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Tim Bynion has spent years studying Congress, poring over historical voting records and analyzing the intricacies of party dynamics. Now, he’s about to experience it firsthand.
Bynion, a PhD candidate in political science at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, has been awarded a prestigious and competitive congressional fellowship through the American Political Science Association (APSA), an opportunity that will place him in the heart of Washington, D.C., working directly within the halls of power. The fellowship, established in 1953, will allow Bynion to observe the political process for eight months. It is a paid position.
“I applied for it in January,” Bynion said. “They wanted a personal statement, writing sample, CV, letters of recommendation—all the usual stuff. I heard back for the first round in mid-February, at which point they asked me to do an interview.”
“I did this last year, too,” he said, noting it was his second attempt at acceptance. “I got to the interview stage but didn’t get it last year.”
The interview just after the holidays was brief—just 15 minutes with three past fellows.
“It’s striking how fast it is,” he said. “It’s kind of crazy.”
Shortly after, he got the news: This time, he had made the cut.
“The Congressional Fellowship is one of the most valuable opportunities available for scholars interested in congressional politics and policymaking,” said Schar School associate professor Robert J. McGrath, who specializes in American politics and quantitative political methodology; he is also chair of Bynion’s dissertation committee.
“It provides an unparalleled chance to work directly within the legislative process, build networks, and develop the kind of expertise that can shape a career in public service or academia.”
It is, McGrath said, “a life-changing experience because it transforms theoretical knowledge into hands-on impact, exposing fellows to the realities of policymaking at the highest level.”
Associate Professor of political science Jennifer Victor, herself a former APSA fellow, had long encouraged Bynion to apply.
“The APSA Congressional Fellowship was transformational in my academic career,” said Victor, who sits on Bynion’s dissertation committee along with Associate Professor Jeremy Mayer. “The experiences I had and observations I made during my time on Capitol Hill changed the way I think about Congress. It profoundly affected my research agenda and led me to ask more relational questions in my research about legislative behavior.”
Bynion’s dissertation explores party disloyalty in Congress—when, why, and how members of Congress break from their party leaders, which could not be more topical in 2025.
“I have a chapter about disloyalty in voting patterns, another on disloyalty in floor speeches, and the one I’m finishing now looks at how party leaders navigate the tension between keeping members in line and helping them get reelected,” he said.
For someone so deeply entrenched in political research, getting an inside view of the legislative process is invaluable. “I’m hoping this fellowship will give me some new insights into all of that.”
Bynion’s journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. The Baltimore, Maryland, native skipped the typical master's degree route, going straight from his undergraduate studies at Towson University in Maryland to the Schar School PhD program. Now, he’s preparing to defend his dissertation in April; he starts his fellowship in November.
The exact details of his placement on the Hill are still unknown.
“You start with a monthlong orientation,” he said. “Then you reach out to individual offices. You can work for a House member, a senator, or a committee staff.”
This will be the political enthusiast’s first experience working on the Hill, which actually works in his favor.
“The posting for the fellowship actually says they prefer people who haven’t had experience there,” he said. “I think the general idea is to give academics who have spent years reading and writing the opportunity to get real-world, firsthand experience. That’s something you can’t really replicate.”
As he prepares to move from studying Congress to witnessing it in action, Bynion is ready to bring his academic expertise to the very institution he’s spent years analyzing.
“It’s been very interesting work,” he said. “And I think it’s only going to get more interesting from here.”
“Tim is one of the most promising PhD students I’ve worked with, and the APSA Congressional Fellowship is a perfect fit for him,” said McGrath. “His research on party disloyalty in Congress is already shaping academic debates, and this experience will deepen his understanding of legislative politics. Tim’s sharp intellect, collaborative nature, and ability to bridge theory and practice will make him an asset in any congressional office and a future leader in the field.
“Tim’s selection reflects both his outstanding potential and the strength of our program in preparing students for high-impact careers.”