Title: | Science Policy Intern |
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ID: | 1458 |
Department: | External Affairs |
Location: | Remote |

Science Policy Intern
Who we are:
The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.
Position Summary:
The part-time, temporary science policy intern supports the American Physical Society Government Affairs team by developing and implementing data analysis and visualization tools to inform policymakers and the broader APS community about priority issues. The intern monitors federal policies related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, equity, and other assigned areas; organizes and presents information on these topics; and contributes to federal science policy analysis in support of APS activities, including those of the Physics Policy Committee, the Panel on Public Affairs, and the APS Board Executive Committee.
This temporary, part-time position is expected to last no more than six months.
Responsibilities:
Data analysis and visualization support
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Develop and perform data analysis in consultation with the science policy manager.
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Create data visualization tools to support Government Affairs (GA) in consultation with the science policy manager and the director of public affairs.
Advocacy and engagement support
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Assist the science policy manager in educating policymakers and other audiences on federal science policy initiatives that affect the physics community, including those related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and equity.
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Help develop advocacy materials for GA.
Administrative support
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Provide logistical and administrative support to the science policy manager as needed.
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Communicate regularly with the science policy manager.
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Collaborate with the director of public affairs, GA staff, Office of External Affairs staff, other APS staff, APS members, and colleagues at peer organizations.
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Contribute to office projects within the science policy portfolio.
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Stay current on GA policy priorities, positions, and activities as needed to carry out responsibilities independently.
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Perform other duties as assigned.
Education:
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High school diploma or equivalent required.
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Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent work experience may be considered in place of a degree.
- Minimum of one year relevant work experience and/or two years of college, university, and/or higher education coursework is required.
- College, university, and/or higher education coursework completion in physical science and/or public policy and/or data science or related/relevant fields is preferred.
- Proficient in using data visualization tools and techniques, web-based tools preferred.
- Proficient data analysis and visualization skills.
- Experience using Google Colab, looker studio, and BigQuery preferred.
- Proficient in Google Suite.
- Proficient in analyzing data, using MS excel or other tools .
- Proficient in python preferred.
- Proficient in SQL preferred.
- Strong organization, documentation, and prioritization skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to adapt to quickly changing schedules.
- Ability to work well with interdepartmental teams as well as independently.
Travel: The position requires up to 5% of travel for in-person meetings with staff as well as additional travel as assigned. This is a temporary, part-time position with an expected duration of no more than six months.
Salary:
The salary range for this position takes into account various factors influencing compensation decisions, such as skill sets, experience, training, and other business and organizational requirements. The salary listed within the specified ranges considers relevant experience. Our compensation philosophy at APS aims to maintain salaries at the midpoint of the market. As a result, we typically hire within the target starting range. Exceptional, rare cases may merit reviews above target starting range for specialized or niche skills aligned with strategic operational goals.
Target salary: $16.00 - $20.00/hour (USD)
This is Us:
Help us achieve our mission of advancing and diffusing the knowledge of physics for the benefit of humanity, promote physics, and serve the broader physics community.
At APS, we:
- Provide a welcoming and supportive professional home for an active, engaged, and diverse membership
- Advance scientific discovery and research dissemination
- Advocate for physics and physicists, and amplify the voice for science
- Share the excitement of physics and communicate the essential role physics plays in the modern world
- Promote effective physics education for all
Core Values:
Core values are essential to shaping the culture of an organization. They provide the structure and guidance for how we conduct ourselves in our day-to-day interactions. Every employee has a responsibility for upholding these values. The behaviors and actions associated with demonstrating competency in these Core Values are described in a separate document.
Our Core Values: Our values are our guideposts
- Scientific Method
- Trust, Integrity, and Ethical Conduct
- Equity, Diversity, and Respect
- Collaboration
- Education and Learning
- Speaking Out
Amazing 2025 Benefit Offerings:
- Remote First: The majority of staff work primarily from remote locations. APS promotes equal treatment and access for staff in the United States, regardless of physical work location.
- Locations: APS is operational in most but not all 50 states. Our headquarter office is in College Park, Maryland, with physical offices also located in Washington, DC, and Hauppauge, New York.
- APS does not offer relocation assistance/costs.
- APS allows flexible work hours. Responsiveness is required during workday core hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
- This role is not benefits eligible.
The American Physical Society is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of American Physical Society not to discriminate or allow the harassment of employees or applicants on the basis of race, religious creed, immigration status, alienage or citizenship, religion, color, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, protected veteran status, protected military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, ancestry, domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by law with regard to any employment practices, including recruitment, advertising, job application procedures, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, job assignments, benefits and/or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, provided the individual is qualified, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform the essential functions of the job. This policy applies to all jobs at APS. The American Physical Society is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact APS Human Resources at hr@aps.org. The “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal'' poster, prepared by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), provides an overview of several laws that protect you from discrimination on the job, and several rights are afforded to you by these laws. The “Pay Transparency Non Discrimination Provision,” prepared by the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), provides an overview of several protections implemented to protect individuals working under federal contracts from discrimination when inquiring about or discussing compensation; these protections apply to all employees and applicants. The APS has a "remote first" concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations. #LI-
This temporary, part-time position is expected to last no more than six months.
This internship does not provide visa sponsorship.
#LI-SB1
Application deadline Sept. 12, 2025.