Apply now for the 2024 Federal STEM Policy and Advocacy: An Inside the Beltway Look
If you’re interested in a career in science policy or research advocacy, you won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to participate in an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. for Federal STEM Policy and Advocacy: An Inside the Beltway Look.
FEDERAL STEM POLICY & ADVOCACY: AN INSIDE THE BELTWAY LOOK
OCTOBER 10-11, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Hosted by the Vanderbilt University Office of Federal Relations in partnership with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Office of Federal Relations, the BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE Program, The Vanderbilt GPS at the Career Center, Russell G. Hamilton Graduate Leadership Institute, The Vanderbilt Graduate School, and the Vanderbilt University Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
Application Deadline midnight (11:59pm) Monday, September 2, 2024
This two-day event will provide up to 20 Vanderbilt graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) an opportunity to learn how federal STEM policy is made and the role of advocacy by federal agencies, Congress, scientific societies, associations and coalitions in achieving policy goals. Participants will hear from professionals – including VU alumni – who are actively engaged in influencing and promoting federal investments in science and engineering. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with DC-area alumni at a networking reception. (Read about the 2022 and 2018 Vanderbilt Federal STEM Policy and Advocacy trips, and see a sample agenda from a previous trip.)
For STEM graduate students and postdocs thinking about careers in science policy or research advocacy, this behind-the-scenes look will provide insight to potential career opportunities. Travel expenses will be paid for students and postdocs who are selected to attend, including hotel accommodations for the evening of October 10 and 11, roundtrip coach class airfare from Nashville to Washington, D.C., and the alumni reception. Participants will be responsible for their ground transportation/parking expenses in Nashville and Washington DC, as well as up to three meals not included in the program or the hotel stay. Washington DC has an excellent rail system, the Metro, which connects to the airport and has stops near the event hotel.
Individual grad students or postdocs will be sponsored to attend by one of the campus partners, depending on their program or department. Campus partners include the BRET ASPIRE Program, the Vanderbilt Career Center (contact Christina Keeton, PhD), the Russell G. Hamilton Graduate Leadership Institute, or the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (contact Faith Bishop).
Eligibility requirements
1. Applicants must be a current Vanderbilt University graduate student or postdoctoral fellow in a STEM field.
- PhD students who entered graduate school through the IGP or QCB, or one of the IGP-affiliated PhD programs, must have passed their qualifying exams before the application deadline.
- MS/MA students must have completed one full year of graduate work at VU by the time of application.
- Postdoctoral fellows may be appointed in a department in VU or VUMC.
2. Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
3. Applicants must be able to attend the full workshop in Washington, DC, on October 10-11, 2024; this will require departure from Nashville on October 9.
To complete your online application, you will need to upload the following:
1) a current CV or resume highlighting academic accomplishments, leadership and service, and other experiences related to your interest in this event;
2) a letter of interest (300-400 words) describing your interest in the role of science in policy-making and advocacy, and what you hope to gain from such an experience; and
3) a brief description (300-400 words) of your graduate or postdoctoral research, as you would describe it to a lay audience; for example, if you were going to describe it to a lawmaker.
The deadline to complete the online application form and upload these documents: midnight (11:59 pm) Monday, September 2, 2024.
If you have questions about the Federal STEM Policy & Advocacy program, application, or funding, please contact Dr. Jan Varadarajan, Assistant Director of Postdoc Support in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, at janani.varadarajan@vanderbilt.edu.