Public Interest Technology Summer Fellowship, Center for Information Technology Policy – Princeton University

Overview

• The PIT SF program is aimed at rising juniors and seniors interested in getting first-hand experience working on technology policy at the federal, state and local level. We select between 16 and 20 students from universities across the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) to be a part of the program. Only applications from students attending schools in the PIT-UN will be considered.
• Fellows will begin the fellowship with a three-day virtual policy bootcamp led by Mihir Kshirsagar and Tithi Chattopadhyay. The bootcamp will educate students about law and policy, and will feature leading experts as guest speakers in the fields of computer science and policy. After the bootcamp, subject to the latest COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, fellows will travel to the host government agencies in different cities that our program has matched them with to spend approximately eight weeks working with the agency.
• Fellows will be embedded in the agency over the summer and get a real world experience of what it is like to work on cutting edge issues. We will have weekly virtual clinic-style seminars to support the fellows during their internships. At the conclusion of the summer, we hope to bring the fellows back for a day long debriefing session at Princeton.
• The fellowship will provide students with a stipend of $5500 and funds to defray reasonable travel costs.
• CITP is committed to building a culturally diverse community, and we are interested in receiving applications from members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in this field.

Important Dates

• January 12, 2022: Application period is now open.
• February 28, 2022 at 5 p.m.: Application deadline
• Mid-March: Offers extended
• Early June: Three day virtual boot camp – exact dates TBA
• Mid June – end of July: Fellowship dates – exact dates TBA
• Thursday – Friday, August 4 – 5, 2022: On-campus wrap-up meeting – TBC

Responsibilities

• Attend the orientation, closing, and weekly seminars
• Work a full-time schedule for approximately eight weeks with the agency

Locations (tentative)

• Washington, D.C, New York, San Francisco, Denver, Austin, Boston

Requirements

• Strong interest in technology policy
• Strong communication skills

Application

• The 2022 application period is open, please click here to apply.

Current and Previous Fellows

• 2021 fellow bios
• 2020 fellow bios
• Three of our 2020 fellows’ experiences can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to attend a school that is part of the PIT-UN network?
Yes. Click here for the list of universities that are members. Only applications from students attending schools in the PIT-UN network will be considered.

How will COVID-19 affect the program?
The ability for the fellowship to operate in-person is highly dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic  restrictions. Although we are uncertain about what the operating conditions will be for the 2022 fellowship, we will update our website with relevant information as we receive it. For 2020 and 2021, we were able to successfully offer a virtual program.

What is the stipend?
The stipend is $5,500, in which $3,000 will be payable in the 1st week of the program and the remainder at the conclusion of the program.

Is housing included?
No, you must find and pay for your own accommodations during their fellowship.

Where should I upload my resume and transcript?
Please upload them in the “add file” section of the application form.

Will I get to select where I work?
We will ask for your preferences but the agency and the program administrators will determine the final placements.

Can international students apply?
Yes, but there are fewer opportunities as many government agencies require U.S. citizenship. Also, you will be responsible for coordinating any visa-related paperwork.

What travel costs are covered?
We will pay for reasonable travel costs to and from their host agencies and back to Princeton for the closing session (assuming it will be held in person). We will also pay for accommodation and food for the closing session.

What does the orientation seminar cover?
Click here for the 2021 agenda.

Where will I work over the summer?
We are working to secure positions with a variety of federal, state, and local agencies. In the past, students have worked with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the New York City Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer.