Fellowship Enables Scientists to Work in State Department; Deadline Extended

To scientists interested in foreign policy and international relations: There is still time to apply to a program that Secretary of State Colin Powell has praised as “making a real difference” in the work of the State Department. The application deadline for the 2003-4 AIP State Department Science Fellowship has been extended to allow applicants additional time to submit the required materials.

All application materials must now be postmarked by NOVEMBER 8, 2002. Materials can also be emailed or faxed; please see below for instructions.

Both Secretary Powell and his Science and Technology Adviser, Dr. Norman Neureiter, have commended the AIP Fellowship program. “The American Institute of Physics has recently become a pacesetter by establishing with us the first paid science diplomat fellowship program of any professional society,” Neureiter remarked last year. In an April 30 speech to the National Academy of Sciences, Powell said “We still have far too few officers with strong science backgrounds, but thanks to the National Academies and others in the scientific community such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Physics...a small group of scientific fellows have joined our ranks, and their numbers will grow.... Scientists, volunteers have graciously put their own research on hold...to perform tours of duty in many of the State Department’s bureaus, and they are making a real difference.”

With this Fellowship program, at least one scientist is selected annually to spend a year working in a bureau or office of the State Department, contributing scientific knowledge and expertise to the formulation of the nation’s foreign policy. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have a PhD (or equivalent research experience) 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. The 2003-4 Fellow will work with the State Department to arrange an assignment, most likely beginning in the summer or fall of 2003.

Current and former AIP State Department Science Fellows have contributed to the work of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation. Their portfolios have included topics as varied as emerging S&T issues, European and Russian science policy, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and critical infrastructure protection.

TO APPLY: The following materials should be submitted by mail, email, or fax to be considered for the Fellowship selection:

COVER SHEET, indicating name, address, phone, email, U.S. citizenship, PhD status, AIP Member Society membership, and names of references.

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, by fax, or by mail (postmarked by November 8, 2002) 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 the AIP State Department Science Fellowship website or contact Audrey T. Leath (aleath@aip.org , 301-209-3094) if you have questions or need additional information.

If you are interested in this program, please send in your application materials. There is still time!