Home > Get Involved

Optica/MRS Congressional Fellowships

Get Involved

Optica / MRS Congressional Fellowship

The application process for 2026-27 will begin in September 2025.

Optica and MRS offer a congressional fellowship program, providing members with an invaluable opportunity to learn about public policy. Fellows contribute to the effective use of optical and materials science knowledge in government and broaden awareness of the value of the interaction between scientists, engineers, and government to our memberships, the federal government and the public.

Program The Fellow spends one year working as a special legislative assistant on the staff of a member of Congress or congressional committee. Activities may involve conducting legislative or oversight work, assisting in congressional hearings and debates, and preparing briefs and writing speeches. The Fellow also attends an orientation program administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on congressional and executive branch operations, which includes guidance in the congressional placement process and a year-long seminar series on science and public policy issues. The AAAS also administers many other aspects of the program for the Optica/MRS Fellow, as well as other fellows sponsored by nearly two dozen scientific societies.
Criteria Applicants must have a record of success in research or scholarship in a field relevant to optical science and technology and/or materials, familiarity with the discipline and a working understanding of the scientific communities. Applicants must also demonstrate sensitivity toward policy issues and have a strong interest in applying scientific and technical knowledge to United States public policy issues. Applicants must be able to work quickly and communicate effectively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences on a wide variety of topics and work cooperatively with individuals having diverse viewpoints. Applicants are expected to be a member of Optica or MRS (or an applicant for membership) and have a PhD by the start of the fellowship (01 September 2025). US citizenship is not required; however, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. 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.

Directly below is a list of present and past fellows, along with their congressional office placements:

2025-2026	Swati Narasimhan PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering Stanford University
2024-2025	Shriya Pai PhD in Physics University of Colorado Boulder	Sen. Ed Markey
2023-2024	Marie Fiori PhD in Chemistry University of Wisconsin-Madison	Rep. Derek Kilmer
2022-2023	Sindhu Nathan PhD in Chemical Engineering Stanford University	Sen. Tina Smith
2021-2022	Rachel Starr PhD in Chemistry Columbia University	Sen. John Hickenlooper
2020-2021	Catherine Clark PhD in Materials Science University of Minnesota	Sen. Richard Durbin
2019-2020	Daniel Broberg PhD in Materials Science & Engineering University of California, Berkeley	Sen. Christopher Coons
2018-2019	Dylan Rittman PhD in Geological Sciences Stanford University	Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
2017-2018	Sarah Vorpahl PhD in Chemistry University of Washington	Sen. Bernie Sanders
2016-2017	Felicia Lucci PhD in Chemistry Tufts University	Sen. Heidi Heitkamp
2015-2016	Peter Winter PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology Colorado State University	Sen. Christopher Coons
2014-2015	James O'Dea PhD in Chemistry University of California, Santa Barbara	Sen. Brian Schatz
2013-2014	Sydney Kaufman PhD in Chemical Physics University of Colorado Boulder	Sen. Mark Begich
2012-2013	Mirvat Abdelhaq PhD in Physical Chemistry University of Colorado, Boulder	Sen. Jeff Merkley
2011-2012	Laura Povlich PhD in Macromolecular Science and Engineering University of Michigan	Rep. Sandy Levin
2010-2011	Ashley White PhD in Materials Science Cambridge University	Senator Al Franken
2009-2010	Gavi Begtrup PhD in Physics University of California, Berkeley	Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
2008-2009	Amit Mistry PhD in Bioengineering Rice University	Rep. Ed Markey
2007-2008	Alicia Jackson PhD in Materials Science and Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
2006-2007	Kevin Whittlesey PhD in Biological Sciences Northwestern University	Rep. Doris Matsui
2005-2006	Benjamin Jay Gross PhD in Physical Chemistry Columbia University	Rep. Rush Holt
2004-2005	Karin Ezbiansky Pavese PhD in Inorganic Chemistry University of Pennsylvania	Sen. Joseph Lieberman
2003-2004	Colin McCormick PhD in Physics University of California, Berkeley	Rep. Edward J. Markey
2002-2003	Jeffrey Haeni PhD in Materials Science Pennsylvania State University	Rep. Rush Holt
2001-2002	Eric Werwa PhD in Electronic Materials Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Rep. Mike Honda
2000-2001	Susan Ginsberg PhD in Materials Science and Engineering University of Minnesota	Rep. Howard L. Berman
1999-2000	Arun Seraphin PhD in Materials Science and Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman
1998-1999	Merrilea Mayo PhD in Materials Science and Engineering Stanford University	Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman
1997-1998	Brian Holloway PhD in Mechanical Engineering University of Florida	Sen. John D. Rockefeller
1996-1997	Michal Freedhoff PhD in Physical Chemistry University of Rochester	Rep. Edward J. Markey
1995-1996	Kelly Kirkpatrick PhD in Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University	Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman

Optica/MRS Congressional Fellowships

Get Involved

Optica / MRS Congressional Fellowship

Program

Criteria

Events

Membership

Industry Resources

Community

Careers

About