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What benefits are provided to Howard Garrison Advocacy (HGA) Fellows?
Expenses for in-person events covered by FASEB, including registration, travel, and accommodations per FASEB's travel expense policy.
Fellows who successfully meet the program’s minimum time and participation commitment will receive a Certificate of Completion.
Fellows who obtain a Certificate of Completion will be well-qualified for future participation in scientific society and other advocacy programs.
What is the time commitment required to participate in the HGA Program?
This is a 10-month program that will begin in September 2025 and conclude in June 2026. Activities are virtual unless otherwise noted. In addition to the activities described below, HGA Fellows will need to dedicate 1-2 hours each month to email correspondence and be prepared to participate in other ad-hoc or networking activities as needed.
The minimum time commitment entails:
- Attending (or watching recordings) for all Introduction to Science Policy & Advocacy Course sessions (September-October 2025)
- In-person participation in the Science Policy Symposium (October 28, 2025) and Capitol Hill Day (TBD March 2026); and
- Participation in at least 5 of the 8 monthly video conferences / virtual meetings (November 2025 – June 2026).
- Fellows who fail to meet the minimum time and participation commitment will be terminated from the program.
The Howard Garrison Advocacy Program Selection and Oversight Committee will have the ability to approve exceptions to the time commitment on a case by case basis.
What is the criteria for fellowship termination?
Fellows who fail to meet them minimum time and participation commitment in addition to the following criteria will be terminated from the program:
Fellows must be in “good standing” following the conclusion of the Introduction to Science Policy and Advocacy Course to move to the next phase of the fellowship. In “good standing” means:
- Attended all course lectures (or watched the videos)
- Submitted all course assignments (policy memo outline, presentation of outline, and final policy memo) by the due dates stated in the course curriculum. In exceptional circumstances, fellows may ask course instructors to grant extensions to assignment deadlines. Any deadline extensions are solely at the discretion of the course instructions
- Failure to meet any extended deadline will prevent the fellow from earning “good standing” status and they will not be eligible to participate in the FASEB Science Policy Symposium (fall) and Capitol Hill Day (spring)
Fellows must maintain active communication with FASEB staff throughout the fellowship. This includes responding to all emails, Doodle polls, and other requests for information, by stated deadlines.
Fellows must proactively notify FASEB in writing of any changes in their contact information, professional/educational status, or circumstances that may prohibit their full participation in the fellowship.
Fellows who are in danger of being terminated may be asked to participate in a virtual meeting with FASEB staff to review the fellowship requirements and discuss their ability to complete the program. Failure to attend a meeting requested by FASEB will trigger immediate termination from the program.
What is the program schedule for 2025/2026 program?
- August 2025: 1-hour for orientation (date/time TBD)
- September 2025: 2 hours on 9/16, 9/23, and 9/30 (6:00 pm – 8:00 pm eastern) for Introduction to Science Policy & Advocacy Course, plus personal time to complete assignments.
- October 2025:
- 4 hours on 10/7 (4:00 – 7:00 pm eastern) and 10/14 (2:00 - 6:00 pm) for Introduction to Science Policy & Advocacy Course, plus personal time to complete assignments.
- Full day on 10/28 (9:00 am – 4:30 pm eastern) for in-person participation in FASEB’s 2025 Science Policy Symposium, plus travel time to Rockville, MD.
- November 2025 through June 2026: 2 hours each month for advocacy, communication, and professional skills training, plus personal time to review materials.
- March 2026: Full day (TBD) to participate in FASEB’s 2026 FASEB Capitol Hill Day in Washington, DC, plus travel time.
- One 2-hour monthly video conference/virtual meeting (November 2025 – June 2026) plus personal time required to review materials (will vary)
Who is eligible to participate in the HGA Fellowship?
Researchers from all career stages are welcome to apply. Graduate students must certify that they have advanced to PhD candidacy at the time of application. Acceptable documentation is a letter from the student’s advisor, department chair, program director, or equivalent, certifying the applicant has been admitted to PhD candidacy.
Participation is limited to current members of FASEB Full member societies.
There is no citizenship requirement, but only researchers working/studying in the United States from September 2025 through June 2026 are eligible.
Is my society a FASEB Full Member Society?
The list of FASEB Full Member Societies can be accessed here. If a society is not listed, it is not an eligible society.
What are the characteristics of a well-qualified applicant?
- Interest in legislation, policies, and/or regulations impacting biological and biomedical research.
- Interest in or passion for advocating on behalf of the biological and biomedical sciences.
- Desire to gain working knowledge of federal agency processes.
- Prior, current, or future willingness to pursue volunteer opportunities with a FASEB member society.
- Experience, or demonstrated interest, in one of FASEB’s strategic policy/advocacy priorities such as, but not limited to, increasing federal funding for biological/biomedical research, animal research, training and workforce development, clinical research, data sharing, shared research resources, or improving representation of under-represented individuals in STEM.
- Potential interest in pursuing a future career in policy, advocacy, or a related field.
What does the application require?
Resume/CV focused on relevant activities – for example committee service, graduate student activities, and/or appointments. No more than two pages.
Descriptions of the following:
- Your interest in participating in the fellowship. No more than 500 words.
38% of applicant's score will be based on this question.
- How you plan to use the knowledge and experience gained through participation in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship. No more than 250 words.
25% of applicant's score will be based on this question.
- Your research as you would explain to a non-scientist. No more than 250 words.
25% of applicant's score will be based on this question.
- Any past or present participation in additional career exploration activities, experiences, and/or programs. No more than 250 words.
12% of applicant's score will be based on this question.
- An attestation that the applicant will be able to undertake the time commitment required to participate in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship and understands that fellowship may be terminated for failure to meet minimum time requirements6.
Who will review applications?
The Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship Oversight and Selection Committee.
Who is Howard H. Garrison?
Howard H. Garrison, PhD, served as FASEB’s Director of Public Affairs for 25 years where he oversaw FASEB’s efforts in advocacy, government affairs, and policy analysis. Garrison's passionate advocacy for increased federal funding for science, commitment to science policy, and ability to convey the excitement and promise of biological research to policymakers and the public has created a legacy of accomplishments few others have achieved. Thanks to his leadership, FASEB is now recognized as the policy voice of biological and biomedical researchers.
Is it possible to submit documents beyond those requested to support applications?
No. Additional documents will not be considered.
What is the deadline to submit applications?
Monday, July 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern