AIP State Department Fellowship

SEP 11, 2012

Are you interested in the interface between science and technology and international affairs? Issues involving S&T are an important part of the U.S.’s diplomatic portfolio, making it essential for the U.S. Department of State to have knowledgeable scientific input. 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 by spending a year working at the U.S. State Department.

Qualified scientists at any stage of their career are encouraged to apply. 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. Final interviews will take place early in 2013 and the 12-month Fellowship term will begin in September 2013.

For information on AIP’s Fellowship program qualifications and application instructions, please visit our website .

What do AIP Fellows work on during their terms at the State Department?

AIP Fellows have worked on topics as varied as critical infrastructure protection, export controls, use of remote sensing imagery, biotechnology and the safety of agricultural products, emerging S&T issues, European and Russian science policy, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. AIP’s first State Department Fellow, George Atkinson, subsequently served for several years as the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State.

History and Application Information

AIP’s Fellowship program, the first of its kind, was established in 2001 to help enhance the scientific and technical capabilities of the State Department. AIP’s Fellowship is run under the auspices of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science and Technology Policy Fellowships. AIP receives an annual contribution from the American Astronomical Society to help support its State Department Science Fellowship.

AIP does not take a role in the Fellow’s placement, but does encourage its Fellows to seek opportunities 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.

Application components include a letter of intent, resume and three letters of recommendation. Developing a clear, comprehensive and competitive application takes significant time. Start early and contact your references as soon as possible. All application materials must be received by the November 1 deadline.

Please see our website or contact Jennifer Greenamoyer (jgreenamoyer@aip.org , 301-209-3104 ) if you have questions or need additional information.