The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs and PhD Plus are sponsoring three (3) UVA representatives to serve as 2026 Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellows. Eligible applicants are current graduate students or postdoctoral researchers from the Engineering, Medicine, or Science fields. Awardees must be current graduate students or postdocs at the time of the fellowship. Students graduating in May 2025 are unfortunately ineligible to apply. The application deadline is Friday, December 12th at 11:59 PM. See below for submission instructions.
ABOUT
The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week fellowship program of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (VASEM). VASEM is a resource for independent expertise to inform and assist with science and technology policy matters facing Virginia, and is comprised of elected members of one of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and other key individuals who reside and work throughout Virginia. Its nonpartisan network of experts provides rigorous analytical and scientific support to inform policy decisions that are critical to the future of the Commonwealth.
The program places fellows in a legislative office, executive agency, or policy office in a company or nonprofit in Virginia. COVES Fellows are matched to host offices based on mutual interest and placement availability. Prior to the summer fellowship, fellows attend a science communication training and orientation on May 21-22 that will provide an introduction to governance and policymaking in the Commonwealth. In addition to their work in policy offices, COVES Fellows will be paired with a mentor from VASEM and will participate in briefings, committee meetings, and the annual summit.
Fellowship Commitment
The COVES Fellowship is a full-time, in-person commitment (40 hrs/week) that requires Fellows to work in offices outside their institution. Fellows’ actual schedule and duties will be determined by the Host Office, and Fellows should not have significant obligations to their lab or institution during their time in the Fellowship (May-August 2026). Relocation may be necessary for the duration of the fellowship. A stipend is provided to cover Fellows’ living expenses during their Fellowship to offset costs associated with this level of training.
2026 COVES Fellows will serve from May 26 to August 14, 2026, and receive a $9,000 stipend and $2,000 in professional development funds.
For more information, VASEM is hosting information sessions with past fellows. Register below if you are interested in attending:
- COVES Information Session: Q&A with former fellows - Dates & Times TBA
HOW TO APPLY
THE APPLICATION FORM AND LIST OF REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND HERE.
PLEASE SUBMIT ALL MATERIALS AS A SINGLE PDF DOCUMENT TO covesfellowship@vasem.org
ALL MATERIALS ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 12, 2025 AT 11:59 PM.