AISC is excited to welcome Northeastern University Professor Jerome F. Hajjar, PE, PhD as the 2025 Innovation Fellow! Read the full announcement. 

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the AISC Education Foundation are pleased to announce the launch of our inaugural Innovation Fellowship program. The Innovation Fellowship program is a long-term (six months to one year) collaborative program in residence at AISC’s Chicago headquarters.

What are the goals of the fellowship program?

The Innovation Fellowship aims to engage with leaders in the structural steel industry to focus on a steel-related project and provide an avenue to collaborate with AISC staff and other leaders in the steel industry in the process. The goals of the fellowship are to:

• Support innovative thought leaders at any point in their professional career
• Advance the body of knowledge related to advanced steel design, fabrication, erection, and construction
• Enable the fellow to develop and cultivate meaningful, long-term relationships with AISC staff, steel industry leaders and their organizations, and other essential players in the steel construction industry
• Prepare a steel industry professional for future success in their area(s) of expertise

What are the details for the fellowship?

The AISC Education Foundation expects to support one Innovation Fellow each year beginning in 2025. The candidate selected will join the AISC staff in our Chicago office for the duration of the fellowship. The duties are based on the applicant’s goals and the needs of the Institute, in collaboration with the candidate’s home institution and/or academic department. The program includes:

• Basic or supplemental salary during the fellowship, depending on the candidate’s individual circumstances
• Fully reimbursed travel to and from Chicago (i.e., one round trip flight, if needed)
• Collaboration and engagement with many of the AISC staff
• Resources and support, as needed, to facilitate successful completion of the duties
• The possibility for site visits, tours, attendance at committee meetings, or other events depending on timing and availability
• The possibility of collaboration with other leaders in the steel construction industry, if/as needed, to achieve the goals of the project

Who is eligible to become an Innovation Fellow?

The Innovation Fellowship is open to university faculty, steel researchers, steel designers, recent retirees, and other candidates with a desire to advance an innovative idea in steel design and construction. The Innovation Fellowship is designed to work with a faculty member’s sabbatical if desired.

Candidates with the following attributes are strongly encouraged to apply:

• A degree in Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Construction Engineering/Construction Management, Structural Engineering, or a closely related field (candidates with technical degrees and associate degrees will also be considered)
• A candidate that can use the results of the fellowship in their future career, be it academics, research, or advanced practice
• An ability to join AISC in their Chicago office for the duration of the fellowship

How can I learn more or ask questions?

If you have questions about the Innovation Fellowship, contact Christopher Raebel, AISC's vice president of engineering and research, at [email protected].

The Innovation Fellow is not an employee of AISC and will be considered an independent contractor for employment and tax purposes.