Internship at Good Food Institute

Posted: 08/12/2026

About the Company/Organization:

Good Food Institute
Type: Nonprofit/NGO
Size:
http://www.gfi.org/

The Good Food Institute is a nonprofit think tank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals. Alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI’s teams focus on making plant-based and cultivated meat delicious, affordable, and accessible. Powered by philanthropy, GFI is an international network of organizations advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals. To learn more, please visit www.gfi.org.

Internship Project/Opportunity

Location: Remote
Anticipated internship dates: Monday, October 5
Target intern experience level: Undergraduate Students
https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/thegoodfoodinstitute80/jobs/8653980002

Scientific Community-Building Fellow
Remote (United States)

Grow the plant-based meat research community

The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a nonprofit think tank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals. Alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI’s teams focus on making plant-based, fermentation-enabled, and cultivated meat delicious, affordable, and accessible. Powered by philanthropy, GFI is an international network of organizations advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals.

How you will make a difference

Advancing the science of plant-based meat depends on drawing in the right expertise, yet many of the disciplines best equipped to solve its hardest technical problems are not yet well represented in the field. In this fellowship, you will reach out to professionals in the physical sciences, engineering, and others outside of food science whose expertise is essential to solving the field’s hardest technical barriers. The Scientific Community-Building Fellow will be responsible for:

Creating an outreach strategy: Working closely with the Senior Scientific Partnerships Manager to create an outreach strategy for engaging critical and underrepresented disciplines in plant-based meat research — e.g. how we reach them, what we offer, and how we bring them into the ecosystem. Understanding the core scientific and technical concepts (e.g., in an academic research paper) of plant-based meat research and translating them into the language of other disciplines.
Mapping key disciplines, individuals, and forums: Creating a database of people, disciplines, and societies and identifying opportunities for GFI to have a presence at scientific forums where these stakeholders gather.

Building outreach materials: Developing the groundwork for relationship-building with individuals and academic departments — i.e., identifying target universities and department heads, and assembling the briefing materials, talking points, and persuasive, audience-tailored toolkit. Assessing opportunities to improve upon GFI’s existing outreach materials and tools, and implementing those recommendations.

Supporting outreach and engagement: Coordinating outreach to priority stakeholders, scheduling and facilitating meetings or symposia as identified above, and designing and conducting interviews and/or surveys. With your supervisor, pilot a small number of outreach contacts drawn from your target lists, and fold learnings back into the strategy and toolkit. Synthesizing and presenting findings: Creating a final report and presenting a summary of findings to GFI’s Science and Technology team at the end of the fellowship tenure.
Performing other duties as assigned.

Who we’re looking for

An ideal candidate for the Scientific Community-Building Fellow position will have experience that reflects the following:

  • Fluency in the culture of the physical sciences and/or engineering disciplines, as demonstrated by a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the discipline or at least 3 years of academic research.
  • Preference will be given to candidates who are pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) or higher degree in a relevant discipline for plant-based meat research, including but not limited to: physical sciences and engineering such as material sciences, mechanical engineering, soft matter physics, chemical or biological engineering, etc.
  • Ability to effectively translate technical concepts across academic disciplines.
  • Ability to professionally communicate verbally and in writing with students, researchers, and other innovators of both scientific audiences and science-interested lay audiences.
  • Preference for those with experience planning scientific and academic research events, community-building, or society/committee work aimed at bringing scientists together.
  • Strong skills in analyzing and interpreting literature and disparate data sources to draw meaningful conclusions and suggest future directions.
  • Ability to perform independent, self-paced work.
  • A commitment to fostering a work environment that is respectful, supportive, fair, and welcoming to all.
  • Comfort working remotely in a collaborative, caring, and high-performing culture that values inclusion and innovation.
  • Strong support for GFI’s philosophy and mission; demonstrated interest in plant-based & other alternative proteins, public health, environmentalism, climate change, animal protection, or hunger relief.
  • A commitment to GFI’s values: believe change is possible, do the most good we can, share knowledge freely, act on evidence, and invite everyone to the table.
  • GFI wants the best people and is committed to a fair hiring process. We use a third-party anonymizing tool to redact personal information from submitted applications — including name, location, contact details, and several other factors — to increase fairness in our process. We also prioritize an inclusive work environment absent of discrimination and harassment during the application process and after you join the team. Please see our full Equal Opportunity Statement: https://gfi.org/careers/#EEO-and-visa-disclaimer.

If you are passionate about GFI’s mission, think you have what it takes to be successful in this position, and meet many of the job requirements — even if you don’t check all the boxes — please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The fine print

  • Position Type: Temporary, part-time employee
  • Position Term: 15 hours of work a week for 16 weeks
  • Reports to: Bianca Datta, Senior Scientific Partnerships Manager
  • Location: Remote, United States
  • This is a U.S.-based position: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work for any employer in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. At this time, GFI’s policy is not to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas.
  • Pay rate: $7200 and will be paid pro-rata biweekly over the length of the assignment ($30/hour for 16 weeks)

Important dates

Application deadline: Tuesday, August 25

Anticipated start date: Monday, October 5

Application instructions

GFI uses an anonymized hiring system that redacts key identifying personal information from all applications. We are testing this tool as part of an effort to reduce bias in our hiring process. Following these instructions will help to ensure your application is not delayed by a failed redaction.

Where possible, limit the creative formatting of your documents. If the name on your resume is an inserted image file or is styled with large spaces between each letter, for example, the redaction is likely to fail. Colors and designs are OK, but wherever possible, the text itself should just be regular text.

Please use consistent names. It helps to ensure that the name you use in your resume and cover letter is the same as the name you type into the application below. For example, if your name is Jennifer, please sign your cover letter as “Jennifer” rather than “Jenny.”
Submit PDF or .docx files only. Other file formats, like .txt, are likely to fail redaction.

Please do not include personal identifying information in your responses to the application questions. Referencing past education, work experience, and mission-alignment is OK.

If you use smart technology, use it wisely. We want to get to know you — not a robot. Please ensure your application materials reflect your own voice and experience.
Please do not contact the role’s supervisor or any potential member of the hiring team. If you have questions, please email careers@gfi.org.

Contact: Email

Internship at Federation of American Scientists

Posted: 08/12/2026

About the Company/Organization:

Federation of American Scientists
Type: Nonprofit/NGO
Size:
https://fas.org/

After the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a group of atomic researchers, deeply concerned about the use of science for malice, created an organization committed to using science and technology to benefit humanity. The group they created – the Federation of Atomic Scientists – soon became the Federation of American Scientists in recognition of the hundreds of scientists across diverse disciplines who joined together to advance science policy and counter scientific misinformation.

Over 75 years later, the Federation of American Scientists is still working to minimize the risks of significant global threats, arising from nuclear weapons, biological and chemical agents, and climate change. The organization also works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver dramatic progress, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. In 2025, we expanded our work to better serve state and local governments, partnering with city halls, universities, and communities to advance innovation where people live and policy is put into practice.

Internship Project/Opportunity

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid)
Anticipated internship dates: September 30, 2026 – February 28, 2027
Target intern experience level: Graduate Students, Postdocs
https://fas.org/career/ai-safety-pef/

AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship

Part-time fellow
Hybrid
$5,000 stipend

The Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship (PEF) empowers and guides participants in advancing their policy ideas into practice. During the fellowship (running from September 30, 2026 – February 28, 2027), each Fellow works as a part-time FAS affiliate to advance a policy idea from concept toward implementation by engaging decision-makers, building coalitions, and pursuing opportunities for real-world policy impact.

This particular PEF cohort will concentrate on frontier AI safety issues. Fellows are encouraged to explore various aspects of this field, including:

  • Technical AI Safety: Ensuring frontier AI systems are reliable, aligned with human values, and behave predictably.
  • Governance and policy: Developing frameworks to guide the safe and secure use of frontier AI systems.
  • Risk assessment and mitigation for advanced AI systems.
  • Transparency and accountability: Enhancing these aspects in AI development and deployment.
  • We are especially interested in proposals that tackle themes such as cybersecurity, capability thresholds, risk taxonomies, impact on critical infrastructure, compute governance, model proliferation (open vs. closed systems), as well as general policy design and capacity considerations for governing catastrophic risks stemming from AI. Our expectation is that Fellows will identify a concrete problem related to frontier AI safety and outline a feasible pathway toward policy adoption, whether through legislation, regulation, standards, procurement, institutional design, or other governance mechanisms.

What you’ll be doing

The Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship is designed as a flexible and open-ended opportunity for you to pursue impact with the help of FAS resources. Rather than focusing solely on research, the Fellowship emphasizes policy entrepreneurship, equipping participants to identify policy windows, build coalitions, engage decision-makers, and move promising ideas toward implementation.

  • Develop and publish a policy memo addressing a specific frontier AI safety challenge, including a practical policy solution and a strategy for engaging the key stakeholders responsible for implementation.
  • Participate in Policy Entrepreneurship training sessions and reading groups designed to deepen participants’ understanding of frontier AI safety, policymaking processes, and how to translate technical expertise into real-world policy impact.
  • Attend an in-person California retreat, tentatively scheduled for November 4–7, 2026, focused on mentorship, community building, and advancing fellows’ policy projects.
  • Attend an in-person capstone event in Washington, DC, tentatively scheduled for the week of February 22, 2027, to launch and disseminate fellows’ policy memos and engage with policymakers, experts, and other key stakeholders.

Selection Criteria

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. This fellowship is particularly well suited for early- to mid-career professionals with limited experience working directly in public policy who are eager to translate technical or subject-matter expertise into practical policy impact. Ideal applicants may come from technical AI research, academia, think tanks, civil society, industry, law, cybersecurity, national security, or related disciplines.

Applications will be evaluated holistically. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate:

  • A clear understanding of a significant frontier AI safety, security, or governance challenge.
  • A concrete, implementation-oriented policy idea with a credible pathway toward real-world adoption.
  • Thoughtful consideration of the institutions, decision-makers, and stakeholders needed to implement their proposal.
  • An understanding of the practical challenges associated with advancing policy and a willingness to engage constructively with them.
  • Curiosity, initiative, and a demonstrated interest in translating ideas into practical policy impact.

Professional Development

  • Participation in twice-monthly group check-ins. The FAS staff will make every effort to schedule these check-ins at times that accommodate all participants. FAS staff will accommodate select absences (e.g., due to illness, work conflicts, or vacation) given appropriate notice.
  • Mandatory participation in programming provided by FAS
  • The Fellows must commit to dedicating an average of 5 hours/week (20 hours/month) to the fellowship from September 30, 2026 – February 28, 2027, including the mandatory programming outlined above. NOTE: FAS will consider exempting participants from participation in mandatory sessions under exceptional circumstances.

Benefits

  • A $5,000 stipend. The Fellow with the most specific and actionable policy memo and advocacy plan may also receive an additional $1,000 merit award.
  • An additional travel stipend to cover select expenses for the California retreat and Washington, DC, Capstone event.
  • Professional editing of written products developed during the fellowship.
  • Invitations to FAS programming, curated updates on the rapidly evolving federal S&T landscape, and interactive “deep dive” sessions on practical aspects of policy entrepreneurship.
  • Policy-engagement training provided by the staff at the Federation of American Scientists
  • Support from FAS in connecting with key experts and actors.
  • Monthly individual check-ins with a dedicated FAS staff mentor, plus additional meetings and communications as needed.

Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET on September 7th, 2026. Please note that we are only accepting applications to this position submitted via the linked platform. When applying, you will be redirected to our application platform and will need to create an account to submit an application.

Questions? Contact FAS at dayoneproject@fas.org.

Contact: Email

Internship at MIT linQ – Catalyst

Posted: 08/01/2026

About the Company/Organization:

MIT linQ – Catalyst
Type: Other
Size:
https://catalyst.mit.edu/

Catalyst is built on a principled methodology for needs identification and opportunity development, and an organizational model that fosters a vibrant multi-stakeholder community. The Catalyst mission is to increase the potential impact of biomedical research and improve the likelihood that newly developed solutions will address unmet health care needs.

MIT linQ developed the Catalyst methodology to challenge the generally accepted research paradigm in academia by shifting the focus to a clinical needs-driven approach, rather than pushing an existing line of work driven by a need to secure funds, to publish or other objectives different than creating valuable products. The Catalyst model also departs from the classic approach by bringing together multiple disciplines and professions at the outset, so that the work isn’t constrained by the expertise and work of a single lab or institution.

Internship Project/Opportunity

Location: Boston, MA and virtual
Anticipated internship dates: January–early July 2027
Target intern experience level: Graduate Students, Postdocs
https://catalyst.mit.edu/apply/

Begin your journey with a focused engagement of 10–15 hours per week from January through mid-July. During this phase, teams meet weekly online and participate in periodic multi-day, in-person “intensifications” that accelerate collaboration and progress.

Catalyst is a program located in the United States. We anticipate that Fellows will be physically present in the US from January to July 2027. Note that we do not provide sponsorship for visas.

January–early July 2027:

  • January 4, 2027: First meeting
  • Availability to meet during program schedule
    • Weekly sessions: Wednesdays 10:00am – 1:00pm ET
    • Weekly discussion groups: Mondays 10:00am – 11:00am ET
    • Three 3-day working sessions in person at MIT: January 19–21, March 9–11, and May 4–6.
  • June 30, 2027: Final session
  • Compatibility with current job, training, or activity
  • As appropriate, approval of your supervisor
  • See FAQs for more details: https://catalyst.mit.edu/faqs/

Beyond July

This is more than a short-term experience. Pending project proposal approval in July 2027, teams may continue into a multi-year, Fellow-led research phase—an exciting opportunity to advance innovation from concept to impact alongside committed peers and expert mentors.

Practically speaking, the time required will continue to be at least 10-15 hours per week, but many Fellows have found ways to devote more time than that to accelerate their progress. Again, no a priori commitment is expected, but if you are certain that it would be impossible to go beyond the initial six month period, consider holding off your application until there is some possibility of continuing. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss your situation (catalyst-program@mit.edu).

Cost

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, this program does not require individuals to pay tuition.

Applications due August 10
The Catalyst application is a multi-stage process designed to help prospective participants get to know the program, and vice versa:

  • Complete your Expression of Interest (EOI): This collects basic contact and biographical information about you, and gives you a chance to ask questions to help you decide if you want to proceed to full application
  • Full application: Anytime after submitting your EOI you can complete your application. All applications completed by August 10 are prioritized.
  • Interview: Selected applicants will be invited to a full day of virtual activities and interviews is planned for Monday, September 21, 10am – 5pm ET. Please reserve the time/date to attend.

Start with your Expression of Interest: https://catalyst.mit.edu/eoi/

Contact: Email

Timothy Kelliher

Tim Kelliher is the Roberts and Mikhail Distinguished Chair in Plant Genome Editing at North Carolina State University. He has a co-appointment in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and the Department of Horticultural Science. Tim leads the Genome Editing Center, which is focused on creating novel traits in row crops, specialty crops, and ornamental species. The goal is to shorten the timespan to deploy genome engineering innovations to farmers.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Swarthmore College, and a Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford University, where he studied corn plant reproductive biology. He spent the past 12 years at Syngenta leading programs focusing on breeding technologies and genome editing trait development for Syngenta Seeds, serving as head of Trait and Technology Discovery. In that role he managed teams working on GM and Genome Editing in the US and Beijing.

Yan Zhang

Dr. Yan Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University. Her laboratory develops cell-free gene expression systems that enable the rapid design, construction, and screening of biological parts and systems. By integrating synthetic biology, systems-level characterization, and molecular engineering, the Zhang Lab develops foundational technologies to engineer complex biological functions outside living cells, with applications in human health, agriculture, and distributed biomanufacturing. Current research areas include host-independent bacteriophage engineering and the development of programmable biological systems for therapeutic and agricultural applications.

Prior to joining Rice, Dr. Zhang received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She completed her postdoctoral training in the laboratories of Richard Murray and William Clemons at the California Institute of Technology, where she developed cell-free platforms for biological design and bacteriophage engineering. Her work was supported by the NIH MOSAIC K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. At Rice, her research program is supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) New Faculty Recruitment Award, which supports the development of next-generation biological technologies for cancer prevention and treatment.

Baley Reeves

Baley Reeves has served as NCTM director since 2024. She has 20 years of experience in downstream processing and over 16 years of experience in biomanufacturing workforce training, and leads the NCTM downstream operations team with expertise in the recovery and purification of recombinant proteins, vaccines, and gene therapy products, as well as experience in cGMP manufacturing and process development. Prior to joining NCTM, Baley was a senior scientist at the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), where she developed and taught courses for biotech industry leaders, regulatory agencies, and the WHO. She has also worked on numerous vaccine-related projects, including a global survey of the vaccine manufacturing landscape with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Baley holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Princeton University, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. She has authored articles on protein purification in Trends in Biotechnology, Protein Science, Protein Expression and Purification, and Microbial Cell Factories, as well as articles on biomanufacturing training and education published in Chemical Engineering Education.

Cell 2026

Join the global hub for biologics innovation at NextGen Biomed 2026, where the brightest minds in drug discovery and development come together to accelerate life-saving treatments. This transformative event unites six thriving communities on one platform, empowering over 1,000 R&D experts to collaborate, innovate, and deliver breakthroughs sustainably and at scale.

Internship at National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine

Posted: 06/22/2026

About the Company/Organization:

National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
Type: Nonprofit/NGO
Size:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/

The National Academies provide independent, trustworthy advice and facilitate solutions to complex challenges by mobilizing expertise, practice, and knowledge in science, engineering, and medicine. We envision a nation and world that rely on scientific evidence to make decisions that benefit humanity. At the core of our work is an unwavering commitment to objectivity, scientific rigor, and truth.

Internship Project/Opportunity

Location: Washington DC
Anticipated internship dates: 2/1/27-7/31/27
Target intern experience level: Graduate Students, Postdocs
https://biotechfellows.nationalacademies.org/

Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowships are six-month, full-time (37.5 hours per week), hands-on professional development fellowships structured to engage Fellows in developing the evidence basis needed to meet future regulatory challenges presented by novel products of biotechnology. The Fellowships, which take place in Washington, D.C., are conducted and administered under the auspices of the Committee on Science, Technology, and Law (CSTL) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Fellows will identify new regulatory frameworks for the anticipated cutting-edge products expected to emerge over the next several decades and thereby expand agency options for thoughtful, effective regulation.

Fellows will participate in a series of seminars led by subject-matter experts, conduct horizon-scanning activities to identify potential products of biotechnology that lack existing or conflicting regulatory risk assessment pathways, and identify foci for capstone projects that will be undertaken by pairs of fellows.

 

For capstone projects, Fellows will:

  • Have opportunities to work with mentors currently or formerly employed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;
    Work with a paired member of their cohort with varied background/expertise (ideally, individuals with scientific, engineering, and/or medical experience will be paired with individuals with legal, policy, and/or regulatory experience);
  • Brainstorm early solutions to project ideas collectively across the cohort to encourage creative thinking and build relationships amongst the multidisciplinary cohort;
  • Establish where/how to communicate final project results to provide greatest value to agencies; and
  • Present capstone projects to the Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship Advisory Committee, mentors, and agency staff at the end of the fellowship session.
  • They may also have the option to select projects curated and requested by agencies.

As part of the Fellowship, Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in topic-specific activities such as attending informational events inside and outside the National Academies (e.g. workshops and convenings, Congressional hearings, seminars at think tanks, etc.) and relevant industry conferences.

ABHYUDAI SINGH

Prof. Abhyudai Singh earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India. He received master’s degrees in both mechanical and electrical & computer engineering from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in ecology, evolution, and marine biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). After earning his doctoral degree in electrical & computer engineering in 2008, also from UCSB, he completed postdoctoral work in UC San Diego’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Since 2021, he is a Full Professor in the Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Delaware. His research interests are in modeling and inference of biomedical systems with applications to systems biology, synthetic biology, virology, medicine, and neuroscience.

Stephanie Schroeder

Stephanie Schroeder is the coordinator for the Build-a-Cell research initiative housed at the University of Minnesota. She coordinates a network of researchers focused on the goal of synthesizing cells for real world applications (targeted therapeutic medicine, biofuels for renewable energy, understanding the origin of life). Trained as a marine biologist, she specializes in science education & engagement. She received her BS from the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee and her PhD from the University of Oregon. While investigating owl limpet territorial behavior, she realized her love of integrating research, education, and equity in STEM. She lives in Minneapolis and explores the city with her spouse and dog. They hike when it’s not too cold and she knits when the temperature dips into the single digits.

Internship at American Institute of Physics

Posted: 06/14/2026

About the Company/Organization:

American Institute of Physics
Type: Nonprofit/NGO
Size:
https://aip.org

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) advances, promotes, and serves the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. As both a federation of physical science societies and an institute, AIP offers programs, products, and services that empower physical scientists to continue to change our world and advance the frontiers of knowledge.

AIP Member Societies cover a broad range of fields in the physical sciences and collectively represent more than 120,000 scientists, engineers, educators and students in the global physical sciences community. They include the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), the American Astronomical Society (AAS), ACA: The Structural Science Society, the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the American Physical Society (APS), AVS: Science & Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing, Optica, and the Society of Rheology (SoR).

In 2020, the AIP Foundation was launched to directly support AIP programs that preserve and celebrate the history of physics, foster support for future generations of physicists, and create a more equitable and accessible field for all.

AIP Publishing is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the American Institute of Physics.

Internship Project/Opportunity

Location: Remote
Anticipated internship dates: Fall 2026
Target intern experience level: Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/aip-civic-science-fellow-discovery-innovation-in-the-physical-sciences

About the job
AIP seeks a Civic Science Fellow to co-develop an initiative to explore how scientific communities identify, support, and advance ideas with the potential to transform the physical sciences. Supported through funding from the John Templeton Foundation and the Civic Science Fellows program, this 18-month fellowship offers a unique opportunity to engage scientists, scientific societies, funders, entrepreneurs, historians, policymakers, and other stakeholders in better understanding how discovery in the physical sciences happens and how institutions can better support it.

The Fellow will be affiliated with AIP’s research team and participate in the national Civic Science Fellows cohort organized by the Rita Allen Foundation.

 

About the Fellowship

Scientific breakthroughs are largely recognized in hindsight. Yet scientific communities, funding organizations, and research institutions continually make decisions about which ideas, people, and opportunities to support with the goal of facilitating new discoveries.

This fellowship will support exploration of how the physical sciences enterprise recognizes promising opportunities for discovery and how institutions can make better decisions about supporting transformative research in a world of finite resources.

Working with AIP’s federation of scientific societies and a broad network of stakeholders, the Fellow will help investigate questions such as:

  • How do scientific communities identify and nurture promising new ideas?
  • What conditions enable transformative discoveries to emerge?
  • How do scientific societies shape pathways for scientific innovation?
  • What can the physical sciences community learn from philanthropic, entrepreneurial, and private-sector approaches to supporting discovery?
  • How can institutions better recognize and support high-potential ideas and investigators?
  • The project will be co-designed by the Fellow and staff on AIP’s research team. Potential activities may include interviews, workshops, stakeholder convenings, landscape analyses, historical and contemporary case studies, and the development of practical frameworks or reports.

The Fellow will have opportunities to engage leaders from scientific societies, philanthropic organizations, industry research laboratories, FFRDCs, universities, government agencies, and other communities that advance scientific discovery.

 

Who Should Apply

We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

Potential fields include:

  • Science policy
  • Science and technology studies
  • History of science
  • Sociology of science
  • Innovation studies
  • Entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems
  • We are particularly interested in candidates who enjoy working across disciplines and sectors, connecting diverse forms of expertise, and exploring how scientific discovery and innovation occur.

 

Qualifications

Successful candidates will typically demonstrate:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience conducting research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, or related work.
  • Ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and communities.
  • Experience organizing conversations, workshops, interviews, collaborations, or other forms of collective inquiry.
  • Interest in science, innovation, research culture, philanthropy, or science policy.
  • Ability to work independently and manage complex projects.
  • There are no specific degree requirements for this fellowship. We welcome applicants from academic, nonprofit, philanthropic, policy, and industry backgrounds.

 

Fellowship Structure

The fellowship term is 18 months, beginning in September 2026.

The Fellow will devote approximately 75 percent of their time to the fellowship project with AIP’s research team and 25 percent of their time to participation in the Civic Science Fellows cohort, including learning activities, peer coaching, virtual convenings, and other professional development opportunities.

Over the course of the fellowship, the Fellow will develop at least one substantial work product that contributes learning both to AIP and to the broader civic science community. This may take the form of a report, framework, convening series, toolkit, pilot initiative, public resource, or other contribution developed through the fellowship.

 

Benefits

  • Fellowship stipend: $7,000 per month, for 18 months, with an additional stipend of $600 a month for benefits.
  • Initial allowance of $3,000, which can be used for expenses in support of the fellowship.
  • Support for approved travel and fellowship-related activities.
  • Participation in the national Civic Science Fellows learning network.
  • Mentorship from AIP staff and access to leaders across scientific societies, philanthropy, science policy, and research communities.

The fellowship may be completed remotely, although candidates located in the Washington, DC region will have opportunities for in-person engagement with AIP staff and partners, including access to the Niels Bohr Library & Archives (NBLA), one of the world’s leading collections documenting the history of modern physics, astronomy, and geophysics.

 

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following two documents together as a single PDF in an email attachment to Judith Mulvey jmulvey@aip.org . For best consideration, applications should be submitted by July 9th, but applications will continue to be accepted until the fellow is selected.

A cover letter describing their interest in the fellowship, relevant experience, and what they hope to learn or contribute through the opportunity.

A resume or curriculum vitae, which includes full contact information (name, full address, email address, and phone number).

 

About AIP

AIP advances, promotes, and serves the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. Through its federation of scientific societies, research programs, history initiatives, and public policy activities, AIP helps strengthen the physical sciences enterprise and support positive change across the scientific ecosystem.

 

About the Civic Science Fellows Program

The Civic Science Fellows program is building a network of leaders committed to ensuring that all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation. Fellows and host organizations work together to develop new approaches that connect science, communities, and public decision-making while contributing to a growing national community of learning and practice.

Contact: Judith Mulvey Email

Georgia Life Sciences Summit

The Georgia Life Sciences Summit brings together leaders from across biotechnology, medical technology, research, manufacturing, and investment to showcase Georgia’s emergence as a national leader in life sciences innovation. As the industry’s premier convening in the state, the Summit highlights Georgia’s growing strengths in biotech, medtech, advanced therapeutics, and translational research while positioning the state as the scale-up manufacturing hub of the Southeast. Through high-impact programming and networking, the Summit explores how Georgia is advancing discovery, accelerating commercialization, and building the infrastructure, workforce, and ecosystem needed to lead the future of life sciences manufacturing and innovation.

Nataliya Shok

Dr. Nataliya Shok is an accomplished academic with over 10 years of transdisciplinary experience in health and science policy research. Holding dual PhDs in political science and the history of science and technology, Dr. Shok brings a deep understanding of the complex intersections between these fields. As a seasoned program manager, she possesses strong analytical skills and a wealth of experience in policy development, strategic planning, and communications. She has effectively blended administrative leadership and teaching at prestigious medical schools in Russia and Kazakhstan. In 2019, she enriched her expertise as a visiting scholar at Wake Forest University.

At Georgetown, Dr. Nataliya Shok teaches in the Graduate Program in Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases, as well as in the Graduate Program in Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy. In addition, she leads a Russia-focused team within a project on COVID-19 public health management in Asia, Russia, and Oceania, initiated by Dr. Tomoko Steen. Nataliya’s team investigates Russian approaches to global health and their implications for health security and future pandemic preparedness amid strategic competition.
Throughout her career, she has contributed to and led multiple research projects across academia, government, and civil society organizations, demonstrating her commitment to advancing impactful policy solutions. Her research findings became a subject of visiting lectures and talks across America and Europe – Cornell University, Wake Forest University, University of Notre Dame, Arizona State University, Ohio State University, Brussels School of Governance, Ulm University, Asfendiyarov Medical University, etc.

Rosa Santomartino

Blake Rasor

Blake Rasor received a B.S. in biology & microbiology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Then he earned a Ph.D. in chemical & biological engineering from Northwestern University, working with Prof. Mike Jewett to study and engineer metabolism in cell-free systems. Before joining NC State, Blake was an EMBO postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, where he worked with Prof. Tobias Erb to study photosynthesis using components from algae and cyanobacteria. Blake joined the faculty of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University in 2025 as a part of the new biomanufacturing-focused cluster. His research combines systems and synthetic biology approaches to engineer biocatalysis platforms with a focus on cell-free systems, 1-carbon metabolism, and photosynthesis.

Claudia Vickers

Professor Claudia Vickers is an internationally recognised leader in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, with over 25 years of experience spanning academia, government, and industry. She is Professor at the Queensland University of Technology and Founder and Director of BioBuilt Solutions.

Professor Vickers has played a central role in building the synthetic biology ecosystem in Australia and connecting it globally. She was founding President of Synthetic Biology Australasia, where she established and grew a regional community spanning academia, industry, and government, including major conferences and collaborative networks that have helped bring the field to critical mass in Australia. As inaugural Director of CSIRO’s Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, she grew a A$13M initiative into a A$60M national program involving over 200 researchers across more than 40 national and international partner organisations, establishing Australia’s first nationally accessible BioFoundry and creating enduring frameworks for cross-sector collaboration.

Professor Vickers is deeply engaged in international policy and strategy for engineering biology. She has represented Australia in global forums including the OECD (Synthetic Biology and Biofutures Working Groups), the World Economic Forum (Co-Chair, Global Future Council on Synthetic Biology), and the FAO. She contributed to Australia’s national synthetic biology roadmap and has advised federal and state governments through ministerial briefings and expert working groups. Her experience spans translation and industry engagement, including executive roles in biotechnology companies and advisory work with industry, investors, and government. Alongside this, she leads a research program focused on engineering biological systems for sustainable production, with over 100 publications and significant international impact.

Tianhu Sun

I am interested in plant secondary metabolism, metabolic engineering, and plant molecular farming. Currently I am focusing on revealing carotenoid biosynthesis using tomato and Arabidopsis as model systems and multiple vitamin biofortification in seeds using synthetic biology and genetic engineering methods. Another research topic of my lab is using plant system to produce therapeutic proteins.

Tamara Mandell

Tamara Mandell, M.Ed., serves as Director of Biotility at the University of Florida (UF Biotility), where she leads national efforts to build a skilled, future ready bioscience workforce. Applying more than a decade of combined academic research and industrial biotechnology experience, she leads with a pragmatic approach to aligning competencies and skills with regulated manufacturing and research environments. Tamara led the development of the Biotechnology Aptitude and Competency Exam (BACE), a nationally recognized credential that provides employers with validated measures of workforce ready skills and expands pathways into biotechnology careers. A champion for learners, instructors, and the broader bio industrial community, she seeks to embed industry practices, competencies, and skills into multi-level curricula to support a talent pipeline capable of contributing to engineering biology and biomanufacturing innovation.
She oversees Biotility’s portfolio of industry recognized, ISO/IEC 17024 aligned credentials, developed with biotechnology employers and governed by a national industry advisory board to ensure rigor and continued relevance. Her leadership focuses on stackable credentials with cross-cutting standards leading to increased career options and advancement across biotechnology sectors. A strong advocate for maintaining high standards while expanding access, Tamara emphasizes the role of validated credentials in strengthening employer–education alignment and supporting a safe, ethical, and well qualified biotechnology workforce. Tamara holds a B.S.E. in Biology and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, foundations that bridge scientific expertise with evidence based educational design. This combination drives her commitment to shaping a capable, credentialed, and forward-looking bioscience workforce equipped to support the responsible growth and innovation goals of the broader bioscience industries.

David Gillum

Dr. David Gillum is Associate Vice President for Compliance and Research Administration and Adjunct Faculty in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno. With more than 30 years of experience, he has led diverse teams across higher education and professional associations, and is widely recognized for his expertise in biosafety, biosecurity, compliance, risk management, and research administration. His research interests focus on the social and ethical dimensions of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology governance, dual-use research of concern, and potential pandemic pathogens. He has published extensively in outlets such as Science Magazine, StatNews, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, mSphere, Applied Biosafety and Health Security. A former President of ABSA International (2020), Dr. Gillum has received several recognitions including the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (2019) and the ABSA International Everett Hanel, Jr. Presidential Award (2024). He is dedicated to fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in support of research, education, and public service.

Webinar – Relational Governance for Engineered Organisms

In this lecture, Riley Taitingfong, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Arizona, will focus on practical tools and frameworks for supporting Indigenous governance of emerging biotechnologies, with particular relevance for engineered microbes for environmental release (EMERs). Drawing on concepts and strategies from the Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement, Taitingfong will show how governance approaches rooted in connectivity, reciprocity, and responsibility to place can translate into concrete guidance for actors exploring the use of engineered microbes in the environment. By situating EMERs within relational governance approaches, Taitingfong asks how decision-making processes can align scientific objectives with local priorities while accounting for power imbalances and honoring long-held relationships to lands, waters, and more-than-human kin. Taitingfong will introduce tools to demonstrate how Indigenous governance frameworks can be operationalized in practice. Together, we will consider how these tools offer pathways for integrating relational accountability into EMER development and supporting community-driven approaches to biotechnology.