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Sci on the Fly
April 6, 2026
Surviving and Thriving during the AAAS STPF Executive Branch Finalist Week
Congratulations on making it to finalist week! Finalist week can be very busy and hectic, particularly as you request and navigate interviews with host offices you are interested in. My goal with this post is not to overwhelm you, but to offer several strategies for starting finalist week off on the...
Sci on the Fly
April 13, 2021
Science She-roes: Seven women scientists reflect on their journey to the AAAS STPF fellowship
As a Korean-American woman, learning how to express myself as both a scientist and a woman of color has not been without its challenges or rewards. Growing up as a military brat and a Korean-American, I learned early how different communities deal with...
Sci on the Fly
April 23, 2021
Stakeholder Identification: A Beginner's Guide
A few months into my fellowship at the Department of Energy, my mentor suggested I do stakeholder mapping to help build a new research and development direction in our office. There was one hiccup: I didn’t know what stakeholder mapping was. Simply put...
Sci on the Fly
June 14, 2021
5 Things to Do Before Starting your AAAS S&T Policy Fellowship
By now, the incoming AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) cohort (aka the class of 2021-22) have survived virtual screening interviews, dozens of interviews with potential host offices, and agonized over placement assignments. Now should be the...
Sci on the Fly
June 22, 2021
For disadvantaged communities, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over
While the COVID-19 pandemic begins to wane due to the recent vaccine rollout, the fight for disadvantaged communities is far from over. Health inequities have been long felt by communities that lack access to adequate health and technology resources. For...
Sci on the Fly
July 9, 2021
Empowering Just Climate Action as the US Rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement
We’re back! While the U.S. has officially rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, we still have a long way to go to successfully address climate change in an equitable and just way. As the Biden Administration focuses on the immediate recovery from COVID-19 and...
Sci on the Fly
August 24, 2021
Harassed Out of Science
Gender bias, discrimination, and harassment in higher education are unacceptable, yet persistent issues facing the scientific community. As AAAS S&T Policy Fellows, it is our responsibility to raise the awareness needed to take a powerful stance to pressure...
Sci on the Fly
September 28, 2021
Reaching Beyond the STPF Fellowship
Yes, current fellows, you can do other things outside of your primary fellowship assignment! The past year as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow has been more rewarding than I’ve ever expected. My fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)...
Sci on the Fly
December 30, 2021
A Breath of Fresh Air
Craving a way to navigate out of the oppressive feeling of being stuck in my career, I applied to the perfect opportunity: the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. After a lengthy application process, I am currently completing my first year as a fellow...
Sci on the Fly
February 14, 2022
Power in Brevity: Tips for STPF Applicants on the One-page Memo
I can write a 20-page book chapter, but can I write a one-page memo? I’ve kept my audience captive during a 30-minute scientific talk, but how do I brief a one-pager over Zoom to people from different fields? These are two questions that I found myself...
Sci on the Fly
March 14, 2022
Tips for an Excellent Interview Week
Interview week for finalists of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) in the executive branch is an exhilarating (and sometimes exhausting) opportunity to find the federal office that you will come "home" as a fellow. AAAS will provide you...
