Just as Congress needs input from scientists as its decisions affect
national policy on issues ranging from energy and climate to export
controls and homeland security, so too does the U.S. Department of State
need scientific and technological expertise as it addresses such issues
in the context of the nation's foreign policy. Through its State Department
Science Fellowship program, the American Institute of Physics offers
an opportunity for scientists to make a unique and substantial contribution
to the foreign policy process.
AIP is now seeking applicants for the 2006-2007 State Department Fellowship.
Qualified scientists at any stage of their career are encouraged to
apply. Information on applying for the 2006-2007 Fellowship term by
the November 1 deadline is provided below. Interested readers
can also see our web site at http://www.aip.org/gov/sdf.html
for more information on the program.
The AIP State Department Science Fellowship enables scientists to spend
a year working in a bureau or office of the U.S. Department of State.
The Fellows not only learn about, but become actively involved in, the
foreign policy process, while contributing their scientific and technical
expertise and analytical capabilities to the Department. AIP's Fellowship
program, the first of its kind, was established in 2001, in response
to concerns within the scientific community that the State Department's
scientific and technical capabilities were in decline. These concerns
were forcefully articulated in an October 1999 report by a National
Research Council panel, which declared that scientific and technological
developments "cannot be isolated from the fundamental workings
of foreign policy." Since 2001, several other scientific and engineering
societies have followed AIP's lead and established their own fellowships
in the State Department.
The AIP Fellowship is run under the auspices of the Association for
the Advancement of Science's Science and Technology Policy Fellowships.
Currently, AIP receives an annual contribution from the American Astronomical
Society to help support its State Department Science Fellowship.
AIP's 2005-2006 State Department Fellow, Tegan Blaine, will start her
Fellowship after completing a PhD in Oceanography at the University
of California's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She will serve
her Fellowship in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental
and Scientific Affairs (OES), working on sustainable development, particularly
as it pertains to water issues. Current and former AIP State Department
Science Fellows have worked in the Bureaus of Intelligence and Research,
European and Eurasian Affairs, Political-Military Affairs, Economic
and Business Affairs, Information Resource Management, and OES. Their
portfolios have included topics as varied as emerging S&T issues,
European and Russian science policy, the World Summit on Sustainable
Development, critical infrastructure protection, export controls, use
of remote sensing imagery, biotechnology and the safety of agricultural
products. AIP's first State Department Science Fellow, George Atkinson,
is now serving as Science and Technology Adviser to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice. AIP encourages its Fellows to seek beyond the traditional
roles for scientists in the department when interviewing for an assignment,
to broaden the reach and visibility of scientific expertise within the
Department.
TO APPLY FOR THE 2006-2007 AIP STATE DEPARTMENT FELLOWSHIP:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have a PhD in physics or a closely
related field, be members of one or more of AIP's ten Member Societies,
and be eligible to receive an appropriate security clearance prior to
starting the Fellowship. (In exceptional cases the PhD requirement may
be waived for outstanding applicants with equivalent research experience.)
Qualified scientists at any stage of their career will be considered.
Once selected, the Fellow will work with the State Department to arrange
an assignment. The following materials should be submitted by mail or
email to be considered for the Fellowship selection:
COVER SHEET, with name, address, phone, email, U.S. citizenship,
PhD status, AIP Member Society membership, and names of references.
Please indicate where you learned about this program.
LETTER OF INTENT, limited to two pages, indicating your reason
for applying, scientific background, foreign policy interest or experience,
and why you think you would be effective in this position.
RESUME, limited to two pages, with no more than 3 to 5 major
publications listed.
THREE LETTERS OF REFERENCE should be submitted by those having
direct knowledge of the applicant's character, competence, and attributes
that would make the candidate suitable for this position.
ALL MATERIALS may be submitted by email or by mail (postmarked by
November 1, 2005) to Audrey T. Leath at:
AIP State Department Science Fellowship
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740-3843
Email: aleath@aip.org
Fax: 301-209-0846
Please see our website at http://www.aip.org/gov/sdf.html
or contact Audrey Leath (aleath@aip.org, 301-209-3094) if you have questions
or need additional information.
Enlarge text
Shrink text
Print
E-mail
Digg this
Del.icio.us
Furl