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2020-2021 API Graduate Fellowship (CHCI)

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)
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2020-2021 API Graduate Fellowship
EXTENDED Deadline: January 30, 2020, 11:59 pm EST
Program Dates: August 31, 2020 – May 28, 2021

Apply today! Complete your application here: apply.chci.org.

CHCI is seeking Graduate Fellows interested in the energy industry. After a first-half placement in a Congressional office, the API Graduate Fellow will work in the D.C. office of the American Petroleum Institute (API) for the second half of the program. At API, the Fellow will gain exposure to API’s work across research, advocacy and safety promotion. The Fellowship will be tailored to the Fellow’s background and interests, with work potentially in safety standards, digital and traditional media communications strategy, community engagement, policy research, and/or government relations.

Recent first-half Congressional placements for API Graduate Fellows have included:

  • U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
  • U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources
  • U.S. House Committee on Science, Space & Technology

As part of the Fellowship, Fellows participate in CHCI’s exceptional leadership development training program, write a policy brief, and develop/execute a Capitol Hill policy briefing on energy.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to have an interest in energy issues (related to petrochemicals, clean energy, and/or renewable energy, infrastructure, new technologies, workforce, education, environmental impact and community safety, etc.) and have demonstrated leadership and passion for addressing energy issues faced by the Latino community. Candidates with a degree, work, and/or volunteer experience related to the field are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with degrees in political science, communications, engineering, law and the environment are encouraged to apply. Recent API Graduate Fellows have had degrees in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Public Administration, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Environmental Science or Microbiology. 

This experience can help Fellows along any number of career paths, whether in the for profit, public or nonprofit sectors. STEM expertise, in particular, is in heavy demand in each. These include jobs in federal, state and local government or in public policy consulting firms, as well as helping companies deal with issues like government regulation and compliance, energy systems, environmental control and sustainability, product development and safety, and more. Gaining deeper insight into how policy and legislation are formed, institutions that shape commercial realities and strive to solve societal challenges, and how these issues are messaged through media and communities are engaged, offer incredible opportunities for Fellows to stand out in today’s job market.

Testimonials from past API Graduate Fellows:

“Starting my career in the oil and gas industry in Washington D.C. has given me tremendous insight on the external drivers that may impact our operations in the industry. Now working outside the Beltway, I understand the importance of operating safely, reliably and in an environmentally responsible manner, which in turn also influences decision-making in our nation’s capital.”

-Omar De Leon, 2011-2012 CHCI-API Energy Graduate Fellow, Systems & Process Manager at ExxonMobil

“The CHCI-API congressional fellowship provided me with the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill developing federal legislative strategies. I am prepared to use my scientific background to formulate public policy that improves the management and conservation of our natural resources for current and future generations.” 

-Dr. Gabriela Sosa, 2015-2016 CHCI-API Energy Graduate Fellow 2015–2016, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Restoration Ecology at Texas A&M

“CHCI introduced me to experiences I would have not traditionally been exposed to as an engineer, let alone as a Latino engineer. I was able to work on Capitol Hill as part of a Senate committee and also work at one of the Nation’s largest trade associations. These experiences granted me key insights as to how government and industry work together.”

-Daniel Lind, 2013-2014 CHCI-API Energy Graduate Fellow, Safety Compliance Engineer at U.S. Department of Transportation

Graduate Fellowship Mission:

The CHCI Graduate Fellowship Program (GFP) seeks to enhance participants' leadership and professional skills, expand their network and ultimately produce more competent and competitive Latino professionals in public policy areas and careers aimed at making a difference for Latino communities.

Application Check List:

  1. Application Profile
  2. Two Letters of Recommendation
  3. Completed Application
  4. Four essay questions (600 words max. per essay)
  5. Resume (1-2 pages) - include relevant work, academic, volunteer and leadership experience
  6. Transcript (official or unofficial accepted)

Please note, finalists may be asked to provide an academic writing sample.

Eligibility Criteria:
Selection as an API Graduate Fellow is based on a combination of the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have earned a master's or Juris Doctor degree within two years of program start date
  • High academic achievement (preference of 3.0 GPA or higher)
  • Evidence of leadership skills and potential for leadership growth
  • Demonstrates commitment to public service-oriented activities
  • Superior analytical skills, outstanding oral and written communication skills
  • U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency
  • Eligibility to work in the United States

Please Note: 

  • Individuals who are seeking consideration under the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival” (DACA) policy must possess an Employment Authorization Document at the time of application that is valid throughout the program.
  • All individuals are welcome to apply. However, preference will be given to individuals with financial need.
  • Family members of members of the CHCI Board of Directors or Advisory Council are prohibited from participating in any of CHCI's charitable programs. "Family members" include the following individuals whether the relationship is biological or adoptive: Immediate Family - to include a spouse, domestic partner, ex-spouse, parent, step-parent, sibling, half-sibling, step-sibling, child, step-child, grandparent, grandchild; Extended family - to include a niece, nephew, uncle, aunt, first cousin. Applications by such family members will not be considered.

Selected participants will receive:

Competitive Pay
  • Over the course of nine months, Graduate Fellows will receive a gross stipend amount of $29,700. This salary is in line with that of an individual making $39,600 per year, a standard entry-level salary on Capitol Hill.
Benefits
  • Stipend or voucher to subsidize domestic round-trip transportation to Washington, D.C.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance during the program. CHCI pays 100% of the premiums for the medical, dental, and vision insurance. All program participants MUST participate in the plan and will be required to submit relevant enrollment information. Coverage begins effective September 1 and runs through May 31. Information about the insurance plan, coverage and co-pays is provided during orientation week. Please note, insurance is available to the Fellow only and not dependents of the Fellow.
  • $80 per month Metro stipend
  • Optional short-term housing. CHCI secures and individuals reimburse CHCI for this service
  • Weekly leadership training, networking and more 


Note: The CHCI Graduate Fellowship Program requires that your degree be conferred within two years of the prospective start of the program. For the 2020-2021 application cycle, you should have completed your degree between May 2018 and August 2020.