The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program gives experienced K–12 STEM educators the opportunity to spend eleven months working in U.S. federal agencies or Congressional offices.
Instead of remaining in a conventional classroom role during the fellowship year, participants bring their classroom experience and knowledge of STEM education into national education policy and programme development.
Fellows can contribute to activities such as developing education programmes, analysing education issues, supporting STEM initiatives, preparing policy-related materials and working with federal policymakers.
The programme is administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science in partnership with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and participating federal organisations.
What Fellows Do
The fellowship places experienced STEM educators in federal policy and programme environments.
Depending on the host office, a Fellow may work on:
STEM education policy
Federal education programmes
Teacher preparation and professional development
STEM workforce development
Education programme design and implementation
Policy research and analysis
Science and mathematics education initiatives
Communication between educators and policymakers
The exact responsibilities depend on the federal agency or Congressional office where the Fellow is placed.
Current sponsoring organisations include the Department of Energy, Department of War, Library of Congress and U.S. Geological Survey. The Department of Energy also sponsors placements in Congressional offices.
Funding and Benefits
AEF Fellows receive a monthly living stipend of US$8,200.
Additional benefits include:
Up to US$5,000 travel allowance for approved fellowship-related travel
Up to US$1,000 education allowance for approved professional-development expenses
Up to US$3,500 reimbursement for relocation expenses for eligible Fellows moving from outside the Washington, D.C. area
Health-insurance support of up to US$550 per month for an individual plan or US$1,300 per month for a family plan
Professional development opportunities and mentoring
Designated office space at the host organisation
Agency-specific orientation and training
The travel and education allowances are subject to programme rules and prior approval. They are not unrestricted cash payments.
Eligibility
The eligibility requirements are unusually specific.
Applicants must:
Be U.S. citizens by the November 5, 2026 application deadline
Have completed at least five years of full-time classroom teaching
Have taught full-time in a public or private U.S. elementary or secondary school for at least five of the previous seven years in a STEM discipline
Currently be employed full-time by a public or private U.S. elementary or secondary school or school district
Be able to obtain a leave of absence from their teaching position for the full fellowship period
Provide a recommendation from a school district official
Student teaching does not count toward the required five years of full-time classroom teaching.
Current and former AEF Fellows cannot apply for a second AEF fellowship.
Eligible applicants may apply a maximum of three times during a six-year period.
Who This Fellowship Is For
The programme is intended for experienced STEM educators who want to contribute to education policy and federal STEM programmes.
It is particularly relevant to teachers who have developed substantial classroom experience and want to understand how national education policies and programmes are created and implemented.
This is not a conventional research fellowship for university researchers, and it is not designed for recent graduates or teachers who have only recently entered the profession.
Important International Eligibility Notice
The AEF Program requires U.S. citizenship.
A teacher working in Nigeria, another African country, or another country outside the United States cannot qualify simply because they have STEM teaching experience or an advanced degree.
Applicants must also be currently employed in a U.S. public or private elementary or secondary school or school district.
Therefore, international STEM educators should not spend time preparing an AEF application unless they satisfy the U.S. citizenship and U.S. employment requirements.
Fellowship Duration and Location
The 2027–2028 fellowship is an eleven-month full-time appointment.
Fellows arrive in Washington, D.C. in August 2027 for programme orientation and subsequently serve in their assigned federal agency or Congressional office.
The programme begins in August 2027 and continues for eleven months.
Because the fellowship is full-time, Fellows cannot continue teaching their regular school position at the same time. They must secure an approved leave of absence or make other arrangements with their employer.
Professional Development
Each Fellow develops an individual Professional Development Plan for the fellowship year.
The plan is intended to help the Fellow identify professional goals that complement their placement and broader career development.
Fellows also participate in professional development meetings, conferences, field trips and other activities organised by the AEF Program.
This combination allows educators to develop policy experience while maintaining a connection with the STEM education community.
Application Requirements
A completed application requires information about the applicant's teaching and professional background and other materials specified by the AEF application system.
Applicants must also provide three letters of recommendation.
One of the three recommendations must come from a school district official.
Recommendation letters must be submitted electronically through the AEF application system. Mailed or emailed recommendation letters are not accepted.
Applicants should therefore contact their referees well before the application deadline rather than waiting until the final days of the application period.
Selection Process
Applications first undergo an eligibility and compliance review to confirm that applicants meet the programme requirements and have submitted the required materials.
Eligible applications then undergo merit review.
Reviewers consider factors including:
Teaching experience
Professional accomplishments
Leadership qualities
Interest in the AEF programme
Potential contribution to STEM education policy and programmes
The highest-rated candidates may be selected as semi-finalists.
Semi-finalists are invited to Washington, D.C. for interviews and information sessions with participating federal agencies.
Following these interviews, federal agencies select finalists for fellowship offers.
Candidates selected for Congressional placements may have an additional interview process with Congressional offices.
Important Dates
Application opens: August 3, 2026
Application deadline: November 5, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Semi-finalist notifications: February 24, 2027
Washington, D.C. interviews: February 27–March 1, 2027
Finalist notifications: March 9, 2027
Congressional placement interviews: Mid-June 2027
Fellows arrive in Washington, D.C.: Mid-August 2027
Fellowship orientation: August 23–26, 2027
Application Advice
Applicants should treat the application as a professional policy fellowship rather than simply another teaching opportunity.
A strong application should demonstrate how the applicant's classroom experience has prepared them to contribute to STEM education policy or federal programmes.
Specific examples are more useful than broad statements about loving STEM education. Applicants should highlight programmes they have developed, leadership responsibilities, improvements they have helped achieve, collaboration with other educators or organisations, and situations where their classroom experience gave them insight into wider education challenges.
Applicants should also choose recommenders who can provide concrete evidence of their teaching ability, leadership and professional contribution.
Because recommendation letters must arrive before the application deadline, requests should be made early.
Programme Obligations
Fellows are expected to complete the entire eleven-month full-time appointment.
They must secure a leave of absence from their teaching position, participate in required professional-development activities and follow the terms and conditions of their fellowship appointment.
Fellows must also maintain appropriate health-care coverage and comply with applicable ethics, financial-disclosure and conflict-of-interest requirements.
How to Apply
Eligible applicants should complete the online AEF Program application before the November 5, 2026 deadline.
Applicants should also initiate their three recommendation requests through the online system early enough for all letters to be submitted before the deadline.
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