2026-2027 Fellowship Applications Due Friday, 9 January 2026

Enabling Science, Technology & Engineering Professionals to Work with and Advise Federal Government Public Policymakers

About the Government Fellowship Program

Each year, IEEE-USA sponsors government fellowships for qualified U.S. IEEE members. The Fellows — chosen by the IEEE-USA Government Fellows Committee and confirmed by IEEE-USA’s Board of Directors — spend a year living and working in Washington as advisers to either the US Congress or the US Department of State.

The Government Fellowship program links science, technology and engineering professionals with the U.S. government, and provides a mechanism for U.S. IEEE members to learn firsthand about the public policy process while imparting their knowledge and experience to policymakers.

IEEE-USA maintains its Fellowship program as part of its mission to serve the public good, and as an educational program for our members. Fellows do not provide any services to IEEE-USA, other than periodic reports designed to educate other engineers about the fellowship experience.

Overview

The IEEE-USA Government Fellowships run 1 September – 31 August each year.

IEEE-USA created the Fellowship program in 1973 to:

  • to enable IEEE’s U.S. member to make practical contributions to the public policy process, promoting more effective use of scientific and technical knowledge in the U.S. government;
  • to help educate the scientific and engineering community on the public policy process; and
  • to broaden the perspectives of the science, engineering, and governmental communities regarding the value of such interaction.

Each year, the IEEE-USA Government Fellows Committee selects eligible U.S. IEEE members from a pool of applicants to serve a one-year fellowship. Selections are based on the applications and interviews with the Committee. The Committee is composed of IEEE members, some of whom are former Fellows. The IEEE-USA Board approves the Committee’s selections. Since inception, more than 150 U.S. IEEE members have served as advisors to the U.S. Government.

How to Apply

If you wish to apply for an IEEE-USA Government Fellowship, please apply directly to IEEE-USA using the application links on this page. Do not apply to AAAS for the IEEE-USA Fellowships.

We must receive all of your completed application materials via the Apply Online links below by the stated deadline for your application to be considered valid.

*Please note that to apply and to open the OpenWater application, you must be an active IEEE member with a valid member login. Not a member? Join IEEE today*

If selected as a finalist, the Fellows Committee will invite you for an interview on one of the scheduled interview days. Interviews will be held in-person. Interviews may not be rescheduled and must occur on one of the specified days.

US Department of State

Congressional Fellowship

This program enables IEEE members to work on Capitol Hill as advisors to Congress, serving on the personal staff of a U.S. Senator or Representative, or the professional staff of a Congressional Committee of the Fellow’s choosing.

Policies & Procedures
App Instructions
Brochure
FAQs
US Department of State

Engineering & Diplomacy Fellowship (U.S. State Dept)

This program raise awareness of the value of STEM input into the public policymaking process, and offers an opportunity for the fellow to provide technical expertise to the U.S. Department of State, while learning about and contributing to the foreign policy process.

Policies & Procedures
App Instructions
Brochure
FAQs
US Department of State

Congressional Electric Grid Policy Fellowship

The IEEE-USA Congressional Electric Grid Policy Fellowship seeks to augment the capabilities of congressional staff by selecting and placing qualified Fellows with relevant technical expertise in offices or on committees actively working on grid policy.

Policies & Procedures
Position Description
App Instructions
FAQs
Disclosure: The new IEEE-USA Congressional Electric Grid Policy Fellowship is made possible by grants from Arnold Ventures and Blue Horizons Foundation. Grid Strategies LLC (GS), which is not providing funding, will assist the IEEE-USA Government Fellows Committee with soliciting applicants and interviewing candidates, but the IEEE Board of Directors will make final decisions on selecting candidates. GS will also offer a training and orientation program for the selected fellows. The orientation will not include advocacy for any particular policy positions.

Prior to beginning a fellowship, Fellows are enrolled in an orientation program that provides the fellow with a comprehensive look at government legislative and regulatory processes and organization. The orientation takes place in Washington, D.C. IEEE-USA pays the orientation registration fees.

The fellowship experience is intended to be both a learning experience for the fellow, but more importantly, it is an opportunity for an IEEE member to pass on his/her knowledge and experience to policymakers who may or may not have a science and technology background. A successful fellow is most importantly, proactive and takes the initiative.  You will:

  • perform professionally and complete projects,
  • articulate needs in a constructive and respectful way,
  • address challenges with creativity and thoughtfulness,
  • take initiative to obtain information necessary to accomplish tasks,
  • inform the office you are serving and achieve fellowship goals with respect for the opinions of others and an awareness of the environment; and
  • balance work time with learning time.

All Fellows are expected to maintain the highest levels of professionalism and ethical behavior.  Fellows must ensure that they are free of influence from previous employers, employment and IEEE. No fellow may earn outside income, continue working for a previous employer, or do contract work while serving in a fellowship.

Click here for more details on the Fellows Ethics Policy and Guidelines.

 

Meet the 2025-2026 IEEE-USA Government Fellows

Dr. Jenny Blessing
Dr. Jenny BlessingCongressional Fellow
Joe Kujawski
Joe KujawskiCongressional Fellow

Read About Past IEEE-USA Fellows’ Experiences

Congressional Staff and the Daily Workings of Democracy

Congressional Staff and the Daily Workings of Democracy

Government Fellows: Prof. Beresford Goes to Washington

Government Fellows: Prof. Beresford Goes to Washington

IEEE-USA Congressional Fellowship Story: The Year Cybersecurity Made Headlines

IEEE-USA Congressional Fellowship Story: The Year Cybersecurity Made Headlines

Supporting the Government, Serving the Nation

Supporting the Government, Serving the Nation

Reflecting on One Exceptional, Partly Virtual Year on Capitol Hill

Reflecting on One Exceptional, Partly Virtual Year on Capitol Hill

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: IEEE-USA Government Fellowships

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: IEEE-USA Government Fellowships

IEEE-USA Government Fellows Fund

IEEE-USA Government Fellows Fund

Your gift to the IEEE-USA Government Fellows Fund supports the Fellows program which leverages the knowledge and expertise of IEEE’s US members to provide timely advice and assistance to the US federal government, and to assist the education of the IEEE’s US membership about the public policies that affect specifically the STEM community.

Staff Contacts

Erica Wissolik
Program Manager, Government Activities
Email: e.wissolik@ieee.org

Annie Perrin Grisham
Policy Associate, Government Activities
Email: a.grisham@ieee.org

Katalin Forgacs
Administrative Assistant, IEEE Global Policy Caucus and IEEE-USA
Email: k.forgacs@ieee.org