The American Political Science Association (APSA) is pleased to announce a call for applications for an APSA Public Service Fellow. The Public Service Fellowship will provide an opportunity for a political scientist to gain first-hand knowledge of the politics and policy of congressional reform through direct participation on a congressional staff. An orientation and participation in ongoing Congressional Fellowship Program seminars and enrichment programs will further enhance this educational experience.
The Public Service Fellowship is envisioned to last nine months from May through December of 2019, with a possibility of extension pending placement office needs and the fellow’s availability. This fellowship opportunity will be subject to confirmation of funding.
View and complete the online application here.
Candidates
Applicants must have completed a PhD in the last 15 years. The program is open to scholars in all fields of study within political science who can demonstrate a scholarly interest in the politics and policy of congressional reform.
Applicants must be available to reside in Washington, DC from May through at least December of 2019.
The Fellowship Period
Fellows are expected to work full time schedules in their placements. Each congressional office has its own unique tempo and rhythm, and offices vary in their daily schedules and work pace. Fellows who typically cannot work beyond a regular eight-hour work day or who need to leave at a set time each day may be able to find a placement that can accommodate their needs. The fellow will enter into an agreement with their host offices to ensure they also have time to attend fellowship enrichment activities throughout the year.
The APSA Public Service Fellowship is an experiential learning opportunity, not a research fellowship. Fellows work fulltime in their placements in a role similar to congressional staffers and also participate in the program’s enrichment activities. A fellow may conduct a limited amount of research on their own time during the fellowship period (provided there are no time conflicts or conflicts of interest with their host offices), but fellows should not expect to devote significant amounts of time to such activities and may not conduct any activities that would present conflicts with their role as a fellow within a congressional office.
Support
The fellow will receive a stipend for the duration of the fellowship. A health insurance stipend will also be available to those without access to employer-provided coverage during the fellowship period.
The fellow will also receive a professional development package, including APSA membership for two years, registration for the 2019 and 2020 APSA Annual Meetings, and travel and lodging support to attend the 2019 and 2020 APSA Annual Meetings. They will also be included in all Congressional Fellowship Program enrichment activities through the duration of their fellowship.
Selection
Applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of political science faculty and APSA staff. Applicants will be notified by April 15th if they have been selected for an interview and will be notified of the final status of their application shortly after their interview.
Application
To be considered for an APSA Public Service Fellowship, applicants must complete the online application and submit: a CV, names and contact information for three references, a 500-word personal statement explaining how participation as an APSA Public Service Fellow relates to the applicant’s professional goals, and one sole-authored writing sample (published or unpublished).
View and complete the online application here.
For best consideration, apply by Friday, April 5, 2019. Please direct any questions to: Centennial Center Associate Director Amanda Grigg at agrigg@apsanet.org