Tech Ethics & Policy Summer Fellowships

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. This page 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. Coterms are eligible to apply to both opportunities.

Tech Ethics and Policy Fellowship

(for Graduate and Coterm Students)

Are you trying to find ways your technical skills can make a real difference in the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence? Look no further! We are seeking up to 10-15 Stanford graduate students with a technical background and curiosity to dive into public service. If selected, you will undergo a responsible tech and policy training on campus during the spring quarter and then be matched with a host organization for a full-time, fully-funded summer fellowship in the Washington, D.C. area.

Join us for an information session to learn more about this year’s program! 

Friday, November 1, 2024: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm at Crown 320D in the Law School (we’ll have free pizza!)

RSVP HERE 

Wednesday, November 13, 2024: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Room 403 in the Gates Computer Science Building (we’ll have free bobas!)

RSVP HERE 

About the Fellowship

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. Past placements of the fellows cohort include White House Office of Management and Budget, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Brookings Institution, American Enterprise Institute, and more.

Read more about our 2024 cohort and some of the places our fellows served

Through this experience, fellows will:

• Gain a better understanding of the tech policy community and how ideas become law
• Strengthen their written and oral communication skills
• Explore new public service career opportunities in all three branches of government, civil society organizations, and think tanks
• Build lifelong relationships with their cohort and D.C. colleagues
• Apply their technical skills to ensure technology policy is developed from a human-centered approach

These fellowships are made possible in part by Frank McCourt in association with Stanford’s partnership with the Project Liberty’s Institute.

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.

For Undergraduate Students

The TEP fellowship also provides 20-25 Stanford undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in the technology field as it intersects with public policy and social impact. To learn more, please visit the Tech Ethics and Policy Fellowship for Undergraduate Students webpage.