Skip to main content
Five fellows from the STPF 51st Class

STPF 51: Welcoming the new class of fellows

This month, the 51st class of STPF fellows began their year in Washington. This year’s cohort -- including Carlos Martinez, Shakira Grant, Bek Petroff, Jacqueline Smith and Alvin Tran -- comes to their fellowships from widely varying backgrounds, but with a shared vision for applying their scientific training and expertise to help inform federal policymaking. “I have to tell you, we’re living in a golden age of science. We know more about the universe, our planet, and ourselves than we’ve ever known before.”
Secretary Blinken speaking at an event.

Secretary of State fetes partnership with AAAS policy fellowship program

In a festive event complete with cake and a champagne toast, STPF and the U.S. Department of State celebrated a milestone in the two organizations’ shared commitment to science-informed policymaking: more than 40 years of STPF fellows bringing their scientific expertise to the State Department.
Featured Fellows
Ali
Nouri

Congrats to Ali Nouri (2008-09 Legislative Branch Fellow sponsored by AAAS), new Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs! “The STPF fellowship...opened doors and let me apply the science and evidence-based thinking I had learned in academia toward the policy process in Congress, at a nonprofit, a federal agency, and now the White House.” Ali works to advance the Administration's agenda vis-a-vis the U.S. Senate. 

Kristin
Ludwig

As White House Office of S&T Policy Asst. Director for Resilience Science & Technology, Kristin Ludwig (2011-12 NSF fellow; 2012-13 Dept. of Interior fellow) provides leadership and coordination on using S&T to inform resilience on a range of disruptions such as natural hazards and climate change. “The fellowship provided the perfect springboard for pursuing a career at the intersection of science and policy. I continue to leverage the STPF network for my work.” 

Devavani
Chatterjea

Recently appointed the Deputy Director for Chemical Safety of the Council on Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President, Devavani Chatterjea (2021-23 fellow at the State Dept.) combines attention to scientific detail with broader analyses of economic vitality, community and stakeholder engagement, and environmental justice to advise senior White House officials. “STPF expanded my horizons at warp speed and helped me realize my lifelong goal of public service.”