ASA Science Policy Fellowships

Applications for the 2023-2024 cycle now being accepted.


Are you interested in science policy and helping your profession? Apply for the ASA Science Policy Fellowship and spend 1-2 years in Washington, DC, working to elevate the profile of statistics in policymaking and advocating on behalf of the profession.

The fellow will be based at the ASA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, but will spend the bulk of her/his time in Washington, advocating for statistics and experiencing first-hand how federal science policy is formed.

The ASA Science Policy Fellowship is a full-year postdoctoral-level position, renewable for a second year.

In partnership with the director of science policy, the ASA science policy fellow will be responsible for a wide range of activities, including the following:

  • Initiating and leading new advocacy topics for the ASA (preferably in collaboration with other societies)

  • Advocating specific statistics-related issues to Congress, the administration, and others

  • Exploring and implementing ways in which the ASA's science policy activities could be expanded to better meet its responsibilities (e.g., congressional briefings, webinars)

  • Maintaining relationships with key policy officials related to statistics (e.g., U.S. Census Bureau, Hill staff, OMB, OSTP, National Academies, etc.)

  • Generally supporting the dual responsibilities of ASA science policy work: raising the profile of statistics in policymaking and advocating on behalf of the statistics profession

  • Attending policy-related events (e.g., congressional hearings, coalition meetings, conferences, briefings, and colloquia)

  • Coordinating ASA participation in statistics and science and technology coalition events

  • Speaking publicly on behalf of the ASA, especially for colloquia

  • Contributing to communications to ASA members about science policy (e.g., Amstat News, Enews, social media)

Fellowship candidates are expected to possess an excellent record of accomplishment, a strong commitment to public service, superb interpersonal and communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to multitask and work on a team.

When the position is open again, the application process is the following. Interested applicants holding a PhD in statistics—or a closely related science—should submit a letter of application, short résumé, writing samples (nontechnical if available), and contact information for three professional references. (Outstanding applicants with an MS in statistics or related science also will be considered.) The letter of application should not exceed two pages and should explain the applicant's policy interest and reason for applying, scientific and professional background, and attributes and experience that would make the applicant effective in this position.

These materials should be submitted via email to ASA Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson: pierson@amstat.org. Questions about this opportunity and application requirements also may be directed to Steve.

The compensation is competitive with that of congressional science fellows and other DC-area policy fellows.

Amy Nussbaum was the ASA' inaugural science policy fellow and you can read about her here. For a glimpse of her experience, read her Amstat News articles on Climate Science Day and Guidance for Service on Federal Advisory Boards and Committees. Among the many things she worked on were the documents, Guidance on Statistical Evidence in Legislation and Recommendations to Funding Agencies for Supporting Reproducible Research. Daniel Elchert was our second science policy fellow. He shared highlights of his first 18 months and encouraged applications in an Amstat News article. Jonathan Auerbach started as the science policy fellow in September 2020, and, as described in this Amstat News piece, immediately began contributing to the ASA's policy efforts.

Ed Wu was ASA science policy fellow from September 2021 through November 2022.