Overview
The Paragon Policy Fellowship connects students and recent graduates with opportunities in the science and tech policy space. Fellows typically spend 5–10 hours a week researching and writing a policy brief on key issues for their state or local governments. Our Fellows work on pressing tech policy issues such as broadband infrastructure, digital accessibility, and AI procurement. The Fellowship is meant to create a community of future tech policy leaders, and our project-based experiences are designed to introduce students to the tech policy landscape and grow their network and impact through local community engagement. In addition, all current and former Fellows are eligible to apply to our exclusive mentorship program. Fellows (including Project Leads) in good standing at the end of the cohort will be compensated with a $500 stipend.
Paragon will be hosting two info sessions to give applicants the opportunity to learn more about our mission, understand what the organizing team looks for in competitive applications, and hear from our current members on their experiences in the Fellowship. Furthermore, we will be holding office hours a couple of days before the application closes to give you the opportunity to ask last-minute questions. You can RSVP using the links below:
Eligibility
This Fellowship is an entry-level opportunity geared towards undergraduate/graduate students and recent graduates based in the U.S. interested in entering the tech policy space. As such, we are not expecting applicants to have extensive experience in tech policy and will be evaluating applications based on demonstrated interest in the tech policy sphere (whether it be through relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, or other lived experiences). We enthusiastically welcome applications from those of all backgrounds and are open to accepting prospective Fellows from a wide range of educational backgrounds (i.e., not restricted to any specific major).
Minimum Qualifications
- Ability to consistently commit 5-10 hours of honest, focused work per week. Depending on your schedule, you may need to work on evenings or during the weekend to meet the requirements of the program.
- Ability to consistently e-meet with teammates 1–2 times per week and complete work asynchronously.
- Currently enrolled in a degree program (including undergraduate, graduate, or PhD) or recently graduated from one (within the past year).
- Reside primarily in the United States and have work authorization during the Fellowship.
We currently offer two tracks: one for Fellows and one for Project Leads.
Track 1 - Fellows
Each Paragon project is made up of 6-8 Fellows. When selecting Fellows, we care the most about a potential Fellow's passion and interest in the tech policy and public service space (though past experience in tech policy helps). Fellows will be responsible for conducting key research in their government partner's area of interest and collaborating with other Fellows on drafting deliverables. Paragon supports its Fellows through its engaging guest speaker series, informative Policy workshops, and accessible office hours with members of the Organizing Team.
Track 2 - Project Leads
A Project Lead directs each Paragon project. Project Leads serve as key liaisons between the Fellows and government partners, facilitating communication and cooperation to ensure the alignment of project goals and government expectations. Project Leads must balance taking care of all administrative responsibilities so their Fellows can focus on the substantive portion of the project and shaping the overall direction and vision of the project. Generally, Project Leads are graduate or PhD students, though undergraduates with extensive leadership or project management experience are also encouraged to apply.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Following the initial application round, we select a group of finalists to interview in a group setting. At this stage, applicants will be organized into teams of 7–8 and tasked to complete a mock policy assignment over the course of a work week. From there, we will select Fellows based on their demonstrated effort, engagement with the rest of the team, and ability to collaborate asynchronously. We will select Project Leads based on their leadership qualities, problem-solving ability, and effectiveness in organizing and managing projects.
If you are only applying to a Fellow position, we do not expect any previous policy expertise and will not evaluate your fit based solely on the deliverable. Instead, we will focus on how you approach this assignment and work as a team. If you are applying to be a Project Lead, we will be particularly interested in how you navigate challenges and motivate team members to complete the project.
TIMELINE
Below is the timeline for the Fall 2025 Cohort application cycle.
Important Dates
We offer semester-based tech policy projects 3 times a year: Spring, Summer, and Fall. The Spring Cohort runs from late January to early May, the Summer Cohort runs from late May to early September, and the Fall Cohort runs from late September to late December. Applications for each cohort open roughly two months before each cohort's start date. Specific dates are revealed for each cohort once applications open.
Applications are now open for the 2025 Fall Cohort and will close on September 5th at 11:59 PM EST. The 2025 Fall Cohort will run from September 26th to December 19th.
Student Testimonials
“Paragon has been one of the most transformative experiences of my academic journey so far. The work environment is filled with passionate, driven individuals, and the amount of growth I’ve had—whether in research skills, policy analysis, or just confidence in my abilities—has been incredible. Before this, I had never done such extensive research or extracted valuable insights in such a structured way, but this experience pushed me to develop skills I never knew I had. The exposure, mentorship, and hands-on engagement with policymakers made it clear that, even as a student, I can make an impact.”
—Bhoomika Gupta, Spring 2025 Albuquerque Fellow
“Paragon helped me view tech policy not just as a regulatory framework, but also as a dynamic tool for shaping innovation. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work directly with a government partner and gain firsthand insight into their needs and challenges, something that is hard to experience as a college student.”
—Aditya Seth, Spring 2025 Santa Clara County Fellow
“Local governments are heavily understaffed. Some of these offices don't have the resources to learn about future technologies, so any opportunity to get students involved is really great. These Fellows didn't just bridge this gap—they provided a creative, academic perspective that only students could bring to the table.”
—Jude Miller, Spring 2024 St. Louis Project Lead
“Paragon has been immensely fulfilling and reaffirmed my commitment to responsible technological advancement. I appreciated directly working with our government partner and being some of the first in helping San José build capacity against generative AI miscommunication.”
—Isabelle Anzabi, Spring 2024 San José Fellow
“As a nontraditional and early career tech policy student, I know how critical it is for students to have early exposure to the tech policy sector; however, the barrier to obtain experience is not often accessible and sometimes not achievable. Paragon provides the opportunity to have hands-on experience working with a government partner on a tech policy initiative—a reality that I did not think was possible. To have the incredible privilege to conduct in-depth research on a real-world tech policy challenge, it reaffirms my passions about public service, making a difference in their community, and learning how to build leadership.”
—Yvette Vargas, Spring 2025 Albuquerque Project Lead
“The Fellowship has given me that rare gift of seeing abstract principles materialize into community impact, all while maintaining that delicate balance between idealism and pragmatism that every effective policy professional must master.”
—Catherine Schunk, Spring 2025 US Department of State Fellow