Become a Fellow

• Several years of professional experience
• Ability to communicate complex ideas to non-technical policy audiences (both in writing and verbally)
• A credential (e.g. work experience, degree, publications, or similar) related to an area of focus
• Strong interpersonal, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build coalitions and navigate social and political complexity
• A graduate degree (not required; strongly preferred for executive branch fellows)

• Several years of research and writing experience (academic or professional)
• A credential (e.g. work experience, degree, publications, or similar) related to area of focus
• Strong analytic and writing skills, and a demonstrated ability to bring projects to completion independently
• Ability to communicate complex ideas to non-technical policy audiences
• A PhD or other terminal degree (not required; strongly preferred)

• Recently obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree (including those graduating in the year that their placements would start, e.g. those who apply in September 2024 may graduate in spring 2025)
• Demonstrated interest in AI, biosecurity, or related emerging technology areas
• Strong analytic, writing, project management, and communications skills
• Prior experience with research and/or project management (not required; preferred)

Successful applicants go through a training program that prepares them to secure high-impact placement offers and to perform high-quality work during their fellowship. The training focuses on (a) improving policy-relevant skills such as writing, communication, and analysis; (b) providing background on relevant government institutions and policy stakeholders; and (c) helping finalists identify promising potential host organizations and offices.

Think tank and executive branch track participants have 10 weeks of part-time training. This involves 2-3 weekday evening sessions per week, a remote weekend around the start of the training period, and an immersive in-person weekend in DC at the end of the training period. Outside of the two weekends of programming, participation requires approximately 8 hours of remote work per week (including policy memo writing, readings, virtual talks, and interactive sessions). The schedule is designed to allow participants to continue a full-time job or degree during training.

Congressional track participants receive training in collaboration with an institutional partner and follow a slightly different training and placement schedule. They participate in three weeks of full-time training in Washington, DC in either January or June. As they have to be available full-time and relocate to participate in the training program, they receive compensation starting during the training period. While we cannot guarantee a placement, our institutional partner has historically placed every one of the many dozens of people that have gone through their training.

After participants complete their training, they receive extensive one-on-one support in matching with a host organization. The ultimate responsibility for finding and being accepted by a host organization rests with the finalist; if finalists fail to secure a placement within the matching period, they will exit the program. While we cannot guarantee a placement, we expect an overwhelming majority of the finalists to be able to secure fellowship placements. All 35 finalists in our prior two cohorts secured a placement (100% placement rate).

Participants in the think tank and executive branch tracks are required to find a host organization within two months of completing the training. This search process can be done remotely, allowing participants to continue their jobs or degree programs until they have secured a placement. While we require participants to be accepted by a host organization within two months, their actual start date is determined on a case-by-case basis and may fall outside of this window (see below).

The matching period for participants in the congressional track lasts three weeks, so fellows who trained in January choose their placements in February. As they already relocated to DC for training, matching activities and interviews with prospective host offices typically take place in person (circumstances permitting). Congressional track participants are compensated during the matching period and expected to start their placement as soon as possible after finding a host office.

Matching support includes a series of one-on-one conversations to identify potential host organizations that fit applicants’ skills and interests, support from experienced advisors, introductions to current and former employees of prospective host organizations for exploratory conversations, and feedback on application materials (e.g. writing samples) and interview coaching. Once applicants have created their shortlist of potential host organizations, we facilitate introductions to the relevant hiring managers. We also support applicants in navigating host organizations’ administrative requirements.

Once they have secured a host organization, applicants officially become “fellows” and work full-time at their host organization in the Washington, DC area for the duration of their fellowship.

During their placement periods, fellows also receive tailored professional development content and extensive one-on-one mentorship and career support. The fellowship cohort meets regularly, both with each other and with senior policy leaders, to build community and learn about different aspects of policy work.

• Start date. Congressional fellows are expected to start their placements as soon as possible after they have found a host office. Exact start dates for executive branch and think tank fellowship placements will be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with each fellow and host organization, but are expected to be in the spring or summer of the year they were selected for.
• Compensation. As of 2024, the standard fellowship stipend is $70,000 per year for junior fellows and $105,000 for congressional, think tank, and executive branch fellows. Increases may be considered if financial necessity would otherwise preclude a fellow from participating in the program. Additionally, fellows receive around $10,000 post-tax per year to support health insurance and health expenses, $3,000 for relocation to Washington DC (if needed), and up to $3,000 per year for professional development activities.
• Duration and renewal. Initial placement terms are 6 months for junior fellows at think tanks and 12 months for the other three fellowship tracks. Fellowship renewal is possible by mutual agreement between Horizon, the fellow, and a host organization. We expect to renew most fellows, except in cases of poor performance or lack of investment in the Horizon community. Total fellowship duration could therefore be up to 12 months for junior fellows and 24 months for the other fellows. Fellows can do their second 12-month term on a different placement track, so that they can for instance do their first year at a think tank and second year in Congress (this does not apply to think tank junior fellows because they are only eligible to place in think tanks).