Each year, TechCongress welcomes technologists representing a range of disciplines and specialties to serve as policy advisors in congressional offices and committees. Now running our 15th cohort, we are pleased to officially announce the placements of our 2025 Congressional Innovation Fellows. Our fellows have successfully completed their orientation and begun their new positions on the Hill, where they help shape tech policy across critical portfolios–such as emerging technologies, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and more–while learning about the core functions of government.
We’re proud to introduce our 2025 Congressional Innovation Fellows:
Ilona Bodnar is serving with the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Minority Staff, where she is working on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure issues.
Shourya Jain is serving with Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15) and working on issues pertaining to grid resilience and governance, as well as tech and telecommunication issues.
Avanti Joshi is serving with Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), where she is working on federal IT modernization and tech innovation policy.
Dhruv Kathuria is serving with Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), where he is working on issues related to consumer privacy, data security, autonomous vehicles, digital trade, and AI in healthcare.
Lauren Luo is serving with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and working on AI, data privacy, antitrust, and consumer protection issues.
Sabelo Mhlambi is serving with the House Judiciary Committee Minority Staff, where he works for both the IP and Antitrust Subcommittees on issues related to intellectual property and antitrust.
Anna Nickelson is serving with Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), where she is working on issues related to AI, social media, broadband access, and telecommunications.
Matt Burtell is serving with Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), where he is working on AI and competition policy.
Joshua Chavez is serving with Rep. John McGuire (R-VA-05), where he is working on defense technology, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and trade issues.
Joe Putnik is serving a committee in the House of Representatives and working on tech policy issues at the intersection of constitutional law, national security, foreign policy, and criminal justice.
Rahul Hebbar is serving with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Majority Staff, where he is working on export control issues.
Connor Sandagata is serving with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and working on issues related to AI and science policy.
Pauls Toma is serving with the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee for Financial Services and General Government Majority Staff, where he is working on blockchain, AI, and other tech policy issues.
Akash Wasil is serving with the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Majority Staff, where he is working on AI, semiconductor, and export control policy.
We are excited to support our fellows in the innovative work they will contribute to these offices. Follow their journeys and learn about their experiences by keeping up with our newsletter, LinkedIn, X, and BlueSky!