MiST Fellowship

Michigan Science, Technology, and Public Policy Fellowship
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What is the MiST Fellowship?

  • A two-year fellowship for post-graduate scientists, engineers, and technologists working in nonpartisan legislative offices and state agencies in Lansing.
  • The University of Michigan will administer the fellowship program, working in collaboration with Michigan State University, and six other public PhD granting institutions in the state.
  • Fellows will research requests from legislators about science and technology topics to produce policy briefs and reports that support decision makers.
  • Additional programming will provide training on state governance, best practices in policy research, rules and procedures, and networking opportunities for career advancement.

Why a state science & technology fellowship?

  • Cultivate evidence-based decision making and expertise in science and technology for Michigan policymakers
  • Encourage scientists, technologists, and innovators to develop careers in public policy and government
  • Encourage fellows to build long-term careers in Michigan and to provide STEM leadership in state civic circles
  • Join ten other states and the AAAS in their successful fellowship programs and coordinate with alumni and state legislators to bring their expertise to the federal level
  • Michigan policy can influence national policy in the following areas: clean water initiatives, advanced manufacturing, and AI innovation.

 

MiST fellows will also have opportunities for broader impact as they join the networks and share in the success of ten other state fellowship programs and the American Association for the Advancement of Science federal fellowship program.

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This dashboard was developed through a partnership between TechCongress, RKO Consulting, and Radicle Consulting. It will be updated at least on an annual basis and its data is available for download here.

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Significant Issues in Michigan that could benefit from fellows' research and expertise:

  • Public sanitation: drinking water safety and treatment, landfill regulation, environmental implications
  • Healthcare: vaccine safety, puberty blockers and transgender health, diabetes treatment and GLP-1 usage, In vitro fertilization and parental rights
  • Food and agriculture: food additives, organic farming, GMO safety, pesticides in food, nutrition recommendations
  • Natural resources: Great Lakes water protection, invasive species, conservation efficacy
  • Technology regulation and role in government: artificial intelligence (AI) expansion, AI generated “deep fakes,” use of AI in government regulatory and decision making processes, cryptocurrency, ransomware attacks, regulation of social media and foreign app developers, electronic voting and voter roll maintenance, technology use in schools and public safety
  • Infrastructure: environmental effects of data centers, engineering and security of domestic cyber infrastructure, efficacy of impact studies for large scale infrastructure projects

Information about future fellowship opportunities will be posted here as they are announced.

For questions, contact Mandy Gagel at [email protected].