East Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s response to PFAS “forever chemicals.” Building decarbonization at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Stronger data privacy and security in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship has helped shape policy that touches lives across Connecticut. “For those in the program, the experience is career-defining,” CASE Executive Director Jeffrey Orszak says. “Some fellows remain in public service, others return to academia, nonprofits, or industry. All leave with a deeper understanding of how science informs policymaking.” Applications are open until August 31 for the one-year fellowship, which begins this September.

Through the fellowship, scientists, physicians, and engineers work directly with state legislators and both partisan and nonpartisan staff in the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA), researching and supporting policy on topics where scientific and technical expertise is critical.

For the 2026-2027 term, CASE is seeking fellows in three areas:

• Energy policy – advancing renewable energy and climate commitments, maintaining the reliability and resilience of the electric grid, and ensuring energy affordability for ratepayers.
• Public health policy – developing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives that protect community well-being, including disease prevention, healthcare access, emergency preparedness, mental health, and addiction services.
• Artificial intelligence and related policy – addressing the opportunities and uncertainty created by the rapid emergence of AI, along with the interrelated areas of data privacy, social media, cybersecurity, and consumer protection.

Eligible candidates hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree in a field relevant to one of the topics; engineers may qualify with a master’s in engineering and three years of professional experience. Candidates whose terminal degree is nearing completion will also be considered. CASE seeks a diverse pool of applicants, with broad representation across career stages, gender, age, race and ethnicity, physical ability, geographic location, and institutional affiliation. To preserve the program’s independence, funders play no role in fellow selection, placement, or evaluation.

Supported in part by a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the program expands an initiative CASE began developing in 2017, when it received one of nine planning grants awarded by the California Council for Science and Technology in partnership with the Moore Foundation and the Simons Foundation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, August 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET

How to apply. Full details and the application are available on the CASE Fellowship page at ctcase.org/activities/fellowship.