AAI Public Policy Fellowship is a grant from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) that empowers early-career biomedical researchers to become effective advocates for science policy and NIH funding.

Designed for scientists within 15 years of receiving their terminal degree, this one-year fellowship provides specialized training in public policy, hands-on advocacy experience, and direct engagement with federal lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Fellows participate in monthly virtual meetings, attend the AAI annual meeting, and collaborate with AAI government affairs staff — all without leaving their current position or institution.

Ideal for immunologists committed to shaping the future of biomedical research policy.

The American Association of Immunologists - AAI's Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP) Public Affairs \ AAI's Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP) AAI's Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP) Applications are being accepted through Wednesday, January 22. Apply now!

The AAI Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP) is a one-year opportunity designed to empower early-career biomedical researchers to become effective advocates for NIH funding and science policy issues of concern to the immunology community. If you are within 15 years of receiving your terminal degree and committed to a career in research, the PPFP is your chance to help shape the future of immunology and the scientific enterprise.

APPLY NOW! APPLICATIONS CLOSE JANUARY 21, 2026 The PPFP runs from May 1st of the selection year to April 30th of the following year and offers specialized training and hands-on experience without requiring you to leave your job or institution. Time Commitment & Support Attend the AAI annual meeting during your fellowship year, including any policy or other sessions requested by AAI.

Attendance is at the Fellow's expense, but Fellows are encouraged to apply for and use any AAI travel awards for which they are eligible. Education & Participation Participate in monthly virtual meetings and communicate via email with AAI government affairs staff and the AAI Committee on Public Affairs . Stay informed on recent public affairs issues and contribute your views and expertise.

Monthly 1-hour virtual meetings from June to April; no travel is required. Fellows have exciting opportunities throughout the year to contribute directly to AAI's legislative activities, such as drafting sections of the AAI congressional testimony and revising the AAI Advocacy Brochure . Participate in AAI’s advocacy activities and gain experience with written communication to Congress.

Total time commitment is ~3-5 hours. The program culminates in a two-day Capitol Hill Day program (typically in March). Either virtually or in-person, Fellows attend a dedicated training session with AAI staff, then meet with their Congressional representatives to advocate for biomedical research and increased NIH funding.

If the program is held in-person, AAI covers flights, hotel, and reasonable expenses (per the AAI Volunteer Travel Policy). Why Apply? Become a Leader in Science Advocacy Understand Science Policy: Become familiar with how the President, Congress, and NIH determine the policies and funding levels that directly impact your career and the broader biomedical research enterprise.

Amplify Your Voice: Learn about the legislative process and gain the skills to advocate for policies that directly affect your research and the scientific community. Invest in Leadership: Former Fellows often participate in significant AAI volunteer roles, including serving on the AAI Committee on Public Affairs , which provides even more intensive opportunities to shape AAI's public policy efforts.

Qualifications and Application Requirements All PPFP participants are selected by the AAI Committee on Public Affairs . Applicants must meet all the following criteria: Must have received their Ph. D.

or M. D. (or equivalent) within the previous 15 years in immunology or a related field.

Must be a member in good standing of AAI at the time of application and throughout the Fellowship year. Must be committed to a career in biomedical research . Must live and work in the United States .

Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrate an interest in public policy as it relates to biomedical research. Applicants must submit the following three electronic web forms by the designated deadline: The official AAI PPFP application (including uploading your CV). Two recommendation forms .

At least one must be from an AAI regular member in good standing (who does not serve on the AAI Council or AAI Committee on Public Affairs). The official AAI PPFP application (including uploading your CV). Two recommendation forms .

At least one must be from an AAI regular member in good standing (who does not serve on the AAI Council or AAI Committee on Public Affairs).

--> EXPLORE THE DETAILED APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Please include the following in the application package: One AAI Public Policy Fellows Program application The applicant's curriculum vitae, including: education and fellowships (institution, dates, degrees); relevant employment history; and selected bibliography (complete citations with titles) Two PPFP recommendation forms - Recommendation Form 1 and Recommendation Form 2 - each completed and signed by a regular AAI member in good standing ( recommendations from members of the AAI Council or AAI Committee on Public Affairs will not be accepted ).

Please be sure to send “Recommendation Form 1” to one of your referees and “Recommendation Form 2” to your second referee, rather than sending the same PDF to each referee. Please submit all documents as a single combined PDF file to Jake Schumacher, AAI Manager of Science Policy and Legislative Affairs, at jschumacher@aai. org .

If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Professional, a free merging program is available at: http://smallpdf. com/merge-pdf . For best results, please download all forms and complete them in Acrobat rather than completing the forms in the browser.

Complete application packages must be received by 11:59 p. m. EST on January 23, 2018.

Incomplete packages that do not comply with the stated instructions will not be considered. AAI will not accept materials sent separately or through regular mail . Alfonso Bencomo-Alvarez, Ph.

D. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Tennessee) I’m deeply honored and thrilled to have been selected as one of the 2025–2026 AAI Public Policy Fellows!

This incredible opportunity marks a meaningful milestone in my journey as a biomedical researcher and passionate advocate for equitable health outcomes. I firmly believe that bridging the gap between science and public policy is essential for advancing biomedical research and improving public health.

Participating in the AAI PPFP will provide me with the tools, knowledge, and network to better advocate for the policies and funding needed to support innovative immunological research. I’m incredibly grateful to AAI for this opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to the important policy conversations that shape the future of biomedical science. Mayassa Bou-Dargham, Ph.

D. University of Pennsylvania I am honored and excited to accept the AAI Public Policy Fellowship. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to gain first-hand experience at the intersection of science and policy.

As a scientist, I believe it is critical to engage beyond the bench—to contribute meaningfully to the conversation around science-informed policy. I recognize the importance of clear, accessible, and evidence-based communication of scientific findings to non-scientific audiences.

This fellowship presents a unique opportunity to learn how policies that impact science and public health are developed—and how scientists can engage constructively with policymakers to advocate for informed, evidence-based decisions. Through this experience, I hope to better understand how to translate complex scientific ideas into clear, compelling messages that can support sound public policy and foster public trust.

I look forward to contributing to and being part of the program. Cherry Cheuk Lam Cheung, M. Sc.

, Ph. D. Indiana University School of Medicine I’m deeply honored to be selected as a 2025–2026 AAI Public Policy Fellow, especially during such a critical time for the scientific community.

Now more than ever, it is essential for immunologists and scientists to engage in policy conversations and advocate for evidence-based decision-making. I look forward to contributing to the missions of AAI, learning from experienced policy professionals, and working alongside like-minded fellows to amplify the voice of science in shaping public policy.

Marian University (Indiana) I am ecstatic and incredibly honored to have been selected as an AAI Public Policy Fellow for the 2025-2026 cohort. In a time when scientific misinformation is at an all-time high and there is a rise in vaccine preventable illnesses and deaths, I hope to play a part in rebuilding trust in science and the scientific community amongst politicians and the general public.

I was incredibly privileged to be raised by parents who encouraged my love of science and study under educators who encouraged my never-ending questions. I am eager to pay that forward by making science and immunology more accessible to the policymakers making decisions for the betterment of the United States health infrastructure.

I am most excited to gain a deeper understanding regarding the policies and procedures of science policymaking and getting a chance to interact and learn from the policymakers themselves. I look forward to working with this new cohort and the rest of the immunology community. Thank you, AAI!

Wadsworth New York State Department of Health I am deeply humbled to be selected as a participant in this year's Public Policy Fellows Program. I've had quite the research journey, having received my M. Sc.

in Japan and being selected as a European Union Marie Curie Co-fellow and elected university chairman of the program, among other highlights. I hope to utilize these unique international and administrative experiences in service to the program and my peers.

The PPFP's goal of educating scientists on the inner workings of governmental policy – such a crucial yet rarely explored aspect of a typical researcher's career – strikes me as a supremely worthy pursuit.

As a field, we have seen recent technological advancement which has led to greatly improved clinical outcomes in a variety of diseases, as well as a deeper fundamental understanding of the role that niche immunological elements play in a variety of pathologies. I am eager to understand the nuts and bolts of public policy advocacy, and to learn the most effective means by which policy can be influenced for the pursuit of knowledge.

Marisa Joldrichsen, Ph. D. The Ohio State University I am honored to be selected as a member of the AAI Public Policy Fellows Program for 2025-2026.

In recent years we have seen an increase in scientific misinformation and the politicization of biomedical research, I believe that it is more important than ever that scientific experts are upfront and vocal about biomedical research and the funding needs required for the advancement of human health.

I am excited for the opportunity to put this belief into practice by learning more about policy advocation and effective communication techniques with a non-scientific audience to better communicate the importance of biomedical research funding. I look forward to working and learning with my fellow PPFP peers on these skills and many others. Thank you, AAI, for this amazing opportunity.

Johnson & Johnson (Pennsylvania) I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as a 2025–2026 AAI Public Policy Fellow. This prestigious program offers early-career researchers like myself with a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insights into science policy and become stronger advocates for sustained funding across all sectors of biomedical research.

As a scientist with a background in cancer research and drug development, I am passionate about advancing science-driven solutions that improve health outcomes and promote equitable access to care. As a new fellow, I am particularly excited about the program’s emphasis on science advocacy and innovation to ensure that scientific discoveries are not only supported at the policy level but are also translated into real-world impact.

I look forward to taking full advantage of the program’s various learning and networking opportunities to strengthen my voice beyond the bench and become a more effective resource for my community. University of Texas at Austin I am thrilled to take part in the 2025-2026 AAI PPFP and honored to be selected this year, of all years, to advocate for evidence-based policy decisions.

In this divisive moment, it is critical for scientists to engage our communities in health policy discussions and collaborate with legislators to navigate the disconnect between scientists, the government, and the public. I am humbled to learn just how to do that from the esteemed experts within AAI.

I can’t wait to hone my science communication skills, network with local and national lawmakers, and share what I’ve learned with my lab mates. I am especially interested in exploring the One Health space, where biomedical and agricultural policy must meet to ensure the health of both our people and our planet. University of California, Berkeley "I am honored to be selected as a 2025-26 AAI Public Policy Fellow.

I study human immune responses that protect us against infectious diseases to promote health through vaccines and therapies. Through past advocacy efforts, I helped successfully establish a multilateral global fund enabling countries to strengthen their health infrastructure and enhance pandemic preparedness. This big achievement shows me the importance of educating and building relationships with policymakers to protect communities.

I am deeply committed to science communication, global health equity, and ensuring that all members of our community can participate in research and access the fruits of scientific innovation. I look forward to working with my colleagues at AAI and will strive to protect funding for research, promote access to lifesaving innovations, and train the next generation of immunologists. Thank you for this opportunity, AAI!"

Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School I am deeply honored to have been selected for the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP). This opportunity aligns perfectly with my commitment to leveraging scientific research and public policy to address critical global health challenges, particularly infectious diseases like Tuberculosis (TB).

In addition to an urgent need for innovative prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies, infectious disease research can benefit greatly from public policy engagement. Through the PPFP, I look forward to interacting with policymakers and contributing to evidence-based strategies that further promote health equity in biomedical research. St.

Jude Children’s Research Hospital Oregon Health & Science University Washington University in St. Louis Patricia Ferrer Castillo, Ph. D.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine The University of Montana Lawrence Livermore National Lab Louisiana State University Insha Zahoor, Ph. D.

Henry Ford Health Mafalda de Arrábida Farelo, Ph. D. Seattle Children's Research Institute Yale School of Public Health Srinivasu Mudalagiriyappa, D.

V. M. , Ph.

D. Amali Samarasinghe, Ph. D.

University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center Washington University in St. Louis Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M. D.

School of Medicine St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital American Association for Cancer Research St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital University of Texas at Dallas University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Victoria Mutua, D.

V. M. , Ph.

D. University of California, Davis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention University of Mississippi Medical Center Year: All Years 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017 2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013 2011-2012 S. Elizabeth Franks, Ph.

D. April Huseby Kelcher, Ph. D.

Brina Lopez, D. V. M.

, Ph. D. Parameswaran Ramakrishnan, Ph.

D. Rebecca Hesterberg, Ph. D.

Shailbala Singh, D. V. M.

, Ph. D. Anibal Valentin-Acevedo, Ph.

D. Francisco R. Victorino, Ph.

D. Mallory L. Paynich, Ph.

D. Mufadhal Al-Kuhlani, Ph. D.

Jennifer (Lori) Blanchfield, Ph. D. Devavani Chatterjea, Ph.

D. Michael Constantinides, Ph. D.

Elizabeth Leadbetter, Ph. D. Nicole Perry Lieberman, Ph.

D. Jean Nepomuscene Manirarora, D. V.

M. , Ph. D.

Karen O'Connell Martins, Ph. D. Anastazia Older Aguilar, Ph.

D. Hannah Phipps-Yonas, Ph. D.

Srinika Ranasinghe, Ph. D. Lavanya Visvabharathy, Ph.

D. Heather Marie Buechel, Ph. D.

Mariana Guerra-Maupome, D. V. M.

, Ph. D. Farrah C.

Phillips, Ph. D. Julie Swartzendruber, Ph.

D. View Capitol Hill Day Photos AAI's Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP) AAI Public Affairs Recognition Award