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
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.
Requirement:
Selected fellows are expected to begin service following the completion of spring quarter classes and no later than July 1, 2024. All fellows are required to work with their host organizations at least 35 hours/week for nine consecutive weeks. Fellows are expected to work on-site at their host organizations in Washington, DC (University policies and health conditions permitting) — generally hybrid or fully virtual experiences are not allowed.
Spring Quarter
- Enroll in Spring Fellowship Course: ETHICSOC 85/ ETHICSOC 285 Introduction to Tech Ethics and Policy Career Pathways (Wednesdays 1:30 PM-3:20 PM)
Summer
- Share learning plan with site supervisor and update accordingly.
- Meet with their 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*
- Participate in Fall Capstone.
- Participate in outreach activities to share experiences and help publicize the program.
*Students graduating in 2024 are exempt from this requirement.
Application Timeline
Round 1:
- Due on Friday, December 1 at 11:59pm PT. Students who apply in this round will receive priority placement to your organization/agency/office. Interviews for finalists will take place the week of January 8 for early applicants.
Round 2:
- Due on Sunday January 14 at 11:59pm PT. Interviews for finalists will take place the week of January 16 for regular applicants.
In the event that the fellowship spots are filled after the early application deadline, applications will no longer be accepted for that track. If this is the case, we will update this webpage to reflect this change. It is strongly encouraged that students apply early.
Graduate Student Application
- Start here to apply for the fellowship: https://forms.gle/57QsJo97noKXZ74DA.
- Note: If you are interested in working in the White House for summer 2024, you must submit a separate application to the White House directly by November 10, 2023.