Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellowship Program
The application deadline for the 2020-2021 Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellowship has passed. The application details and deadlines for the 2021-2022 fellowship will be added to the OSA Congressional Fellowship webpages by September 2020. The application deadline is typically the first Friday in January.
OSA and SPIE offer a congressional fellowship program providing members with an invaluable opportunity of public policy learning. Fellows gain a perspective that enhances their industrial, academic or government careers and the optics community's ability to more effectively communicate with U.S. Congress. The Fellowship is an ideal way to spend an academic sabbatical or leave of absence from a company.
A Unique Opportunity
The Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellow works in the office of a US Senator or Representative or with a congressional committee to get first-hand knowledge of congressional operations, contribute to the policymaking process, and forge links among the engineering, scientific, and public policy communities.
Term
Fellowships are normally for one year, running September through August. The 2020-2021 Guenther Fellow will join more than two dozen other scientists and engineers in early September 2020 for an intensive orientation program on the legislative and executive branches. This program is organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which also provides educational and collegial programs for the Fellow throughout the year. Following interviews on the Hill, Fellows choose a congressional office - personal or committee staff - where they wish to serve. Fellows are expected to handle varied assignments, both technical and non-technical.
A stipend of $78,750 is provided by OSA and SPIE, and additional support from other sources, such as a present employer, is permitted. The Societies also provide an allowance for health insurance, travel, and relocation expenses to the Washington, D.C. area. Final selection of the Fellow will be made in early 2020 after personal interviews are conducted.
Qualifications
Fellows are evaluated on the basis of technical competence, responsible work experience, ability to serve in a public environment and evidence of service to OSA, SPIE and the profession. Prospective Fellows must have a PhD or equivalent doctoral level degree by program orientation (September 1, 2020); significant familiarity with optical engineering or science disciplines; a working understanding of the optical engineering and science communities; and demonstrated interest in the United States public policy process. Although prior experience in public policy is not necessary, a demonstrable interest in applying science and engineering to the solution of United States policy issues is required. Federal employees are not eligible. US citizenship is not required; however, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Applicants should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and possess the flexibility to tackle a variety of work. Specifically excluded as selection criteria are age, sex, creed, race, ethnic background, and partisan political affiliation.
Applicants will be evaluated based on the following categories:
- Scientific/technical background and professional accomplishments - weighted in consideration of the applicant's career stage.
- Communication skills - to scientific and nonscientific audiences - including writing ability, community involvement, and outreach activities.
- Demonstrated public policy interest, such as through participation in policy or advocacy activities; service to professional societies and/or the broader scientific community; and student government or other campus involvement (if applicable).
- Fellowship skills and abilities, including (but not limited to): capacity to work quickly, flexibly, and cooperatively; experience working with individuals with diverse viewpoints; ability to work in a public environment; and strong interpersonal skills.
Application
Applications must be emailed or post-marked by the application deadline. The application deadline for the 2020-2021 Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellowship is January 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Candidates must submit the following materials:
- A resume, no longer than two pages, providing information about educational background, professional employment, community and professional activities, public policy and legislative experience and committee and advisory group appointments. One additional page (for a total of up to three pages) should list professional publications and presentations. Resumes should be tailored to address the qualifications described above.
- A statement of up to 1,000 words addressing the applicant's interest in the fellowship, career goals, contributions the applicant believes he or she can make as an OSA/SPIE Fellow to the legislative process, and what the applicant wants to learn from the experience.
- Three signed letters of reference sent directly to bdillingham@osa.org, specifically addressing the applicant's qualifications for the fellowship as described above. Letters of reference should be emailed directly to bdillingham@osa.org by the reference and must be in PDF format, on official letterhead, and include an electronic or scanned signature. Letters of reference should not be sent by the candidate themselves. However, the candidate is responsible for ensuring the letters are received by the application deadline.
Application Materials Should be Mailed or Emailed to:
Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellowship Program
c/o Brandy Dillingham
The Optical Society
2010 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Office: +1 202.416.1409
Email: bdillingham@osa.org
NOTE: Applicants applying for both the Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellowship and OSA/MRS Congressional Fellowship can send in one set of application materials for both fellowships, as long as it is noted that the materials are for both fellowships.
Directly below is a list of present and past fellows, along with their congressional office placements: