Science Policy Reporter

Who we are:

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a federation of 10 Member Societies which in turn have more than 130,000 members across the globe. AIP was founded in 1931 in an effort to alleviate societal and economic turmoil and to better humanity through science. Today, almost 100 years later, we further our positive impact through our mission: to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. We want you to become a part of this mission!

AIP’s science policy news service, called FYI, is a premier source of updates on federal science agencies and legislation. Published by AIP since 1989, FYI is trusted by policymakers and prominent figures in the scientific community nationwide. FYI focuses on physical science programs across the Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and NASA. FYI also covers topics relevant across all fields of science, such as STEM education, research infrastructure management, and research integrity and security. At FYI, we seek to clarify policy activity and deliver nuanced insight into its impacts on the scientific community.

Summary:

We are hiring a Science Policy Reporter to write for FYI. We are seeking a strong writer with a keen news sense, knowledge of the federal budget process, and experience cultivating sources and conducting interviews. Your work will inform national decision makers and scientists on the ground, empowering them to better navigate the policy landscape.

What you'll do:

Write news and analysis articles about legislative activity and agency initiatives.
Analyze science budget proposals and outcomes.
Distill takeaways from policy events such as congressional hearings.
Develop relationships with sources and conduct interviews.
Identify emerging policy topics to take our reporting in new directions.

What you'll bring:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Two or more years of experience in policy reporting or policy analysis.
Strong understanding of the federal budget process.
Familiarity with multiple science agencies.
Demonstrated ability to write content on tight deadlines.
Experience cultivating sources and conducting interviews.

To Apply:

Applications must include a resume and a writing sample. We encourage you to apply even if your experience does not fully match the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.