South Asia Junior Fellowship Program

 South Asia Program Junior Fellowship 

The Henry L. Stimson Center’s South Asia Program welcomes applications from highly motivated graduating seniors or individuals who have completed their undergraduate or master’s degree in the past year for its 2021-2022 cohort of Junior Fellows. 

  

Purpose 

The one-year, full-time fellowship will provide individuals with a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge of security issues in the subcontinent, engage the South Asia policy community in Washington and the region, and experience working at a dynamic think tank that provides close interaction with senior staff and researchers. Junior Fellows will receive a salary of $37,000 for the full year as well as health insurance and transit benefits for the duration of the fellowship. 

Junior Fellows will support the Stimson South Asia Program’s efforts to research, analyze, and inform policymakers about the evolving dynamics of deterrence, conflict risks, military modernization, and great-power competition in Southern Asia. Fellows will be expected to support research, publications, and programmatic efforts (including South Asian Voices,Strategic Learning, and public events and workshops). They will receive professional development opportunities to engage with leading scholars and practitioners in the field, to represent Stimson at scholarly and policy convenings, to hone technical and analytical skills, and to conduct, present, and publish their own research. 

The Stimson South Asia Junior Fellowship will help emerging analysts develop the research, analytical, writing, and project management skills required to succeed in fields related to peace and security in South Asia.  

 

Selection Criteria  

Requirements 

• A strong background in: South Asian politics, economics, or security; strategic studies and nuclear issues; international relations theory; or other social sciences. 
• Demonstrated analytical, research, and writing skills. 
• Ability to work independently and to collaborate with peers in a team environment. 
• A record of academic excellence. 
• Bachelor’s degree. All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States for the full twelve months of the fellowship following graduation. 

 

Desirable Skills/Experience 

• Precise editing skills (work experience in university writing center or newspaper a plus). 
• Experience living/working in South Asia and/or working in intercultural settings. 
• Hindi, Urdu, or Mandarin (or other relevant) language skills. 
• Data science skills. 
• Event and/or project management experience. 
• Web management experience/skills. 

 

 

Application Materials 

• A one-page cover letter laying out the candidate’s research interests and career goals. Applicants should discuss how they can contribute to the mission and work of the Stimson South Asia Program and how the Stimson South Asia Junior Fellowship would contribute to their long-term professional growth. 
• A two-page maximum curriculum vitae or resume including all educational qualifications, study abroad experience, and extracurricular activities, as well as any work experience to date.
• Unofficial transcript(s) with academic record of undergraduate and Master’s (if applicable) coursework and study abroad experience.
• One letter of recommendation from a professor or former employer explaining what qualifications, skills, and experiences make the candidate a good fit for the fellowship; 
• A writing sample of no more than two pages on a topic related to South Asian political or security issues. 

  

Letters of recommendation should be emailed to southasiaadmin@stimson.org with the subject line “Stimson South Asia Junior Fellowship—Last name of applicant.” All other application materials should be submitted as PDF documents through Stimson’s online application system.  

  

Selection Process 

Completed applications are due February 15, 2021. Interviews will be conducted soon after, and final decisions will be communicated in March. Applicants selected for interview may be required to complete one or more short research, editing, and/or writing assignments as part of the evaluation process. The fellowship will begin in August 2021 (start date flexible) and continue for 12 months.