Ali Nouri, a post-doctoral research associate at the Woodrow Wilson School’s Program on Science and Global Security (PS&GS), has been selected for the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship.

The AAAS Fellowships have been operating for more than 30 years. AAAS promotes the program to recruit and select candidates with a high degree of demonstrated professional competence; who are "critical thinkers, articulate, and adaptable," possess good communication skills with an ability to work with non-scientists; and "show potential for longer-term interest in issues relating to foreign affairs and/or development assistance."

Congressional Fellows spend one year serving on the staffs of members of Congress or congressional committees, working as special assistants in legislative and policy areas that would benefit from scientific and engineering input.

According to AAAS’ website, the Congressional Fellowships “are designed to provide a unique public policy learning experience, to demonstrate the value of science-government interaction, and to make practical contributions to the more effective use of scientific and technical knowledge in government.”

The aims of the program are “to increase the capacity of scientists to inform the discussions and decisions of individuals and institutions that influence or determine policies and to provide scientific expertise and analysis to support decision-makers confronting increasingly complex scientific and technological issues.”

The program includes an orientation on congressional and executive branch operations and a year-long seminar series on issues involving science, technology and public policy, as well as monthly career enhancement workshops.

Since joining PS&GS, Nouri has been a staff member in the office of the U.N. Secretary General focusing on a biosecurity initiative, and has published or submitted a number of research papers in the field.  He is also co-teaching a WWS graduate course on weapons of mass destruction with Frank von Hippel, a professor of public and international affairs. Nouri holds a PhD in molecular biology from Princeton University.

In congratulating Nouri, PS&GS director and professor of astrophysical sciences and international affairs at WWS, Christopher Chyba said, “This is perhaps the most competitive of all the science policy fellowships. [Nouri] will be entering the U.S. government on a prestigious fellowship with a mandate to bring his Princeton scholarship to bear on some of the most important science policy issues. The WWS played an important role in this, and should be proud.”