Posted on November 3, 2025 by Sean M. Wood
Dr. Guenevere Chen will help shape the nation’s policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and Health as a Science and Technology Policy AI fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Chen, Associate Professor and Cloud Technology Endowed Fellow in Electrical Engineering in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, is one of six AI fellows chosen from more than 230 candidates to receive a congressional appointment. Her work started on Sept. 2 and continue until Aug. 31, 2026.
“It’s such an honor for a scholar in academia to work for Congress doing public service,” Chen said. “The selection committee recognizes our AI-related background and knows we will do a great job in supporting Congress in developing the AI policy recommendations for the country.”
Her interview process included lawyers, previous fellows, corporate chief technology officers, chief information officers and research scientists. She said her 11 years as a faculty member, educator and researcher who have mentored and produced hundreds of students and produce cybersecurity and AI workforce for executive branches helped set her apart from other candidates. Chen’s more recent work has been focused on protecting AI integrated systems from cyber attacks.
“So, I had lots of stories to tell them about my experiences and what I had published with the cybersecurity conferences,” she said. “I also have a good understanding of how policy implementation, and technological systems interact to achieve real-world impacts.”
In 2021, Chen secured a grant for cybersecurity research and workforce development through the Consortium on National Critical Infrastructure Security (CONCISE). Building on the success of CONCISE, early this year, she secured a $3.1 million grant for a new initiative, CONCISE-EM, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM). The project aims to develop an AI-focused curriculum, design interdisciplinary research projects, and mentor students at all levels—from REU to Ph.D.—to prepare them for DOE internships and full-time career opportunities.
After completing an intensive two-week orientation followed by a highly competitive interview and selection process, Dr. Chen has been placed in Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office.
It’s an exciting time to explore how technology and policymaking intersect — and how to design and craft laws for effective implementation,” she said. “When I return, I plan to translate technology into policy and policy into technology through new research initiatives, as well as the development of innovative computer science/engineering courses, certifications, and curricula. My goal is to prepare the next generation of engineering leaders and help academia adapt to the new era of AI-driven innovation and education.
— Sean M. Wood
