Innovation Fellowship

The application for the 2026-2027 Cohort is now open and will close July 1 at 11:59 pm EST

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 2026 through May 2027

  • Attend an all-expenses-paid conference in Washington, D.C. (April 3-7, 2027)

  • 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. This includes:

  • Participation in monthly virtual events with prominent policy experts, political figures, journalists, and private-sector leaders. 

  • Round-trip travel to Washington, D.C. 

  • Room and board for five days in Washington, D.C.

  • Excursions in and around the Washington, D.C. area.

  • Attendance at CSPC events like the Annual Awards Dinner. 

  • Networking events with Presidential Fellows alumni and CSPC Staff, Trustees, and Counselors. 

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.

Learn More About the Program

Spring 2026 Newsletter

A Fellow’s Reflection

Informational Brochure

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 (view sample answers here)

  • One-page Resume upload

  • Unofficial transcript upload

  • Short writing sample upload

Student Application

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.

Recommender Form

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Be an enrolled junior, senior, or advanced degree student for the entirety of the 2026-2027 academic year at an accredited U.S. college or university. Students graduating in December 2026 are not eligible for participation in the At-Large Fellows program.

    • You must be physically present at your home institution (or elsewhere domestically in the United States) during the Spring 2027 semester. Study abroad participation is permitted in the Fall semester, but not in the Spring.

  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:

The Advisory Board evaluates each application with the following weights:

  • 50% - Research Paper Topic

    • Competitive applicants will have a well thought-out and specific proposal centered on science and technology related topics with a clear relevance to the presidency and/or Congress. The quality of writing is equally important as the strength of the topic, and unique or original topics are a plus.  

  • 50% - Fit with Mission & Goals

    • This category includes

      • The first two long-form answers (why do you want to be a Fellow & what diversity you bring to the program)

      • One-page resume

      • Letter of recommendation

    • We would 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.

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