2025–2026 AAI Public Policy Fellows Announced

AAI is delighted to announce the fifteenth class of AAI Public Policy Fellows, who officially begin their one-year fellowship today. Since 2011, the AAI Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP) has provided opportunities for early-career AAI members to learn how to use their voice to make a difference in federal science funding and legislation.

The PPFP engages early-career researchers in AAI advocacy activities focused on increasing federal funding for research, strengthening the biomedical research enterprise, and advancing understanding of immunology.

The Fellows participate in many advocacy and educational activities throughout the year, culminating in Capitol Hill Day, when they visit congressional representatives to advocate for the importance of biomedical research and increased NIH funding.

This year’s Fellows

Following careful review of the applications received, the AAI Committee on Public Affairs selected the following ten individuals to participate in 2025-2026 PPFP:

Alfonso Bencomo-Alvarez, Ph.D.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Tennessee)

Mayassa Bou-Dargham, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania

Cherry Cheuk Lam Cheung, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Indiana University School of Medicine

Elizabeth Delery, Ph.D.
Marian University (Indiana)

Jordan Holl, Ph.D.
Wadsworth New York State Department of Health

Marisa Joldrichsen, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University

Ian Saunders, Ph.D.
Johnson & Johnson (Pennsylvania)

Allison Seeger, Ph.D.
University of Texas at Austin

Tulika Singh, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley

Sheetal Verma, Ph.D.
Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School

AAI welcomes this impressive group of future science advocates and looks forward to working with them, including during the AAI PPFP Capitol Hill Day next year. Learn more about this year’s class and their goals in the slideshow below:

I’m deeply honored and thrilled to have been selected as one of the 2025–2026 AAI Public Policy Fellows! This incredible opportunity marks a meaningful milestone in my journey as a biomedical researcher and passionate advocate for equitable health outcomes. I firmly believe that bridging the gap between science and public policy is essential for advancing biomedical research and improving public health. Participating in the AAI PPFP will provide me with the tools, knowledge, and network to better advocate for the policies and funding needed to support innovative immunological research. I’m incredibly grateful to AAI for this opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to the important policy conversations that shape the future of biomedical science.

I am honored and excited to accept the AAI Public Policy Fellowship. I’m deeply grateful for the
opportunity to gain first-hand experience at the intersection of science and policy. As a scientist, I believe it is critical to engage beyond the bench—to contribute meaningfully to the conversation around science-informed policy. I recognize the importance of clear, accessible, and evidence-based communication of scientific findings to non-scientific audiences. This fellowship presents a unique opportunity to learn how policies that impact science and public health are developed—and how scientists can engage constructively with policymakers to advocate for informed, evidence-based decisions. Through this experience, I hope to better understand how to translate complex scientific ideas into clear, compelling messages that can support sound public policy and foster public trust. I look forward to contributing to and being part of the program.

I’m deeply honored to be selected as a 2025–2026 AAI Public Policy Fellow, especially during such a critical time for the scientific community. Now more than ever, it is essential for immunologists and scientists to engage in policy conversations and advocate for evidence-based decision-making. I look forward to contributing to the missions of AAI, learning from experienced policy professionals, and working alongside like-minded fellows to amplify the voice of science in shaping public policy.

I am ecstatic and incredibly honored to have been selected as an AAI Public Policy Fellow for the 2025-2026 cohort. In a time when scientific misinformation is at an all-time high and there is a rise in vaccine preventable illnesses and deaths, I hope to play a part in rebuilding trust in science and the scientific community amongst politicians and the general public. I was incredibly privileged to be raised by parents who encouraged my love of science and study under educators who encouraged my never-ending questions. I am eager to pay that forward by making science and immunology more accessible to the policymakers making decisions for the betterment of the United States health infrastructure. I am most excited to gain a deeper understanding regarding the policies and procedures of science policymaking and getting a chance to interact and learn from the policymakers themselves. I look forward to working with this new cohort and the rest of the immunology community. Thank you, AAI!

I am deeply humbled to be selected as a participant in this year's Public Policy Fellows Program. I've had quite the research journey, having received my M.Sc. in Japan and being selected as a European Union Marie Curie Co-fellow and elected university chairman of the program, among other highlights. I hope to utilize these unique international and administrative experiences in service to the program and my peers. The PPFP's goal of educating scientists on the inner workings of governmental policy – such a crucial yet rarely explored aspect of a typical researcher's career – strikes me as a supremely worthy pursuit. As a field, we have seen recent technological advancement which has led to greatly improved clinical outcomes in a variety of diseases, as well as a deeper fundamental understanding of the role that niche immunological elements play in a variety of pathologies. I am eager to understand the nuts and bolts of public policy advocacy, and to learn the most effective means by which policy can be influenced for the pursuit of knowledge.

I am honored to be selected as a member of the AAI Public Policy Fellows Program for 2025-2026. In recent years we have seen an increase in scientific misinformation and the politicization of biomedical research, I believe that it is more important than ever that scientific experts are upfront and vocal about biomedical research and the funding needs required for the advancement of human health. I am excited for the opportunity to put this belief into practice by learning more about policy advocation and effective communication techniques with a non-scientific audience to better communicate the importance of biomedical research funding. I look forward to working and learning with my fellow PPFP peers on these skills and many others. Thank you, AAI, for this amazing opportunity.

I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as a 2025–2026 AAI Public Policy Fellow. This prestigious program offers early-career researchers like myself with a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insights into science policy and become stronger advocates for sustained funding across all sectors of biomedical research. As a scientist with a background in cancer research and drug development, I am passionate about advancing science-driven solutions that improve health outcomes and promote equitable access to care. As a new fellow, I am particularly excited about the program’s emphasis on science advocacy and innovation to ensure that scientific discoveries are not only supported at the policy level but are also translated into real-world impact. I look forward to taking full advantage of the program’s various learning and networking opportunities to strengthen my voice beyond the bench and become a more effective resource for my community.

I am thrilled to take part in the 2025-2026 AAI PPFP and honored to be selected this year, of all years, to advocate for evidence-based policy decisions. In this divisive moment, it is critical for scientists to engage our communities in health policy discussions and collaborate with legislators to navigate the disconnect between scientists, the government, and the public. I am humbled to learn just how to do that from the esteemed experts within AAI. I can’t wait to hone my science communication skills, network with local and national lawmakers, and share what I’ve learned with my lab mates. I am especially interested in exploring the One Health space, where biomedical and agricultural policy must meet to ensure the health of both our people and our planet.

I am honored to be selected as a 2025-26 AAI Public Policy Fellow. I study human immune responses that protect us against infectious diseases to promote health through vaccines and therapies. Through past advocacy efforts, I helped successfully establish a multilateral global fund enabling countries to strengthen their health infrastructure and enhance pandemic preparedness. This big achievement shows me the importance of educating and building relationships with policymakers to protect communities. I am deeply committed to science communication, global health equity, and ensuring that all members of our community can participate in research and access the fruits of scientific innovation. I look forward to working with my colleagues at AAI and will strive to protect funding for research, promote access to lifesaving innovations, and train the next generation of immunologists. Thank you for this opportunity, AAI!

I am deeply honored to have been selected for the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Public Policy Fellows Program (PPFP). This opportunity aligns perfectly with my commitment to leveraging scientific research and public policy to address critical global health challenges, particularly infectious diseases like Tuberculosis (TB). In addition to an urgent need for innovative prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies, infectious disease research can benefit greatly from public policy engagement. Through the PPFP, I look forward to interacting with policymakers and contributing to evidence-based strategies that further promote health equity in biomedical research.

Get involved

AAI members have many opportunities to get involved in advocacy. The Public Affairs team supports letter-writing campaigns designed to push Congress in the right direction on crucial matters, as well as special sessions at the annual meeting that provide strategies to make your voice heard. This year, the Committee on Public Affairs is sponsoring “The State of U.S. Biomedical Science and Funding for Research: Significant Challenges, Far Greater Opportunities” on May 4, 8:00–9:30, at IMMUNOLOGY2025™.

For program details or to inquire about applying for the PPFP, see www.aai.org/Public-Affairs/PPFP or contact AAI Director of Government Affairs Jake Schumacher at jschumacher@aai.org.

This year’s Fellows

Get involved

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