Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Governor’s Science and Technology Fellowship, a competitive, year-long program that places top science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates in state agencies to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.
“As government increasingly relies on data, technology, and scientific expertise, it’s critical that we recruit professionals with advanced STEM knowledge,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “The Governor’s Science and Technology Fellowship is bringing fresh perspectives and technical skills that help agencies work smarter and better serve Pennsylvanians.”
Fellows are placed in state agencies to support data-driven decision-making, modernize programs, and improve service delivery for residents across the Commonwealth. Past fellows have worked on projects involving data analytics, environmental modeling, health and human services innovation, emerging technologies, and operational efficiency.
The application period runs from March 16 through April 7. Individuals who have earned or will earn a master’s degree or higher between December 2020 and August 2026 are eligible to apply. Selected applicants will be matched with a state agency to work on targeted projects based on their field of study. Projects include:
- Department of Agriculture is seeking a fellow with a background in microbiology, virology, or infectious diseases to help incorporate next-generation tools for disease diagnostics in the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory. With a move toward state-of-the-art genomic testing and new molecular testing and tracing, this fellow will use cutting-edge genomics and bioinformatics for rapid disease detection and improvements to disease traceability.
- Department of General Services is seeking a fellow to lead a transformative data and AI initiative focused on enhancing data quality, accessibility, and operational efficiency across the agency. The fellow will leverage data science and AI to support decision-making and analysis, reduce program redundancies, and increase transparency, while also guiding the implementation of AI tools across DGS.
- Department of Human Services is seeking a fellow to focus on data analytics to assess the effectiveness of Pennsylvania’s social service programs and project future program needs. Working with the DHS Data and Analytics team with data sources such as Medicaid claims, SNAP eligibility and participation, and Census data, among others, this fellow will lead projects that work to identify where DHS programs are working, where needs are going unmet, and where differences in access or outcomes could provide opportunities to improve services for Pennsylvanians.
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department is seeking a fellow to conduct a research project focused on analyzing open claims in the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund (USTIF). The fellow will conduct a comprehensive review of USTIF’s technical data to identify patterns, risk factors, and remediation outcomes, supporting the development of predictive models and decision frameworks to enable informed and targeted decision-making for these claims.
- Department of Labor & Industry is seeking a fellow to assess the department’s current service and workforce development programs and lead a new initiative to increase AI literacy and positive outcomes in publicly funded service, apprenticeship, and professional development programs. Collaborating with PennSERVE, this fellow will evaluate ways the department’s workforce development programs interact with PennSERVE’s service programs, recommend enhancements to better align workforce development career pathways and service-to-career pathways, and identify existing AI resources to support the development of AI literacy curriculum.
- Department of Labor & Industry is also seeking a fellow to modernize the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance’s data storage and processing systems to improve enforcement of the Commonwealth’s labor laws and increase worker protections. The fellow will leverage AI, advances in technology, and developments in modern software to optimize key processes within the bureau, streamline workflows, and improve service delivery so that BLLC is operating at the speed of business.
- Governor’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity is seeking a fellow to serve as an in-house government AI expert to bring the latest insights and development from the field into the Commonwealth’s decision-making on AI utilization. The fellow will provide expert technical and programmatic advice on incorporating AI technologies into Commonwealth operations in accordance with the industry’s best practices and the Commonwealth’s current framework and support ongoing efforts to apply AI in permitting processes.
