The state is accepting applications for the 2026 Governor’s Science and Technology Fellowship.
A statement described the fellowship as “a competitive, year-long program that places top science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates in state agencies to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.”
The state will accept applications until April 7. Positions pay $79,000 annually. Applicants must have earned, or will earn, at least a master’s degree between December 2020 and August 2026.
“As government increasingly relies on data, technology and scientific expertise, it’s critical that we recruit professionals with advanced STEM knowledge,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver in the statement. “The Governor’s Science and Technology Fellowship is bringing fresh perspectives and technical skills that help agencies work smarter and better serve Pennsylvanians.”
Past fellows have worked on projects that focused on such areas as data analytics, environmental modeling, health and human services innovation, emerging technologies and operational efficiency.
People selected for the new round of this program will work with a variety of agencies.
That includes the Department of General Services, which seeks to improve its data quality, accessibility and efficiency while deploying more AI tools through “a transformative data and AI initiative.”
Another position is with the Department of Agriculture, which seeks a person with “background in microbiology, virology or infectious diseases to help incorporate next-generation tools for disease diagnostics in the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory.” That position will have the fellow using “cutting-edge genomics and bioinformatics” to track disease.
Another project involves what the statement called “a transformative data and AI initiative” for the Department of General Services, which seeks to improve its data quality, accessibility and efficiency while deploying more AI tools.
The gov tech recruitment drive comes as public agency tech leaders call for more diversity in hiring while also reducing IT costs, and as they seek to replace retiring workers with younger talent. AI, too, is taking up some of the work of upgrading public-sector tech systems in the absence of human expertise.
And more state IT operations are increasing their scouting and recruitment efforts, including via internships and apprenticeships, in an effort to strengthen their gov tech workforces.
