ASN Science Policy Fellowship

Gain an enhanced perspective on public policy issues related to nutrition and build skills to become a well-informed advocate for nutrition research and policy.

The call for applications for ASN’s 2024 Science Policy Fellowship is open through Friday, December 15, 2023.

About the Fellowship

ASN is pleased to offer two (2) one-year Fellowships to advanced graduate students, early professionals, postdoctoral trainees, or medical interns, residents, or fellows.

The intent of the Science Policy Fellowship is to allow for an expanded understanding of current nutrition policy issues and initiatives. The Science Policy Fellowship provides recipients with the opportunity to gain an enhanced perspective on public policy issues related to nutrition and facilitates the acquisition of skills and tools necessary to become well-informed advocates for nutrition research and policy.

Scope of Fellowship

Science Policy Fellows participate in a Capitol Hill Day during their Fellowship year to meet their state Senators and Representatives and other meetings to interact with federal agency personnel.

In addition, all Science Policy Fellows participate in an orientation session to receive training and preparation at the beginning of the Fellowship.

Science Policy Fellows will serve as ex officio members of ASN’s Committee on Advocacy and Science Policy (CASP) during their one-year Fellowship and are expected to actively participate in all CASP meetings scheduled throughout the year. Science Policy Fellows are based at their home institution.

Science Policy Fellows must contribute to various policy-related projects originating from ASN staff, the CASP, or their mentor throughout the year, such as article/newsletter writing, preparation of comments on pending regulations/guidance, preparation of educational materials for Capitol Hill Day or other advocacy activities, seminar presentations, and/or updates on their activities to the CASP. Upon completion of their Fellowship year, Science Policy Fellows must prepare a report about their experiences, including knowledge gained during the fellowship, how the experience will guide their career development, strengths of the Fellowship, and suggestions for improving the Fellowship.

Hill Day Summary

Mentorship

 

Each Science Policy Fellow will be paired with an ASN member with public policy experience to  serve as a mentor during the one-year Fellowship.

ASN staff will match available mentors with Science Policy Fellows in a one-to-one match determined by such elements as geographic location and nutrition science/ public policy focus.

Mentors will help foster the mentees’ nutrition policy research and career via telephone, email, and/ or online meeting communications at least once a month for the duration of the Fellowship period.

Mentors review any nutrition policy-related projects completed by the mentee and projects may originate from the mentor with ASN staff approval. In-person meetings are encouraged, if feasible.

I enjoyed increasing my awareness and becoming more involved with nutrition policy issues and interacting with leaders in the field. ASN staff are a tremendous help and provided assistance throughout the entire fellowship year.

Past Science Policy Fellow

Time Frame

2024 Application Submission opens October 2, 2023, and the deadline is December 15, 2023.

Call for Applications
October 2, 2023

Application Deadline
December 15, 2023

Notifications of ASN Science Policy Fellows
By January 31, 2024

Acceptance Deadline
February 16, 2024

Orientation Session
Prior to NUTRITION 2024

Capitol Hill/Federal Agency Visits
September 2024

“THANK YOU, as always, for the hard work and dedication. ASN was so accommodating and helpful throughout the entire fellowship. Please let me know how I can help in any way moving forward!”

Past Science Policy Fellow

Meet The Current Fellows

Caitlin Lowery, MSPH

PhD candidate
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Gillings School of Global Public Health

Read Our Interview

Samantha Sundermeir, MS, RDN

PhD candidateJohns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health

Read Our Interview

Past ASN Science Policy Fellows

2022-23: Gabby Headrick, MSPH, RDN, LDN and Elder Garcia Varela, MA, MS, CHES®
2021-22:
Heather E. Schier, MS and Jessica Garay, PhD, RDN, CSCS, FAND
2020-21:
Matthew J. Landry, PhD and Lyndsey D. Ruiz
2019-20: Jessica Soldavini, MPH, RD, LDN and Rebecca Hagedorn, PhD
2018-19: Chris Radlicz, MS, MPH, PhD and Jennifer Mansfield Ken-Opurum, PhD
2017-18: Alison Brown, MS, PhD and Laura Hopkins, PhD, MSPH, RDN, LDN
2016-17: Ali Dostal Webster, PhD, RD and Lynn Ulatowski, PhD, CV
2015-16: Emily Tomayko, PhD, RD and Kacie Blackman, PhD

Applicant Requirements

Applicants must be ASN members in graduate school or early career.

ASN Member
Applicant must be an ASN member in good standing studying or working in a field related to nutrition science, practice, or public health.

Communications Skills & Advocacy Interest
Applicant must have excellent written and oral communication skills and an interest in advocacy, as reflected in letters of reference. Applicant should have academic or other experience in nutrition policy and/or advocacy.

Event Participation
Applicant must be able to participate in NUTRITION 2024 and participate in a September 2024 Capitol Hill Day and virtual federal agency meetings during the Fellowship year.

U.S. Citizen
Applicant must be a US citizen (or be a holder of a US green card), training in the US, during the one-year fellowship period.

Professional
Applicants should be advanced graduate students, early professionals, postdoctoral trainees, or medical interns, residents, or fellows.

The following types of applicants are eligible:

Advanced Graduate Students
Individuals in their final year of advanced (masters, doctoral) studies who intend to pursue a career in nutrition science, practice or public health.

Early Professionals
Individuals holding a professional degree who are pursuing a career in nutrition science, practice, or public health (for example, junior faculty; staff and/or assistant scientists; etc.). This includes Early Career I and Early Career II from ASN’s membership structure.

Postdoctoral Trainees
Individuals holding a doctoral degree who are engaged in a period of mentored research and/or scholarly training for the purpose of acquiring the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of his or her choosing in nutrition science, practice, or public health.

Medical Interns, Residents, or Fellows
Individuals engaged in final stages of graduate medical training. Individuals holding a medical degree (M.D. or equivalent professional degree) who are: in an internship year; completing a residency by practicing medicine under the supervision of fully licensed physicians; or serving in a post-residency fellowship, during which they are trained in a sub-specialty related to nutrition science, practice, or public health.

Application Requirements and Evaluation

Note: Please note the strict word/page limit on the statement of purpose and reference letters – documents that exceed the limit will not be accepted. Any incomplete or late application packets will not be reviewed or assessed by the evaluation panel.

Application Packet Requirements

Application form with statement of purpose not to exceed 500 word maximum which should:

  • Clearly indicate interest in nutrition science policy and perceived benefits of participation in Fellowship.
  • Indicate career goals and intended use of knowledge gained through Fellowship.

CV which should:

  • Demonstrate education and/or experience related to nutrition policy and advocacy.
  • Demonstrate communication and leadership skills and achievements which indicate drive and initiative.

Two (2) letters of reference – not to exceed 2 pages each – which should include:

  • Relationship of author to applicant and length of relationship.
  • Candid and detailed assessment of applicant’s strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, particularly as related to nutrition science policy, with examples whenever possible.
  • Evaluation or comparison of traits and accomplishments of applicant which indicate leadership, drive, initiative, and/or promise.

Application Packet Evaluation

Any incomplete or late application packets will not be reviewed.

An evaluation panel consisting of five ASN members, composed of Committee on Advocacy and Science Policy, Early Career Nutrition Interest Group, and Student Interest Group members, will review and assess all completed components of the application packet.

Download Application

Questions?

Contact Sarah Ohlhorst, MS, RD, ASN’s Chief Science Policy Officer at sohlhorst@nutrition.org.