Genetics Education and Engagement Fellowship

This fellowship program is for people with an advanced degree who are interested in developing and implementing genetics/genomics education, community engagement and/or professional development initiatives for diverse K-12, undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, professional or public audiences, including groups historically underrepresented in science.

This fellowship provides experiences working:

• NHGRI’s Education and Community Involvement Branch
• ASHG’s scientific and digital programming, career development and public engagement teams.
• A third organization involved in science education or public engagement, depending on the fellows’ interests and career goals

Duration of Fellowship: 2 years

Start Date: July 1, 2025

Location: Bethesda, MD (NHGRI); Rockville, MD (ASHG)

Compensation and Benefits: Annual $79,000 salary plus benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance; retirement plan matching; and a training/travel allowance.

Applicants for this fellowship must meet the following criteria:

Applicants must:

• Have earned (or will earn prior to the start of the fellowship) an advanced degree (e.g., Masters, PhD, MD, or JD) and be eligible to work in the United States
• Have demonstrated expertise and/or interest relevant to human genetics or genomics

Employment offers will be contingent upon a satisfactory federal background check.

ASHG is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including for disability and veteran status.  All eligible applicants may apply. The society is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community of human genetics and genomics professionals. ASHG welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds, and strongly encourages individuals to apply who:

• are from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the genetics and genomics workforce;
• have a disability;
• were Pell Grant-eligible in college;
• are/were enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, community colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs);
• identify as LGBTQ+;
• were disadvantaged by life circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities;
• and/or have a demonstrated commitment to inclusion and support for a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact fellowships@ashg.org.

A complete application packet must be submitted by January 5, 2025 and consists of the following:

• Candidate information and contact information
• Educational history
• Candidate questions: Responses to each of the questions found within the online application (up to 400 words each)
  
  Note: Education and engagement can be broadly defined, so please specify in your answers which area(s) you are most interested in or want to focus on (e.g., K-12, community engagement, field-facing professional education and career development, or diversity, equity, and inclusion).
   
  • Why are you interested in participating in this fellowship?
  • How does this fellowship fit in with your longer-term career plan?
  • Describe your interest and/or previous experience in science education, engagement, or outreach activities. You may choose to highlight a particular project of which you are especially proud.
  • Optional: Describe your previous research experience at an 8th grade reading level.
  • How did you find out about the program?
     
• CV or resume
• Contact information for three professional references

Strong candidates will be early in their career path and demonstrate the following:

• A passion for engaging with others about human genetics and genomics, whether with professionals, students, patients or broader public audiences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; this includes the ability to explain complex topics adapted for the specific audience
• Some volunteer or paid experience in science education, public engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, or similar
• A desire to advance sponsor organizations’ interests in working with diverse communities
• A desire to grow professional skills such as project management, collaboration, and co-creation

Applications will be screened for eligibility and reviewed by ASHG and NHGRI staff.

Top-ranked candidates will be invited for virtual interviews beginning in January. If necessary, a second round of interviews will be conducted in February.

Selected fellows will be notified in spring.