Deadline: October 16, 2020
Applications for the Nuclear Security Working Group’s Congressional Fellowship Program 2021 are now open. The Nuclear Security Working Group’s Congressional Fellowship program provides highly qualified up-and-coming national security professionals with an opportunity to spend a year working in the United States Congress.
Up to eight Fellows will be placed in an equal number of Democratic and Republican offices in the Senate and House. Fellows work full-time from January 2021 to December 2021, and must commit to the full year.
Responsibilities
- Fellows are treated as a member of the staff and are assigned responsibilities and duties based on the needs of the office.
- Typical Fellow responsibilities include:
- Preparing senior staff and Members/Senators for hearings, meetings, and briefings;
- Sharing their expertise on a range of national security issues, as requested by their supervisors;
- Answering constituent inquiries;
- Contributing to the priorities of their Members/Senators, under the direction of senior office staffers.
- Fellows are also encouraged to forge professional relationships with colleagues with an interest in nuclear/national security issues from both sides of the aisle and deepening their professional relationships with the Washington policy community.
Benefits
- Fellows are awarded a stipend of up to $80,000, based on past experience.
- Fellows receive their stipends as independent contractors, are not eligible for benefits and are not considered employees of the George Washington University or the Congress.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time the Fellowship begins.
- While Fellows do not need extensive experience in nuclear policy, qualified applicants will have a strong record of professional achievement in national security roles in government, the military, academia or the private sector.
- Ideal candidates will also have an advanced degree in a relevant field, including international affairs, economics, defense planning, or a policy-relevant area of the physical sciences.
- If applicants are enrolled in an academic program, they must have completed their studies when the fellowship begins.
- Applicants may not be Federal employees or contractors when the Fellowship begins.
Selection Criteria
Fellows are selected on the basis of
- Professional experience
- Communications skills
- Specialized knowledge and
- Professional references
Application
The application consists of:
- A complete application questionnaire
- A resume
- A one-page statement of interest
- A letter of recommendation from an advisor, professor, or colleague with first-hand knowledge of the individual’s professional experience and qualifications
- (Please note: the application asks applicants to submit information for three professional references, one of whom may also contribute the letter.)
For more information, visit NSWG Congressional Fellowship.
