Expert guidance for students, technologists, and policy professionals exploring policy careers in AI, biosecurity, cyber, and other emerging technologies.
Emerging Tech Policy Careers is a resource from the Horizon Institute for Public Service, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to address the US government's critical talent shortage in emerging technology. More about us ->
Many undergraduates consider pursuing a career in US policy but are uncertain about how to test their fit and get a foot in the door. This post provides advice and highlights opportunities for college students.
Graduate degrees are valuable (and often necessary) to pivot into or advance in your policy career. This guide covers the three main graduate degree pathways: policy master’s, law school, and PhDs.
Policy internships are among the best ways to test your fit for policy careers and advance professionally, whether you are a college student, recent graduate, or graduate student. This guide provides advice on where and how to apply.
Fellowships are among the best entryways into policy work, providing funding, training, mentoring, and networking. This guide includes a database with 50+ programs, including many for mid-career professionals.
This page focuses on how to find and apply for full-time policy positions, highlighting job boards and relevant resources, outlining common career paths, listing opportunities, and explaining how to narrow down your options.
Short-term policy programs can help you build expertise, network, and explore policy careers. This post highlights a range of policy seminars, workshops, and courses, typically running from 2-3 days to 6 weeks (many are free or offer stipends).
Some non-Americans wonder whether they’re eligible for public policy work in the US. This post provides information on the main immigration categories and explains the challenges and opportunities facing foreign nationals.
A political campaign is an organized effort to elect candidates to public office or pass ballot initiatives such as constitutional amendments, legislative referenda, or local ordinances.
AI systems are advancing rapidly, raising complex challenges for society. AI governance is essential in dealing with those challenges and many organizations, both in and outside of government, are contributing to it.
Progress in biotechnology can improve health, economic growth, and pandemic preparedness, but it could also exacerbate biological threats, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate. Policymakers play a key role in shaping this technology.
China’s influence is growing across various areas of science and technology—including AI, telecommunications, robotics, semiconductors, biotechnology, and more—a trend shaped by and contributing to dynamics of geopolitical competition.
The civic tech community aims to empower citizens, fostering civic engagement and enhancing the relationship between citizens and government. It uses technology to address societal challenges and make government work better.
As our world becomes increasingly connected, cyberspace has become a new frontier of geopolitical contention. Cybersecurity and digital policies are crucial in safeguarding nations and their citizens from cyber threats.
As aerospace technologies develop, space is becoming increasingly important for science, business, diplomacy, and international security. Space policy addresses complex issues like exploration, commercialization, and security beyond Earth.
Nuclear weapons have been at the heart of US national security since World War II and technological progress might impact risks from nuclear accidents or deterrence failures. Since the dawn of the nuclear age, policy professionals have been vital in managing these risks.
Congress is the legislative branch of the US government, serving key functions like writing laws, allocating budgets, overseeing agencies, and agenda-setting. This guide advises on testing your fit for and getting a job in Congress and assessing which members and committees are most relevant to emerging technology.
More than a hundred think tanks in DC aim to inform and influence policymaking through a combination of research and writing, convening stakeholders, and advocacy. This guide explains what think tanks do and how to search for think tank jobs. It also lists think tanks working on different emerging technology issues.
Encompassing the White House and government agencies, the executive branch employs millions of people and manages a budget of several trillion dollars. This page features relevant resources, fellowships, and guides on federal agencies working on issues relevant to AI policy and biosecurity policy.
National labs like Los Alamos and other “FFRDCs” are crucial for informing government policy and advancing science. They offer valuable career opportunities—especially for STEM graduates—and can serve as launching pads for careers in public service.
States serve as “laboratories of democracy,” shaping policies that affect millions while often setting precedents for federal action. This guide explains how US state governments work and advises on when and how to pursue state level roles.
The IC consists of 18 government agencies and offices that collect, analyze, and deliver intelligence to senior US leaders to support decision-making on critical issues. This work is crucial for informing US government policy and safeguarding national security.
Multilateral organizations play vital roles in shaping international norms, setting agendas, facilitating negotiations, and addressing global challenges. Working in or with a multilateral organization can be a great way to make a difference and advance your career, but this path also has some important potential downsides.
Federal R&D funding—public dollars allocated by the US government to support scientific and technological progress—is among the strongest policy tools for shaping national innovation. Spawned out of Cold War ambitions to demonstrate and advance US technological superiority, today’s federal R&D enterprise spends $200 billion annually to initiate, accelerate, and guide progress at the frontiers of discovery.
This guide covers the fundamentals of US regulatory policy at the federal level and its role in shaping emerging technologies. It walks through the regulatory process and key players, and discusses career opportunities in regulatory policy.
This guide explains how the US government develops and uses technical standards and evaluations and how they intersect with emerging technology policy. It outlines key institutions and processes and discusses considerations and opportunities for working in this space.
Overview Export controls are regulations that restrict which goods, technologies, and services can be sold or transferred to foreign countries, entities, or individuals. The US government primarily uses export controls to protect national security by limiting access to the most sensitive US technologies and weapons. More than a dozen federal agencies administer export controls across […]
Policy careers are highly network-driven. Networking is a learnable skill and developing a strong network helps you get valuable advice, hear of relevant job openings, be successful when you apply, and have an impact on the job.
Policy work requires a diverse set of skills, depending on the specific role. This article explains which skills and traits are most essential for success in policy careers, and how to develop them.
Government jobs typically require a security clearance, especially in national security. This article provides advice on how to improve your chances and speed up the future clearance process.
Certain activities can tag you as partisan, like volunteering for a campaign, or donating to political candidates. This article advises on the potential impacts of partisan affiliations on your policy career.
This guide explains how to write a resume for US policy roles (e.g. Congress, think tanks, state legislatures), including advice on resume formatting, content, and writing.
Learn how to craft effective cover letters for federal and state policy roles with advice on formatting, content selection, and writing techniques.
Learn how to effectively use LinkedIn to build your professional network and identify and pursue policy-focused roles.
Our in-depth guides help students and professionals navigate careers in emerging tech policy, from first roles to senior transitions. We regularly update Emerging Tech Policy Careers to reflect the fast-moving field, with new guides, refreshed content, and ongoing expert review.
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“An incredibly useful resource for anyone in the fields of biosecurity, nuclear weapons policy, and emerging tech.”
“This site is an incredible resource with advice, essential resources, and guides for anyone looking to make the move into public service.”
“Fantastic resource! I wish I had this when I was first entering the policy world.”
Hundreds of hours of research distilled into accessible explainers, all thoroughly reviewed by subject-matter experts.
Relied on by students exploring their first internship, mid-career professionals pivoting into public service, and many others.
Our lists are regularly updated to spotlight the best pathways into emerging technology policy, including fellowships, graduate programs, short-term policy programs, and other opportunities.
