STEM graduate students the chance to serve as fellows either in prominent Massachusetts State House offices or with Boston-based community organizations. This summer, SCi is excited to be partnering with Fenway Health, Eastie Farms, and Essential Partners to pilot the CSC community engagement track. Through engaging in outreach projects and assuming scientific advisory roles, fellows contribute to research, policy drafting, stakeholder engagement, and more. This unique opportunity allows civically-minded students the chance to gain valuable experience in scientific engagement and make a positive impact on the local Boston community and state-level policy. 

Meet Some of This Year’s Fellows

Rachel Petherbridge

I’m a G3 in the Systems, Synthetic and Quantitative Biology program. This summer I am researching health and healthcare priority needs in the office of Senator Paul Mark, in order to guide health and healthcare policy work in the office.

Layla Araiinejad

I just finished my first year in my two-year master’s program in Technology and Policy at MIT (Technology and Policy S.M. ’24) where I work in the MIT Energy Initiative. This summer, I am working with Eastie Farm to help with their grant writing, newsletter, and curriculum development.

Michael Cork

I am finishing my third year in the Biostatistics PhD program. My fellowship project involves conducting a literature review and preparing a report on the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations in the Boston area, specifically those served by Fenway Health. In addition, Fenway Health is conducting its own community survey to monitor the experiences and effects of the pandemic, and I will contribute to producing figures and conducting data analysis to interpret the survey results.

Tal Scully

I’m a rising G6 in the Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology PhD program. I am working with Essential Partners, which specializes in creating constructive dialogues about difficult topics. I will be researching the challenges facing school districts across the country through interviews and discussions with educators and other stakeholders.

“Scientists and policymakers have a lot to learn from each other,” said Angela DePace, faculty founder and special advisor SCi. “We hope that building and sustaining these relationships will inspire scientists to take on new types of socially impactful work, including new research questions.”

 

In the summer of 2019, the Scientific Citizenship Initiative (SCi) at Harvard Medical School initiated a three-year pilot of the Massachusetts Summer Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (MASSTPF). This pilot placed STEM graduate students from Harvard University, and eventually the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in a part-time paid summer fellowship where they worked as advisers to Massachusetts state legislators.

The Harvard Gazette covered the 10-week pilot program.

Read the full article in the Gazette.

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.

APPLY HERE BY MARCH 19