Policy Career Guides

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency in the Department of Commerce that serves as the US national measurement institute. --- Outline: (00:50) Overview (03:17) Background on Commerce (05:04) Organizational structure (06:03) Commerce and AI policy (07:09) Recent AI-related developments at Commerce (14:23) Commerce offices working on AI policy (14:41) C...

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. --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (02:16) Why does the government use technical standards and evaluations? (04:39) Technical standards...

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency in the Department of Commerce that serves as the US national measurement institute. --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (01:39) Background on NIST (03:26) Organizational structure (07:27) NIST and AI standards (09:35) NIST and bio standards (11:32) Working at NIST (13:10) Further reading --- If you’re interested in purs...

State oversees US foreign policy, negotiating treaties, managing diplomatic missions, and representing the US in international bodies. --- Outline: (00:21) Overview (02:11) Background on State (04:08) Organizational structure (06:47) Workforce (09:07) Department of State and AI policy (10:16) Major recent AI-related developments at State (13:42) State offices working on AI-related policy (14:02) D...

The FTC is an independent federal agency of the US government with a dual mission to promote fair competition and protect American consumers from predatory or misleading business practices. --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (01:11) Background on FTC (02:22) Organizational structure (03:46) FTC and AI policy (03:50) FTC components working on AI policy (05:27) Recent AI-related developments at FTC (08:2...

Short-term policy programs can help you build expertise, network with professionals, 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 of which are free or offer stipends. --- Outline: (01:08) General policy opportunities (10:22) Science and tech policy opportunities (15:06) Programs for students fr...

This guide explains how and why the US government funds R&D, outlines key institutions and processes, and discusses considerations and opportunities for working in R&D policy. --- Outline: (00:09) Overview (01:39) Why does the government invest in R&D? (04:39) Federal R&D funding basics (09:02) Funding models and mechanisms (12:42) Federal R&D funding and emerging technology (25:10) Wh...

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. --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (02:16) Why does the government use technical standards and evaluations? (04:39) Technical standards...

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. --- Outline: (00:09) Overview (01:18) Why does the government regulate? (03:33) Regulatory policy basics (07:19) Types of regulation (07:29) Policy areas and t...

This guide covers the fundamentals of US export controls and their role in shaping emerging technologies. It walks through the export control process and key players, then discusses career opportunities in export control policy. --- Outline: (00:09) Overview (01:32) Why does the government use export controls? (02:23) Export control basics (03:07) What gets controlled (04:21) How controls work (06...

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. --- Outline: (02:04) Campaign types, organization, and roles (02:09) Campaign types (04:47) Primary and general election campaigns (07:42) Competitive campaigns and partisan campaign committees (10:31) Legislative...

Home / Tips & resources / Using LinkedIn for policy roles Contents ▾ Tips & Resources Updated 15th Jun 2026 12 min read Share Using LinkedIn for policy roles This guide explains how to effectively use LinkedIn to build your professional network and identify and pursue policy-focused roles (e.g. in Congress, think tanks, state legislatures). --- Outline: (00:51) How to optimize your profile (06:41)...

Home / Policy levers / Regulatory policy Contents ▾ Policy Levers Updated 27th May 2026 42 min read Share Regulatory policy Overview Federal regulations—legally binding rules that Congress has authorized federal agencies to create—touch nearly all aspects of life. More than 100 US federal agencies regulate hundreds of thousands of activities and products, from aviation --- Outline: (00:09) Overvie...

Home / Policy levers / Export controls Contents ▾ Policy Levers Updated 3rd Jun 2026 39 min read Share Export controls 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 --- Outline: (00:09) Overview (01...

Home / Policy levers / Federal R&D funding Contents ▾ Policy Levers Updated 3rd Jun 2026 51 min read Share Federal R&D funding Overview 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 --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (01:39) Why d...

Home / Policy levers / Technical standards and evaluations Contents ▾ Policy Levers Updated 3rd Jun 2026 42 min read Share Technical standards and evaluations Overview Technical standards—shared expectations for definitions, performance of products and systems, and testing—underpin nearly all aspects of technology and manufacturing globally. Evaluations check whether those expectations are being m...

Home / Tips & resources / Policy resumes Contents ▾ Tips & Resources Updated 8th Jul 2026 8 min read Share Policy resumes 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. Policy resumes generally follow standard resume --- Outline: (00:54) Format: How to make your resume look...

Home / Tips & resources / Policy cover letters Contents ▾ Tips & Resources Updated 8th Jul 2026 6 min read Share Policy cover letters This guide explains how to write effective cover letters for US policy positions (e.g. congressional offices, think tanks, state legislatures). Your cover letter should strategically complement your resume, providing color --- Outline: (00:44) Format: How to structu...