The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) program has built an exceptional reputation for providing high-quality fellows who learn firsthand about the federal policy realm and make valuable contributions to the agencies and offices in which they serve. Maintaining the program's reputation, integrity, and educational purpose is the responsibility of AAAS, its partner societies, fellows, and the agencies and offices in which they work.
Fellows are required to be free agents who make their own choices of the congressional offices in which they serve and the topics they work on, subject to the agreement of the office and the ethics committee rulings of that Chamber. Fellows may not provide special considerations of any kind to their sponsoring societies, AAAS, its affiliated organizations, or any entity contributing to the fellow's income. To maintain the integrity of the fellowship program, as well as to underscore that the fellowship is a learning experience, fellows should be assured that their only responsibility is to the congressional office in which they work and the ethics rules guiding that office. It is important that fellows adhere to this principle and avoid any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
It is the responsibility of AAAS, a fellow, a fellow's sponsoring society, its affiliated organizations, or any entity contributing to a fellow's income to avoid creating conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest with respect to the fellows in accordance with House and Senate Ethics Committee rules. (August 30, 2004)
Guidelines
- Fellows may not be party to any federally-funded grant applications, either as a PI, co-PI, or subcontractor. If a fellow is already on a federally-funded grant, he/she must stop work on the grant for the duration of the fellowship and may not receive funding from the grant during that time.
- Fellows involved in other research collaborations or any appointments from which they receive additional remuneration must receive approval from their host office/appropriate House or Senate Ethics Committee to continue that involvement. If the activity is not approved, the fellow must take a hiatus from such involvement for the duration of the fellowship.
- Fellows may not apply for or put their name on new grants during the fellowship year; however, they may remain on already existing grants as long as they transfer it over to a colleague during the fellowship year and not participate in any way on the project. Fellows can go back to their grant work in full capacity after the fellowship. However, all decisions about prior and current grants will be based on the office/committees, and the work the fellow will be doing there. Thus, Ethics usually will not answer any questions regarding grants until a fellow is placed and has his/her portfolio.
Fellows invited to give presentations must receive approval from their office to give the presentation and for the time off for the event. Fellows who publish on work involved in their fellowship or who identify themselves in publications as affiliated with any congressional office, committee, or government agency must receive prior permission from their host office/appropriate Ethics Committee.
Fellows offered honoraria for speaking engagements, service on committees, editorial review boards, and such activities must receive clearance from their office/ appropriate House or Senate Ethics Committee to accept the payment.
Fellows interviewing for their next professional opportunity must inform their office and disqualify themselves from taking action that would affect the interests of a prospective employer anytime they are engaged in negotiations in which there is active interest on both sides. This is to ensure that the fellow is not assigned to any projects that might present a real or perceived conflict of interest with a possible future employer. Also, fellows considering jobs with lobbying/advocacy entities may be prohibited from contact with staff from their fellowships assignment for a period of time following their departure from the Hill. Before accepting or negotiating a position, all fellows should contact Ethics regarding the opportunity up to one year after the fellowship.
More details are available on the websites for the House and Senate Ethics Committees at http://www.ethics.house.gov and http://www.ethics.senate.gov.
The full texts of the manuals are available: House Ethics Manual and Senate Ethics Manual.