Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Junior Fellows Program

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Program Purpose: 

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Founded in 1910, its work is nonpartisan and dedicated to achieving practical results.

Program Description and Benefits: 

The Carnegie Endowment is pioneering the first global think tank, with flourishing offices now in Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Beirut, and Brussels. These five locations include the centers of world governance and the places whose political evolution and international policies will most determine the near-term possibilities for international peace and economic advancement.

Each year, through the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows program, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace offers approximately 11-13 one-year fellowships to uniquely qualified graduating seniors and individuals who have graduated during the past academic year. They are selected from a pool of nominees nominated by several hundred participating universities and colleges. James C. Gaither Junior Fellows work as research assistants to Carnegie’s senior scholars. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for books, co-author journal articles and policy papers, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony, and organize briefings attended by scholars, activists, journalists and government officials. Junior Fellows spend one year (beginning August 1st) at Carnegie in Washington, DC working with Carnegie’s senior scholars.

Program Benefits: 

Positions are paid, full-time positions for one year. The current salary is $1,666.67 per semi-monthly pay period ($40,000 per year). A full benefits package is also provided.

Application Process: 

Approximately three to four applicants per position are chosen for interview. “Finalists” are interviewed in February and early March.

Applicant Profile: 

Relevant foreign language proficiency may be required for positions specializing in certain topics or geopolitical regions. Some positions require applicants to have majored in particular disciplines.

Eligibility: 

Applicants must be graduating seniors or alums who have graduated during the last academic year. No one who has started graduate studies is eligible for consideration. Applicants of any nationality are eligible if they have attended a U.S. institution. U.S. citizens who have graduated from a university outside the U.S. are also eligible. All applicants, including international students on F-1 visas, must be eligible to work in the United States for a full twelve months following graduation: from August 1 through July 31.

Selection Criteria: 

The Junior Fellows Program is highly competitive with about 5% of applicants ultimately being selected. Applications are judged on the quality of the written essay, related academic study and/or work experience, grades, recommendations, and personal interviews.

Program Deadline: 

The national deadline, does not apply to applicants, who must apply for nomination by the campus deadline.

University Deadline: 

November 15 annually. If this date falls on a weekend, the campus deadline is Noon on the following Monday.

More information: 

Projects may include:

• Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
• U.S. Foreign Policy and Diplomacy—The Junior Fellow will support Carnegie Endowment President Ambassador William J. Burns on research and writing that seeks to shape American diplomacy. Applicants should have coursework in U.S. foreign policy, broad-gauged regional lens, an interest in policy analysis and formulation, and superb writing skills.
• Nuclear Policy
• Technology and International Affairs (including the Cyber Policy Initiative)
• Middle East—Strong reading fluency and the ability to do academic as well as online research in Arabic essential. Strong background in Middle East politics and/or history is a huge plus.
• South Asia—A strong academic background in international relations theory, political theory, or international political economy is essential, along with an interest in military issues. The ability to perform quantitative data manipulation is required and a strong mathematical background is a plus.
• China (Asia Program)—Mandarin Chinese reading skills a huge plus.
• Japan (Asia Program)—Japanese reading skills required.
• Economics (Asia Program)—Mandarin Chinese reading skills a huge plus. Strong background in economics essential. Please note: Applicants for the Asia program with skills in two or more of the above areas (Chinese language skills, Japanese language skills, strong economics background) will be at an advantage when applying, regardless of their essay selection.
• Russia and Eurasia—Excellent Russian reading skills required.
• Geoeconomics and Strategy—The Junior Fellow will support the senior fellows with research and writing that seeks to shed light on how the future of U.S. foreign policy is shaped by economic challenges at home and abroad. The Junior Fellow will also provide program coordination support, including budgets, travel, and events. Applicants should have coursework related to U.S. foreign policy and international economic policy, as well as a strong interest and skills in research, data collection and analysis, and program coordination/administration.

How To Apply: 

This program requires institutional nomination. Students may not apply directly to the foundation or program. Instead, applicants must apply through the University by the campus deadline. Please note that University nomination is not guaranteed. Applicants are encouraged to work with Fellowships Office well in advance of the internal deadline to perfect their application essays and other materials.