Overview

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a global network of policy research centers in Russia, China, Europe, the Middle East, India, and the United States. We are more than 150 thinkers and doers from diverse disciplines and perspectives spread across more than twenty countries and six global centers working together as one network to advance international peace. In an increasingly crowded, chaotic, and contested world and marketplace of ideas, the Carnegie Endowment offers decisionmakers global, independent, and strategic insight and innovative ideas that advance international peace.

The James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is designed to provide a substantive research internship experience for graduating senior students (or recent alumni within 1 year of graduation) who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Approximately 13 students will be hired to work as employees at Carnegie in Washington, DC on a full-time basis for a period of one year.

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows provide research assistance to scholars working in Carnegie programs (see the “Research Areas” menu on Carnegie’s website). Gaither Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for books, co-author journal articles and policy papers, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony, and organize briefings attended by scholars, journalists, and government officials.

Diversity Initiative: As an organization dedicated to pursuing global engagement and peace, we believe Carnegie’s work is enriched and should be informed by a diverse array of perspectives. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community among staff and partners and on our public platform, and we encourage diverse candidates to apply.

Eligibility

Class standing: Applicants must be seniors intending to graduate by July 31, or bachelor’s degree students who have graduated from UNL during the last academic year. Anyone who has started graduate studies is ineligible for consideration (except in cases where the student has completed a joint bachelor’s/master’s degree program).

Citizenship: You need not be a U.S. citizen if you attend a university located in the United States. However, all applicants must be eligible to work in the United States for a full twelve months from approximately August 1 through July 31 following graduation. Students on F-1 visas who are eligible to work in the United States for the full year may apply for the program.

Selection Criteria

Applicants should have completed a significant amount of coursework, as well as research activities, related to their discipline of interest. Language and other skills may also be required for certain assignments.

Applications are judged on the quality of the written essay, related academic study and/or work experience, grades, recommendations, and personal
interviews.

Prior Research Experience

At least 6 months of prior research experience, typically in the social sciences or related fields, is strongly recommended. Discuss graduate degree goals, potential subfields/specializations, and research topic interests with mentors prior to application. Advice from mentors as you develop your essays is important for producing a competitive application.

Undergraduates with a close relationship with faculty mentors and/or with graduate and postdoctoral students in their own research group are significantly more likely to win funding. Our staff believe this is due to receiving multiple rounds of feedback on the research essay. Fellowship advisor feedback is not a substitute for, but a complement to, feedback from experts in your own discipline.

If you do not already have research experience, consider planning for participation in UNL Undergraduate Research Programs prior to application to the Junior Fellows program.

Selection Process

The national selection process for the program is very competitive. Approximately 5 percent of applicants are ultimately selected for positions.

Approximately three to four applicants per position are chosen for interview. “Finalists” are interviewed in February and early March. Those not selected for interview will be notified during the month of February. “Finalists” will be notified of selection/non-selection by March 31st.

Endorsement (Nomination) Requirements

UNL may nominate up to two students annually. We may nominate a 3rd student if one or more of the nominated students is from a historically underrepresented minority group. No direct student applications will be considered.

Campus nomination can be internally competitive in some years. In December, our committee nominates students on the strengths of a first draft of all application components, including essays and references. Both nominated students and their reference writers have the opportunity to revise materials prior to final submission in early January.

Benefits

All fellowships will begin on August 1, 2022. Gaither Junior Fellows are hired for a period of approximately one year.

The semi-monthly salary is $1,791.67 (equivalent to $43,000 annually) subject to federal, state and local taxes. A generous benefits package is provided, including medical, dental and life insurance as well as vacation leave. Gaither Junior Fellows are responsible for their own housing arrangements.

Overview

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a global network of policy research centers in Russia, China, Europe, the Middle East, India, and the United States. We are more than 150 thinkers and doers from diverse disciplines and perspectives spread across more than twenty countries and six global centers working together as one network to advance international peace. In an increasingly crowded, chaotic, and contested world and marketplace of ideas, the Carnegie Endowment offers decisionmakers global, independent, and strategic insight and innovative ideas that advance international peace.

The James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is designed to provide a substantive research internship experience for graduating senior students (or recent alumni within 1 year of graduation) who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Approximately 13 students will be hired to work as employees at Carnegie in Washington, DC on a full-time basis for a period of one year.

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows provide research assistance to scholars working in Carnegie programs (see the "Research Areas" menu on Carnegie's website). Gaither Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for books, co-author journal articles and policy papers, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony, and organize briefings attended by scholars, journalists, and government officials.

Diversity Initiative: As an organization dedicated to pursuing global engagement and peace, we believe Carnegie’s work is enriched and should be informed by a diverse array of perspectives. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community among staff and partners and on our public platform, and we encourage diverse candidates to apply.

Eligibility

Class standing: Applicants must be seniors intending to graduate by July 31, or bachelor's degree students who have graduated from UNL during the last academic year. Anyone who has started graduate studies is ineligible for consideration (except in cases where the student has completed a joint bachelor’s/master’s degree program).

Citizenship: You need not be a U.S. citizen if you attend a university located in the United States. However, all applicants must be eligible to work in the United States for a full twelve months from approximately August 1 through July 31 following graduation. Students on F-1 visas who are eligible to work in the United States for the full year may apply for the program.

Selection Criteria

Applicants should have completed a significant amount of coursework, as well as research activities, related to their discipline of interest. Language and other skills may also be required for certain assignments.

Applications are judged on the quality of the written essay, related academic study and/or work experience, grades, recommendations, and personal
interviews.

Prior Research Experience

At least 6 months of prior research experience, typically in the social sciences or related fields, is strongly recommended. Discuss graduate degree goals, potential subfields/specializations, and research topic interests with mentors prior to application. Advice from mentors as you develop your Carnegie essays is important for producing a competitive application.

Undergraduates with a close relationship with faculty mentors and/or with graduate and postdoctoral students in their own research group are significantly more likely to win funding. Our staff believe this is due to receiving multiple rounds of feedback on the research essay. Fellowship advisor feedback is not a substitute for, but a complement to, feedback from experts in your own discipline.

If you do not already have research experience, consider planning for participation in UNL Undergraduate Research Programs prior to application to the Junior Fellows program.

Endorsement (Nomination) Requirements

UNL may nominate up to two students annually. We may nominate a 3rd student if one or more of the nominated students is from a historically underrepresented minority group. No direct student applications will be considered.

Benefits

All fellowships will begin on August 1, 2022. Gaither Junior Fellows are hired for a period of approximately one year.

The semi-monthly salary is $1,791.67 (equivalent to $43,000 annually) subject to federal, state and local taxes. A generous benefits package is provided, including medical, dental and life insurance as well as vacation leave. Gaither Junior Fellows are responsible for their own housing arrangements.

Campus Deadline: November 9, 2021

(for 2022-23 internship applicants)

Carnegie Applicant Advising & Endorsement Services

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Office of National & International Fellowships (NIF) promotes the Junior Fellows research internship on campus and provides advising and endorsement services to graduating senior and recent alumni applicants.

Prospective Carnegie Junior Fellows applicants should email Ms. Courtney Santos, Director of National & International Fellowships (courtney.santos@unl.edu) by early November.

After contacting NIF, eligible applicants will receive access to a Canvas course with resources for preparing an effective Junior Fellows application.

The campus endorsement (nomination) deadline is in early December each year. An internal committee composed of faculty and/or staff from various scientific disciplines, reviews the application to determine endorsement and provide feedback for the final revision to the candidate. The candidate then prepares and submits the final draft by our internal deadline, in early January, allowing our staff to upload the endorsement form and submit the complete application by the Carnegie national deadline.

Prospective Junior Fellows applicants are encouraged to make an appointment to meet with NIF advisors to discuss application strategy during the process of preparing the application.

Reference writers with questions may also email Ms. Courtney Santos, Director of National & International Fellowships (courtney.santos@unl.edu).