APS selects Christopher Fasano and Danielle Maldonado as 2026-27 Congressional Science Fellows

APS is thrilled to announce the 2026-27 Congressional Science Fellows, Christopher Fasano and Danielle Maldonado, who will use their scientific expertise to inform federal policymaking during a yearlong fellowship on Capitol Hill.

Fasano is a theoretical nuclear physicist and chair of the School of Engineering, Science, and Innovation at Monmouth College in Illinois, where his research spans energy, agriculture, and STEM education. He has received numerous accolades for his work at the college, including the Hatch Service Award for distinguished faculty service. He recently served as the secretary and treasurer of the APS Prairie Section, which he cofounded.

Maldonado is a doctoral candidate in physics at West Virginia University, where her work focuses on physics education research. She has served on the APS Forum on Graduate Student Affairs and the Forum on Education, and in the Student Ambassador program. She began service on the Committee on Minorities in Physics in January.

APS sponsors the Congressional Science Fellowship under the umbrella of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowships to make individuals with scientific knowledge and skills available to members of Congress, few of whom have technical backgrounds.

In turn, the fellowship enables scientists to broaden their experience through direct involvement with the policymaking process. Fellows work with congressional leaders and staff for a year, usually from September to August. As part of the fellowship, they complete a two-week orientation in Washington, D.C., interview on Capitol Hill, and then choose a congressional office or committee.