Program Overview

The Innovation Fellowship provides a pathway for students from a STEM background to join the Presidential Fellows program and gain exposure to the federal policy-making process. With the increased role of advanced technologies in our society, the political system will require more technical expertise from policy practitioners. CSPC aims to provide the stepping stones for STEM students to engage in the policy sphere. Please read more about the history of the Fellows program here.

Innovation Fellows are selected through a competitive application process by an Advisory Board comprised of alumni of the program. At this time, applicants must be enrolled at a U.S.-based college or university.

Selected students will be required to:

  • Participate in monthly virtual seminars from September 2025 through May 2026

  • Attend an all-expenses-paid conference in Washington, D.C. (March 21–25, 2026)

  • Complete a 10–15 page original research paper centered on science and technology related topics through the lens of the Presidency and/or Congress

While this Fellowship does not provide monetary funding, all participation costs, including conference expenses, are fully covered.

Students who are not from a STEM background and do not attend one of our partner institutions (listed here) are welcome to apply to the At-Large program, which offers a similar opportunity to participate in the Presidential Fellows program, without the science and technology focus. You can find the application here.

Innovation Fellowship

Key Update for 2025-2026 Cohort

CSPC is excited to announce that for the 2025-2026 Fellowship year, all programming will center on the 250th Anniversary of the United States, which takes place on July 4, 2026. The primary change will be to the required research paper. While Fellows may still choose topics related to the presidency and/or Congress, they must incorporate the theme of the 250th Anniversary into their research.

This means that Fellows should frame their chosen topic within the broader historical narrative of the nation's growth, challenges, and evolution over the past 250 years. The introduction and conclusion of their paper should explicitly connect their topic to the significance of the anniversary.

For example, a Fellow writing about current immigration policy might begin by discussing America's foundation as a nation of immigrants and highlighting major milestones in immigration policy over the last two and a half centuries.

Learn More About the Program

We are accepting applications for the 2025-2026 cohort.
The application closes on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.

Application Materials

Application

To apply, please complete the form below. In addition, a recommender must submit the recommendation form linked on the right.

The application includes:

  • Long-form answers

  • Resume upload

  • Unofficial transcript upload

  • Short writing sample upload

Letter of Recommendation

Applicants are required to have one (1) recommender submit the below form.

We encourage students to ask someone that knows them well, either in an academic or professional capacity.

The form includes basic information about the recommender’s relationship to the applicant, along with a place to submit their letter of recommendation.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Be an enrolled sophomore, junior, senior, or advanced degree student for the entirety of the 2025-2026 academic year at an accredited U.S. college or university. Students graduating in December 2025 are not eligible for participation in the Presidential Fellows program.

2. Must have a major or minor in a STEM field.

3. Open to U.S. or non-U.S. citizens studying in the United States.

4. GPA of 3.0 or above

Selection Criteria:

Although we do not have specific criteria for the selection of Innovation Fellows beyond the stated eligibility requirements, the Advisory Board evaluates each application with the following weights:

  • 25% - research paper topic

  • 25% - long-form answers

  • 25% - strength of resume

  • 15% - recommendation

  • 10% - fit with Innovation Fellowship Mission & Goals

We would also like to emphasize that when reviewing the resume, we look for a range of diverse academic and extra-curricular experiences while also considering the applicant’s workload and how successful they might be in the Fellowship program.

Funding:

Funding for the Innovation Fellowship is provided through a generous grant from the Richard Lounsbery Foundation. The foundation was founded in 1959, with a goal to enhance national strengths in science and technology and foster strong French-American cooperation. To this day, the Foundation has stayed true to its roots while expanding to promote science among youth and to support components of US policy issues pertaining to science.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sydney Johnson - sydney.johnson@thepresidency.org.