Tech Ethics & Policy Summer Fellowships - Graduate/Coterm Students
The Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) and the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society are offering a 9-10 week fellowship for Stanford undergraduate and graduate students to engage in the technology ethics and policy field as it intersects with public policy and social impact. The program runs from April to October 2024 and includes a course on ethics, technology, and public policy, as well as a paid summer opportunity at a technology company, civil society organization, federal agency, or Congressional office. Fellows will also be matched with mentors from the technology, ethics, and public policy fields.
This opportunity is for graduates only. Please visit the Tech Ethics and Policy Summer Fellowships for Undergraduate Students, if you are looking for undergraduate student summer opportunities. See the comparative chart below for differences between the two programs. Coterms are eligible to apply to both opportunities.
Comparative Chart
|
Criteria |
Graduate and Coterm Students |
Undergraduate and Coterm Students |
|---|---|---|
|
Number of Fellows |
10-15 |
20-25 |
|
Eligibility |
Graduate and Coterm students
|
Undergraduate and Coterm students
|
|
Job Placement (Summer 2024) |
Federal government agencies, U.S. Congressional offices, Think tanks and civil society organizations in DC
|
Technology companies, Non-profit organizations, Non-governmental organizations, or Public agencies |
|
Compensation / Housing |
A base stipend of $10,000 for all fellows in addition to roundtrip airfare to DC and housing in DC. |
A base stipend of $7,500 to cover most of the essential costs associated with an unpaid service experience. Up to $1,500 in financial aid and supplemental funding are available to students who qualify. |
|
Location |
Washington, D.C. |
In-person, Remote, and Hybrid |
Graduate Fellowship Overview
The D.C. ecosystem lacks the technical expertise needed to make informed decisions on AI policy. As artificial intelligence continues to increase in importance and impact, the need for technical talent in government is becoming more urgent. Meanwhile, Stanford is host to thousands of qualified graduate students studying technical fields such as computer science, electrical engineering, data science, symbolic systems, and more.
To fill this gap, HAI will fully fund a cohort of 10-15 Stanford students in fellowship positions across D.C., from Congress to the Executive Branch to leading think tanks. Placements of the 2023 cohort include White House Office of Management and Budget, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Senate Appropriations Committee, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Brookings Institution, American Enterprise Institute, and more.
The fellowship will provide each graduate fellow with a $10,000 stipend, housing for the duration of the fellowship in D.C., round trip airfare, mentorship in technology policy, and monthly cohort programming (such as field trips, roundtables, and dinners).
Eligibility and Requirement
Eligibility:
We are looking for Stanford graduate students (including coterm students) who have completed at least one computer science or symbolic systems course (with a preference for multiple courses), or multiple courses in the School of Engineering. All applicants should be interested in gaining tech policy experience in D.C.
International students on an F-1 visa with pre-completion OPT or CPT work authorizations are eligible to apply, but in those cases fellowship placements will be limited to non-governmental organizations.
Program Expectations
Selected fellows are required to participate in our spring quarter seminar on Friday afternoons. Upon the conclusion of spring quarter, fellows will travel to Washington, D.C. to begin their placements. To maximize the fellowship experience, fellows will be asked to begin their placements as close to Monday, June 16, 2025 as possible and no later than June 30, 2025. All fellows are required to work with their host organizations at least 35 hours/week for ten consecutive weeks with most placements concluding on Friday, August 22, 2025. Fellows are expected to work on-site at their host organizations in Washington, D.C. — generally hybrid or fully virtual experiences are not allowed.
Spring Quarter
- Enroll in Spring Fellowship Seminar: ETHICSOC 85/ ETHICSOC 285 Introduction to Tech Ethics and Policy Career Pathways (Friday 1:30 PM-2:50 PM)
Summer
- Work at placement organization in Washington, D.C.
- Meet with policy mentors to help you navigate policy career.
- Attend summer cohort programming (such as field trips, roundtables, and dinners).
- Submit a program evaluation at the end of the fellowship.
Fall Quarter*
- Attend closing event.
- Participate in outreach activities to share experiences and help publicize the program.
*Students graduating in Spring or Summer 2025 are exempt from this requirement.
Who should apply?
We are looking for Stanford graduate students (including coterm students) who have completed at least one computer science or symbolic systems course (with a preference for multiple courses), or multiple courses in the School of Engineering. All applicants should be interested in gaining tech policy experience in D.C., but previous work in a policy role is not required. Students must have a graduation date no earlier than Spring 2025 to be considered.
International students on an F-1 visa with pre-completion OPT or CPT work authorizations are eligible to apply, but in those cases fellowship placements will be limited to non-governmental organizations.
What's included?
HAI will provide each graduate TEP fellow with a $10,000 stipend, housing for the duration of the fellowship in D.C., round trip airfare, mentorship in technology policy, and monthly cohort programming (such as field trips, roundtables, and dinners). Additionally, HAI will connect fellows with policy mentors to help them navigate their summer experience.
2024 - 2025 Timeline
November 1, 2024: Applications Open
December 1, 2024: Application Due
April 4 - May 30, 2025: Spring quarter course
June 16, 2025 - August 22, 2025: Summer Fellowship in D.C.
Round 1 applications are due on Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59pm PT. We will prioritize the review of round 1 applications and encourage applicants to submit their application prior to this deadline.
Round 2 applications are due on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 11:59pm PT. This will be the final opportunity to apply for the 2025 program.
Finalists will receive an invitation to interview in early - mid January.
To apply for the fellowship, please submit your application below including your resume, transcript, and answers (no more than 250 words each) to the following questions:
- What do you hope to gain from the fellowship?
- Is there an AI topic that policymakers are not paying enough attention to but should?
*For certain summer opportunities, such as those in the White House, you may be required to submit a separate application (not available yet due to the coming change in presidential administrations). If White House opportunities are of interest to you, we encourage you to apply to the TEP fellowship and we will do our best to align our timeframe with the White House's program and application process.
