2026-2027
Federal Investments in Science
The miracle machine of science has transformed modern life – reshaping medicine, food systems, transportation, energy, and nearly every aspect of how we live. These breakthroughs are possible because of revolutions in scientific inquiry and the enormous societal investment that fuels them. Government funding, in particular, plays a central role: it builds a scientifically literate public, trains the technical workforce, and launches the research programs and grand challenges that define scientific progress.
This fellowship will dive into the real-world forces that shape science today. Fellows will explore how governments, universities, and companies prioritize their financial investments and how those priorities are shifting in an era defined by rapid technological change. We’ll examine how federal research funding impacts the economy, influences innovation, and affects everyday life while also comparing how other countries are racing to lead in key scientific fields.
Throughout the year, the 2026-27 Undergraduate Fellows will engage directly with scientists, policy experts, industry leaders, and elected officials. The fellowship emphasizes learning from a wide range of perspectives, each offering insight into the data, tools, and decision-making processes that shape the future of science.
As machine learning, automation, and big data redefine scientific practice, Fellows will be expected to cultivate their own curiosity and pursue the questions that drive them. Their personal inquiries will guide our collective exploration of how science—and the systems that support it—continue to evolve.
As part of the Undergraduate Fellowship, Fellows will be expected to:
- Participate in an orientation in early September
- Attend and contribute to weekly lunchtime meetings during the academic year
- Conduct field visits to laboratories, agencies, and administrative offices
- Participate in an international study trip during J-Term (January 2027)
- Actively contribute to a cumulative group project throughout the academic year
- Present group findings in April 2027
Previous Themes
- 2025-26: The Policies of Science and Innovation
- 2024-25: The Future of Work: Labor and Climate Change
- 2023-24: The Future of Work: Man vs. Machine
- 2022-23: The Future of Work: Labor Policy and the Post-COVID Economy
- 2021-22: U.S.-China Relations: Is a New Cold War Coming? Is It Already Here?
- 2020-21: The Domino Theory and Eisenhower's Foreign Policy
- 2019-20: The Government We Pay For
- 2018-19: Common Security, Common Prosperity
- 2017-18: Transportation & Infrastructure
- 2016-17: Refugee Policy
- 2015-16: Energy Policy
- 2014-15: Intelligence Policy
- 2013-14: Space Policy
- 2012-13: Presidential Elections
Prospective Applicants
The Undergraduate Fellowship is open to students who will be graduating in May 2027. Students who wish to participate must be available on campus throughout the 2026-27 academic year to participate in in-person meetings, activities, field work, and travel. Selected Fellows must have a passport, or are required to obtain a passport by September 1, 2026. Fellows are responsible for obtaining visas for international travel, if required.