Paragon Policy Fellowship Mentorship Program

Paragon Policy Fellowship Mentorship Program is sponsored by Paragon Policy Fellowship. A four-month initiative designed to support current and former Paragon Fellows by pairing them with experienced professionals in the science, technology, and policy space.

Students | Paragon Policy Fellowship The Paragon Policy Fellowship connects university students and recent graduates with opportunities to work on public interest technology solutions in state and local governments. Fellows spend 8-10 hours per week researching policy and key issues to develop recommendations for their Government Partner.

This project-based experience is designed to introduce students to the technology policy landscape, expanding their opportunities, network, and impact through community engagement and professional development. The Fall 2026 Cohort is an unpaid volunteer Fellowship that is fully remote . Fellows are placed into Project teams with 5–7 other Fellows and a Project Lead.

Fellows will collaborate with their Project team to conduct key research and draft deliverables for their Government Partner's area of interest. Fellows are also able to attend policy bootcamps and workshops, guest speaker series, and other networking events organized by the Paragon Staff. Prior tech policy experience is not required.

A Project Lead is a Fellow manages the overall direction and execution of the project. Project Leads serve as key liaisons between Fellows and government partners, facilitating communication and cooperation to ensure alignment of Project goals and expectations. Project Leads are typically graduate or PhD students, but undergraduate students with extensive leadership or project management experience are encouraged to apply.

Applications for our Fall 2026 Cohort are open!

Deadline: August 23, 2026 at 8:59pm PT / 11:59pm ET Fellows must meet ALL of the requirements below to participate in the Fellowship : ​Enrolled in a degree program (undergraduate, graduate, JD, PhD, etc.) or graduated from a degree program within the last year Primarily reside in and are authorized to work in the United States* Able to commit 8-10 hours per week to Fellowship programming, team meetings, and asynchronous Project work** Passionate about technology policy and civic innovation— no prior experience is necessary !

*See our International Student Guide and Frequently Asked Questions for more information **See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information Project Teams are composed of 6-8 volunteer Fellows and a volunteer Project Lead. Teams are also supported by a Policy Coordinator and Project Management coordinator from the Paragon Staff. A ll Project work is remote, with some required synchronous meetings.

Fellows tackle real-world challenges in key areas such as AI Governance, Data and Cybersecurity, Research and Development, Broadband Access , and Digital Services Innovation . You can view some of our previous Projects here . Project Teams produce high-quality deliverables supported by applied research, stakeholder interviews, and feasibility assessments for a state our local government agency.

Key deliverables include a literature review, demographic analysis, midpoint presentation, final deliverable(s), final presentation and a project brief for publication on the Paragon website. Policy Bootcamps: Our initial Fellow and Project Lead bootcamps provide you with a baseline understanding of policy analysis and writing, project scoping, and community-centered design.

Policy Workshops: We host 5 workshops throughout the cohort to support your team's development of critical Project components. Workshops cover Literature Review and Stakeholder Analysis, Demographic Analysis, Presentation Skills, Policy Analysis, and Final Deliverable Formation.

Project Roundtables: Our sessions allow you to engage with other Fellows beyond your Project team to exchange ideas, solicit feedback, and foster collaborative problem-solving. Speaker Series: Engage in meaningful discussion and career development with leaders across government, industry, and academia. Networking Events: Connect with other Fellows and Staff in a relaxed, informal setting both in-person and virtually.

Mentorship: Build relationships with professionals in the field and gain insights into career pathways through structured programming ( available to all Fellowship Alumni) ​ ​. Fellows who successfully complete their Cohort will have access to alumni-exclusive opportunities including media features, professional development events, research and trade publication, op-ed/article writing, and more! What is the Fellowship timeline?

We host semester-based Fellowship cohorts 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 late August, 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.

What is the Fellowship application process? Written applications are reviewed on a non-rolling basis, meaning there is no advantage to applying earlier on in the window. We encourage you to attend an information session prior to submittion and take time to ensure you are showing us the best representation of yourself!

Following the initial written application round, we select a group of finalists for a Group Trial interview. During this stage, applicants are placed in teams and tasked to complete a mock policy assignment over the course of 3-4 days (~7-9 hours total). From the Group Trial, we select Fellows based on their demonstrated effort, engagement with the rest of the team, and ability to collaborate asynchronously.

We also select Project Leads based on their leadership qualities, problem-solving ability, and effectiveness in organizing and managing projects. Can I apply as a Fellow and Project Lead? All Project Lead candidates are considered both for the Fellow and Project Lead position.

If you are not accepted as a Project Lead, you will still be considered for the Fellow position. The Project Lead application is largely the same as the Fellow application, just with a few more questions in the written application and an additional individual interview during the group interview stage. What experience is required for the Fellowship?

We encourage all students located in the US who are interested in making real-world impact in digital government and civic innovation to apply. This Fellowship provides entry-level training those without much formal technology policy experience, while providing opportunities for more experienced students to exercise their analytical, writing, and policy abilities. We encourage experienced candidates to apply to be Project Leads.

What is the Fellowship's time commitment? Fellows spend 8-10 hours per week on their projects, making this fellowship equivalent to a 2-credit professional seminar at a university.

Like a university course, the fellowship includes both synchronous commitments (team meetings, workshops, and presentations that you must attend at scheduled times) and asynchronous work (self-guided research and writing that you complete on your own schedule). As with a course, your time commitment may fluctuate week to week depending on project deadlines, presentation schedules, and deliverable due dates.

Day to day, the Fellowship operates akin to a professional internship or work-study position ; fellows must be able to accommodate government partners' and supervisors' working hours, team coordination across schedules, and firm project deadlines.

Before applying, ensure you can attend meetings during business hours, commit to consistent weekly engagement throughout the fellowship period, and balance this alongside your other academic, professional, and personal obligations. If you cannot meet these requirements during the upcoming Fellowship cohort, we strongly encourage you to apply for a future Cohort when your schedule allows for full participation.

Can international students apply? Yes! All Fellows must be authorized to work in the United States via We no longer accept CPT visas.

We cannot accept individuals outside of these categories at this time. Work authorization documentation is required upon acceptance to the Fellowship. Please review our International Student Guide for more information on work authorization and what documents you need to provide upon acceptance.

Failure to provide valid work authorization upon acceptance to the Paragon Fellowship will result in immediate removal from the Fellowship. Whom should I ask about my U.S. work authorization? Your Designated School Official (DSO) or university international office would be the best point of first contact.

Other useful resources are listed below: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for work general information and OPT ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program ( SEVP ) explains CPT/OPT rules I-94 System to view current immigration status What is your Cohort size? In the last year, we have received over 400 applications per Cohort. For the Summer 2026 Cohort, we are projected to accept 32 Fellows (including Project Leads).

Are high school students eligible for the Fellowship? Unfortunately, recently graduated high school students are not eligible for this Fellowship. If they have not completed an undergraduate degree, all Fellows must be enrolled in courses in a degree-seeking program at an accredited institution before or at the start of the Fellowship.

Am I able to apply if I completed a previous cohort? Due to our Cohort size and mission of maximizing technology policy and public interest opportunities for students, we are not accepting returning Fellows or Alumni of the program at this time. However, please stay tuned for additional alumni publication and programming opportunities!

We host two information sessions in addition to a last minute office hours during each Cohort application window. These are the perfect place for you to come and ask any questions you may have. When applications are open, the links to these events will be on this website and in the application form itself.

Furthermore, feel free to email us at hello@paragonfellowship. org for general inquiries and apply@paragonfellowship. org for application-specific questions.