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APA Congressional Fellowship

American Psychological Association

The purpose of this fellowship is to provide psychologists with an invaluable public policy learning experience, to contribute to the more effective use of psychological knowledge in government, and to broaden awareness about the value of psychology-government interaction among psychologists and within the federal government.

Deadline: January 4, 2026

Fellows spend one year working on the staff of a member of Congress or congressional committee. Activities may involve drafting legislation, conducting oversight work, assisting with congressional hearings and events, and preparing briefs and speeches. Fellows also attend a two-week orientation program on congressional and executive branch operations, which provides guidance for the congressional placement process, and participate in a yearlong seminar series on science and public policy issues. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) administers these professional development activities for the APA fellows and for fellows sponsored by over two dozen other professional societies.

APA will sponsor a congressional fellow for a one-year appointment beginning approximately August 30, 2026. The APA fellowship is open to all full APA members. Stipend for this fellowship is $93,750. In addition, the fellowship provides reimbursement for health insurance coverage and a $3,500 stipend for professional development.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1️⃣ Strong Alignment With Division Mission

Applications must directly address psychological science or practice in the sponsoring division’s focus area:

Examples:

Division 12 → clinical psychology

Division 22 → rehabilitation psychology

Division 40 → neuropsychology

Division 14 → industrial-organizational psychology
etc.

If reviewers must infer relevance → lower scores.

2️⃣ Rigor, Theoretical Foundation & Contribution to Psychological Science

Strong proposals demonstrate:

Clear hypothesis and conceptual grounding in psychology theory

Advanced methodology (quantitative, qualitative, psychometric)

Moves the field forward (new mechanisms, validated tools, improved interventions)

🧠 APA emphasizes conceptual contribution → not just data collection.

3️⃣ Measurable Public or Societal Impact

High-value topics include:

Mental wellbeing and access to care

Intervention effectiveness

Behavioral health in chronic disease

Social justice and DEI applications

Youth mental health & prevention

Evidence-based practice adoption

APA is mission-driven → applications must show benefit for people and communities.

4️⃣ Feasible Timeline + Realistic Budget

Because APA grants tend to be modest (often US $1,000–$10,000):

Successful applications:

Have 1–2 focused aims

Produce actionable results within 6–18 months

Avoid expensive equipment or overly broad samples

📌 “Small data → big insight” is ideal.

5️⃣ Ethical & Responsible Research Practices

Including clear statements on:

IRB approval (or exemption justification)

Participant safety, confidentiality, data integrity

Culturally sensitive and inclusive practices

Ethics rigor is central given APA’s societal role.

6️⃣ Investigator Development & Mentorship (for Students / Early Career)

For dissertation, postdoc, or ECP grants:

Strong mentorship and research environment

Evidence of trajectory: presentations, publications, stats training

Protected time to complete project

APA wants to nurture future leaders.

7️⃣ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Focus

Highly competitive proposals:

Include underserved populations

Advance cultural competence in psychological science

Address health disparities, stigma, community empowerment

APA strongly weights DEI impact.

8️⃣ Clear Dissemination Plan

Publication strategy (APA journals align well)

Present at APA Annual Convention or division meetings

Knowledge translation to practitioners or policymakers

→ Reviewers want assurance the work reaches the field, not a drawer.

🚫 Common Reasons Proposals Get Rejected

Pitfall	Why it hurts
Weak psychological theory integration	Not advancing “psychological science”
Over-ambitious methods or sample	Low feasibility
Minimal societal relevance	“So what?” problem
Poor alignment with division goals	Doesn’t fit the call
Vague ethics plans	Reviewer discomfort
Lack of mentorship for trainees	High execution risk

🎯 APA Funding Success Checklist

✔ Division-specific match demonstrated in first paragraph
✔ Strong theory + methodology rigor
✔ Measurable participant impact and DEI alignment
✔ Narrow scope with rapid results
✔ Ethical compliance crystal clear
✔ Dissemination strategy + publication targets
✔ Career development narrative (for trainees)

Specialties

Psychology

Eligibility Requirements

A prospective fellow must:

Demonstrate excellence in scientific and/or professional psychology.
Demonstrate knowledge of policy issues.
Have a strong interest in applying psychological knowledge to the solution of societal challenges.
Be able to work quickly and communicate effectively on a wide variety of topics and be able to work cooperatively with individuals with diverse viewpoints.

An applicant must:

Have a doctorate in psychology (from an APA accredited doctoral program and internship, if in the area of professional psychology) or related field by the application deadline.
Be a psychologist, a member of APA (or applicant for membership), and a U.S. citizen.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Psychological Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242

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