Jenna Mastropolo, 2025 AIP FYI Science Policy News Intern

Biography

SPS Chapter: High Point University
My name is Jenna Mastropolo, and I am a recent graduate from High Point University with a major in chemistry and physics and minor in mathematics. I am from Hamilton, NJ, and excited to be returning to D.C. this summer, this time as the AIP FYI Science Policy News Intern! I have a passion for learning about the intersection of science and government and look forward to experiencing the communications side of science policy!Over the past four years, I have been a part of the High Point University SPS Chapter, the American Chemical Society, and Alpha Chi Sigma. At High Point, I served as an ambassador for the Culp Planetarium and Wanek School of Natural Sciences. I have also participated for the last three years in undergraduate research, where I explored the use of biomimetic patterned surfaces to combat bacterial biofilm growth. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, crocheting, and spending quality time with friends. I am so excited to meet and learn from everyone this summer!

Internship

Host: AIP FYI Science Policy News Intern

Internship Blog

Week 1 – The One with the Return to D.C.

Well, hello! Fancy seeing you here again! If you don’t know me, my name is Jenna Mastropolo, and I am the 2025 AIP FYI Science Policy News Intern. I am originally from the great state of New Jersey, but I just graduated from High Point University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics. I am so excited to return to D.C. as an SPS intern (check out my previous blogs to see what I did last year)! Let’s jump into the week!
Sunday was the big move-in day! My parents and I started bright and early as they helped me move all my stuff in. We unpacked all of my things and still had a good chunk of the day to enjoy the beautiful weather in the city. We ended up going to the National Museum of American History for the day! It’s a neat museum that I would highly recommend if you are ever in the area.
My parents stayed in the city on Sunday night since Monday was Memorial Day. I grabbed a quick breakfast with my mom at Tatte (a chain bakery/coffee shop) and then said my goodbyes to them. I was able to meet two of the interns (Grace and James) later in the day as they accompanied me for a quick Target run. After that quick errand, my roommate Maia moved their stuff in! Maia was an intern with me last year and I am so excited that we get to bunk together this year! That evening, a group of the interns and I met each other before orientation for a little game night.
Tuesday was orientation day. A group of the interns and I took the metro over to the ACP DC office building. I can’t believe I was one of the ones leading the group on where to go when over a year ago, I had no clue where I was. It was great seeing familiar faces and getting to meet the rest of the cohort. I was able to catch up with Jack Hehn, who started the internship program many years ago! We heard some great talks from the Director of SPS, Alejandro, and the AIP Chief Executive Officer, Michael. We got our headshots taken and did some fun activities throughout the day. I was able to meet with my mentor, Jacob, for about an hour before heading home.
Wednesday was the first actual workday. I went into ACP and had a morning and afternoon meeting with the FYI team. Turns out the news never stops! A group of the interns and I had lunch with the Director of Science Policy News (and my boss), Mitch! After a long first day in the office, Riley and I took a quick trip to the mailing center to grab some packages in the rain!
I managed to get a lot of work done on Thursday. I’ve been learning the ins and outs of how the journalism field works and I am excited to jump into it! Since it was the first nice day since being in D.C., those who were in ACP had lunch on the roof! After work, I met up with a former intern, Jaden, for dinner and drinks! It was so great seeing and catching up with him! To finish the night, Maia and I had a small group over to watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives! Great show and I highly recommend it!
On Friday, I wrote my first blurb that might be featured in the FYI newsletter! Most of my day was filled with meetings and small tasks to do, so nothing crazy. All of us interns attended the Trimble Lecture titled “History, Philosophy, and Culture of Black Holes in the Midst” by Peter Galison. Overall, great talk and it was nice catching up with the entire intern cohort and everyone at AIP. After networking for a little bit, we all decided to head over to Tonic for karaoke night and drinks! Looks like we will be frequenting karaoke a lot this year! Lots of laughs made it a nice way to end the day!
On Saturday, Maia, Zhane, and I visited the Museum of Natural History. It’s a great museum that I highly recommend going to if you are ever in the area! We took a quick detour to the wharf and waited out some of the rain before heading home! That evening, Maia, Naomi, and I took the metro all the way up to the University of Maryland. Jack was so kind enough to invite us to the opening night of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival. Maia and I went last year and the group of students who perform are so incredible. Sunday morning, Maia, Grace, Saniya, and I went to the Dupont Farmers Market and did a quick grocery run to Trader Joe’s! We ended the first week with delicious cookies from Maia and watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives! It was a great first week back in the nation’s capital, and I look forward to the next nine!

Week 2 – The One With All the Muppets

Wow week two already!

Monday was a typical day at ACP. I got a decent amount of work done, which I was happy with. My first blurb on the State of Science address was published in the FYI weekly on Monday. That evening, Maia and I joined a few interns for trivia night at Tonic. Our team name was of course ‘Kermit to the bit’ (shoutout to Kalen and Maia). We ate some tots and placed fourth overall, so I would say it was a good evening!

Tuesday was an exciting day! I went to ACP in the morning and was able to meet up with my mentor!! FYI hosts another intern during the summer so I was able to meet with her and my mentor for lunch! In the afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending the State of Science address by National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt. I thought it was an interesting talk, but it did raise a few questions from me. I ended up going to bed early that night.

Wednesday was a quiet day in the office, as it was only Riley, James and I. Riley and I helped James pick out a suit during lunch. I think we did a decent job helping (even if we were a little distracted at times). On Wednesdays, the Wharf hosts Rock the Dock so a few of us headed that way to enjoy the sunset, play some cornhole, and eat some delicious ice cream!

One may think that a group of physicists don’t know how to party. One would be highly mistaken though. Thursday morning was spent getting more and more work done. I really like my job and the FYI team. They’re all super nice and I get to learn so much about journalism and keep up with the news. Thursday evening was our dinner cruise!! I was able to catch up with Jack (who I adore) and some other of the SPS/AIP execs. We finished the night wi good food, dancing, and some interesting

Nothing crazy happened on Friday. After a long day at work, James, JJ, Grace, Naomi, and I took a quick trip to the TJ Maxx across the street from the office. I heated up some leftovers from the office, and Maia made some delicious custard to end the night.

Saturday turned out to be a super eventful day! Grace, James, Kavin, Maia, and I took a trip to a bookstore and had some coffee and pastries! We took a trip to the National Museum of African American History which was really good! Since it was right next door, we had to go see Fozzie Bear in the Museum of American History as well. If you didn’t know this, Maia LOVES the Muppets (rightfully so), so we were able to take Kermit The Frog on a little adventure. Maia and I made burger bowls in the evening and had Grace, JJ, and James over to watch The Muppets in which we were serenaded with Man or Muppet by James and Maia. To end the week, I spent most of Sunday cooking and cleaning. Grace, James, and JJ came over for a delicious pasta meal and Grace made brownies!

Overall, it was a 10/10 week, but it’s not always easy being green.

Week 3 – The One With the Quick Trip Home

They say home is where the heart is, but I’m not sure if that is entirely true. I love spending time with my family, but the city brings me so much comfort as well.

This week was a slow and easy going week. Not much happened for me in the city, minus a few things. The entire week I spent going into the ACP office, getting tons of work done and yapping with Riley, Grace, and James when needed. I really like my job and the fast changing events that come with it! Who knew journalism could be so much fun?!

Some highlights this week:

• Happy hour with Grace, James, and Riley
• Trip to the Mall
• Last minute trip home for Father’s Day!
• Seeing family and friends in Jersey
• TopGolf with my parents and brother!

Not a crazy week but still enjoyable and filled with comfort.

Week 4 – The One Where Maia and I Got Lost in a Museum

Summer contains the longest day of the year. However, why do the summer days seem to be the shortest? Is it because we enjoy ourselves so much during this season that the days just fly by? I guess one will never know.

This week contained some of the greatest trips so far. I won’t bore you with all of the work details but I really have been enjoying my position. The team I work with is great and understanding how journalism works has been so much fun!

Wednesday, the interns and I took a trip up to my old stomping grounds aka NIST! I forgot how long that metro trip was, but it was so worth it. I was able to see so many of my old coworkers including Brad! During our tour we were able to see the NIST Center for Neutron Research and the anechoic chamber! I really liked the anechoic chamber!

We all had off on Thursday for the holiday. A group of the interns and I ended up going to the Air and Space Museum. I can’t wait for them to open the rest of the museum! Overall, it was great getting into some air conditioning during a hot day.

On Friday, Grace was able to snag Jazz in the Garden tickets, so her, Kalen, Zhane and I went! I forgot how much I enjoyed this event and how blissful it can be. Before we left for jazz, we stopped at Tatte for some sandwiches to enjoy.

Every year the Smithsonian’s host a night out where they hold the museums open at night! We weren’t able to go last year as we had to attend Astronomy on the Mall but this year, Maia and I were able to go see what the night is all about! We had so much fun! The museums have a bunch of music playing and fun colored lights outside! We did however end up lost in the National Museum of Asian Art. Little did we know that the museum is connected to the National Museum of African Art underground…. It was quite a trip. James ended up joining us later in the evening.

I dream every night about our Sunday activities. My favorite event in DC (and a must do if you’re here in June) is the BBQ Battle down by the Capitol. Wow is all I have to say. While the heat was blasting, the amount of food that I consumed was well worth it. There are tons of vendors who give out free samples. 10/10 event and will find a way to go again next year. We celebrated James’ birthday that evening with some ice cream cake!

It was a fun filled week to say the least!

Week 5 – The One With Codenames

Someone queue up “Livin on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi because woah we’re halfway there.

This week hasn’t been that crazy of a week! Not much happened this week so nothing to really report home about. Here is the breakdown:

• Grace, Riley, Maia, and I have been watching this season of Love Island so most of our nights have been catching up on that. I can confidently say we are really enjoying this season!
• Tuesday evening, a group of us attended happy hour at a bar called The Board Room! It’s a bar that has a ton of board games that you can play! We ended up playing Codenames and can also confidently say that Riley, Kalen, and I make one great team.
• On Thursday, Maia and I attended an all day meeting at ACP with the content and engagement team at AIP. I actually had a blast doing all of the activities that we had to do and meeting new people who FYI works closely with! Maia and I had the chance to attend happy hour with everyone after!
• Saturday afternoon, Maia, Grace, Riley, Naomi, and I took a walk to Georgetown. We stopped at a fantastic French bakery for pastries and coffee, did some book shopping and visited a few clothing stores. Saturday night, Riley, Maia and I went to a little hideaway bar in Eastern Market for drinks!
• Sunday, Riley, Grace, James, and I took on the zoo! I always love going to the zoo and this time I was able to see the Giant Pandas! We also saw a baby gorilla and some sleepy lions. After braving the heat, I took a quick trip to Whole Foods for some groceries.

While it doesn’t seem like much, the week was still entertaining! Five more to go!