Gaither/Carnegie Junior Fellowship
Description
The James C. Gaither Junior Fellow Program is a program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a unique global network of policy research centers with the mission to advance the cause of peace through analysis and development of fresh policy ideas and direct engagement with decision makers in government, business, and civil society. It offers 11-13 one-year fellowships to graduating seniors and alumni within a year of graduation to work as research assistants to Carnegie’s senior scholars. Candidates apply to one of approximately twelve topic areas.
Award
The monthly salary is $4000 (equivalent to $48,000 annually) subject to federal, state and local taxes. In addition fellows receive benefits, including medical, dental and life insurance as well as vacation leave. Gaither Junior Fellows will be provided up to $1,500.00 (grossed up for taxes) in relocation support but are otherwise responsible for their own housing arrangements.
Eligibility
- Must attend a participating U.S. university or college
- Must be eligible to work for 12 months in the United States
- Graduating seniors or students who graduated during the last academic year
- All citizenships
Application Materials
- Application form
- An essay of one page or less, double-spaced, on why the student would like to become a junior fellow
- Resume/C.V. (preferably 1-2 pages)
- Two letters of recommendations. These recommendations can come from anyone the student feels can best speak to their abilities as a potential Gaither Junior Fellow.
- Transcript of undergraduate records. The transcript may be unofficial.
- An essay of no more than three (3) typewritten, double-spaced pages on the question specific to the candidate's chosen topic area. This essay is intended to test skills in analysis, logic, and written expression and should be an analytical thought piece, not a research paper.
Selection Criteria
- High academic achievement
- Strong research background
- Excellent writing skills
- A significant amount of course work related to the applicant's chosen topic area
- Some topic areas may have additional requirements, e.g. language proficiency and other skills
How to Apply
- Read about the fellowship online, both on this page and on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace website. Read up on Carnegie on their own page to get a better sense of whether this opportunity is a match for you. If so, send an expression of interest by email to fellowships@wesleyan.edu.
- The official call for applications is typically sent to the Office of Fellowships in mid-October each year. Those who've already expressed interest will receive the details for this year's competition.
- 4-6 weeks before the campus deadline, meet with Office of Fellowships staff to discuss who would make the best recommenders for your application.
- Campus applications are due via the online form in early December and involve a draft version of all application materials. (Campus application form for applications due in December 2024)
- Nominations are made in December and nominees will work with Office of Fellowships staff to revise their application materials in December and during the winter break.
- Final student application materials are due in early January.
- Those selected for an interview at the national level will be contacted by email in March-April.
- Final decisions come out on a rolling basis.
- The fellowship begins in September.