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Jordan Hoyt receives fellowship to learn U.S. science and technology policy-making

jordan hoytJordan Hoyt, a graduate student in Professor Seiler’s research group, was awarded the Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The fellowship program is a full-time, hands-on training and educational experience designed to engage Fellows in the process that informs U.S. science and technology policy. Fellows develop basic skills and know-how essential to working or participating in science policy at the federal, state, or local level.

In response to receiving the Fellowship, Jordan says, “I was excited to be accepted! I knew the past four and a half years of studying energy—from petroleum to solar to wind, made me a strong candidate to work with the National Academy of Sciences' Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES) but there are always more strong candidates than positions with these sorts of things. (This is reflected in the acceptance rate for the Mirzayan Fellowship which is less than 10%).” As an undergraduate, Jordan conducted research at Osaka University in Japan, Rutgers University, the National Wind Technology Center, and the University of Tulsa’s Energy and Nanoscale Transport Laboratory.

The 12 week Mirzayan Fellowship takes place in Washington, D.C. at the offices of the National Academies. As a Fellow, Jordan will spend the 12 weeks assigned to the BEES within the Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences. As part of the training and educational portion of the program, he will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as attending meetings and undertaking projects commensurate with his knowledge and skills. Typical activities include identifying experts to invite to participate or speak at meetings, collecting background information for briefing books, drafting summary papers, reviewing and summarizing literature, developing project ideas and concept papers.

Jordan says, “I'm hopeful to gain experience in the policy making side of science through this fellowship and to hone my diverse research background for the purpose of making the National Academies in DC a potential career destination.

As he looks ahead to his next four and a half years at the U of M, Jordan adds, “avoiding the Minnesota winter and having a DC winter as a stepping stone to the northern cold has its benefits as well!”


Last Modified: 2016-11-21 at 12:17:10 -- this is in International Standard Date and Time Notation