The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellowships are an extraordinary opportunity to work for a year in Washington, DC as a paid research assistant to some of the world's best scholars in the realm of international relations. According to the institution's website, "Junior Fellows provide research assistance to scholars, working on Carnegie Endowment's projects, which change year to year.  Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for books, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize briefings attended by scholars, activists, journalists and government officials." A Grinnell alum who served as a Junior Fellow, Geoff Swenson '03, compared it to attending a university with 40 professors and eight students. Fellows have the chance to work closely with senior scholars, to think deeply about international relations, and to publish their thoughts. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is one of the leading think-tanks in Washington, highly respected throughout the world for its thoughtful, academic responses to international crises. Junior Fellows are paid $36,000 in addition to a competitive benefits package. For the 2012-13 program year, Carnegie filled Junior Fellow positions in the following fields:

  • Democracy/Rule of Law – Political Science background preferred.
  • Middle East Studies – Native or near-native Arabic language skills essential.
  • International Economics - Economics background required
  • Nuclear Policy
  • South Asian Studies – Applicants should be comfortable with quantitative data manipulation as well as possess an interest in military issues.
  • South East Asian Studies
  • Energy and Climate
  • Asia (China) Studies – Mandarin Chinese reading skills a huge plus.
  • Russian/Eurasian Studies – Excellent Russian language skills required.

Carnegie FAQ

Eligibility

Members of the classes of 2012 and 2011 are eligible to apply, as long as they have not yet begun graduate studies. International students may apply as long as they are eligible to work in the US from August 1, 2012 through July 31, 2013, which typically means being here on an F-1 visa. The average Junior Fellow has a 3.7 GPA and significant coursework in international relations, history, political science, economics, Russian, Arabic, or Chinese. International experience, such as a semester abroad, is preferred, as are candidates who plan a career related to International Relations. Independent study, such as a MAP, or assisting a professor with research (especially in a field related to IR) is also a great help, but is not required. Applicants must be nominated by their undergraduate institution (see below for nomination process).

Selection Criteria

According to the Carnegie website, "Applications are judged on the quality of the written essay, related academic study and/or work experience, grades, recommendations, and personal interviews." The three-page essay is by a key factor in being invited to an interview (assuming good grades and a demonstrated interest in international relations), and the interview is key to obtaining the Fellowship.

The Application Process

Grinnell may nominate two applicants for this opportunity. Applications for our nominations are due on Monday, November 14, 2011 by 5:00pm in 1233 Park St. Because the CRSSJ (1233 Park St.), which houses the Office of Social Commitment, is inaccessible to students with mobility disabilities, please contact soccom@grinnell.edu if you would like to make alternative plans to submit your application materials. A completed application will consist of the following elements:

  • A completed Carnegie Junior Fellows application form
  • A one-page, double-spaced essay on why you would like to become a Junior Fellow.
  • A one- or two-page resume, including telephone number, address, extra-curricular activities and work experience.
  • Two letters of recommendation, submitted directly to Doug Cutchins, 1233 Park St. One of these should be from the candidate's major department.
  • A copy of your transcript, obtained from the Registrar's Office. This may be an unofficial copy, but should not be a copy printed off from PioneerWeb.
  • A signed Scholarship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver from Grinnell College.
  • An essay of no more than three (3) typewritten, double-spaced pages on one of the following topics. These topics are intended to test skills in analysis, logic, and written expression. The essays should be thought pieces, not research papers. Students should submit an essay related to their primary research program interests, although the Carnegie Endowment may ultimately select an applicant for a program outside of his/her designated primary interest or make an assignment to more than one program. Applicants must respond to the question pertaining to the program to which they are applying.

A. Democracy Program. Public condemnations of human rights abuses, economic sanctions, and other forms of punishment and distancing are not effective ways to support democracy in autocratic countries. The United States should instead seek to promote evolutionary democratic change in dictatorships by supporting societal engagement, educational exchanges, diplomatic engagement, etc. Do you agree or disagree and why?

B. Nuclear Policy Program. By the year 2015 do you think there will be more than the current nine countries with nuclear weapons? If so, which ones, and why? If not, why are people who fear this wrong?

C. Energy & Climate Program. With climate change an increasingly present reality, the need to reduce carbon emissions also mounts. One obvious strategy is to price carbon emissions at their externalized marginal cost to society. Yet, with a cap-and-trade bill politically off the table, and anti-tax sentiment in the nation’s capital running high, new taxes that increase consumer tax obligations are also not in favor. What are some options for moving forward with a domestic carbon pricing given these constraints, and how could they be structured to make them more acceptable across the political spectrum?

D. International Economics. In an increasingly globalized international economy, nations interact in many ways, though four arenas appear to be especially important: trade, financial flows, migration, and the global commons (e.g., climate change, fisheries in international waters, internet security, etc.). Pick any one of the above mentioned arenas and address the issues nations confront in maximizing the benefits from their interaction and the effectiveness of international coordination in the arena.

E. Middle East Program. The popular uprisings that have shaken the Arab world during 2011 have similar causes, but are unlikely to lead to different outcomes in each country. Discuss.

F. South Asia Program. What major consequences and repercussions will the rise of India have for regional security?

G. Southeast Asia Program. China together with the more dynamic economies of Southeast Asia have performed exceptionally well despite the global financial crisis. Is this likely to persist even if there is a major recession in the U.S. and Europe? [Those interested in either the Southeast Asia Program or the Asia (China) Program should respond to the same question.]

G. Asia (China) Program. China together with the more dynamic economies of Southeast Asia have performed exceptionally well despite the global financial crisis. Is this likely to persist even if there is a major recession in the U.S. and Europe? [Those interested in either the Southeast Asia Program or the Asia (China) Program should respond to the same question.]

H. Russia/Eurasia Program. The former Soviet region has been the focus of tensions between and among the United States, Europe and Russia for two decades, with hot button issues over trade, borders, citizenship, NATO and EU expansion, and “spheres of influence”. Focusing on one geographic or thematic area, what concrete steps can be taken by the key players to reduce tensions?

For the on-campus nomination process, please ensure that all application materials comply with these submission guidelines. Our nominating committee, comprised of professors from the Political Science and Economics departments, will interview applicants in early December and announce our two nominees before winter break. Applications are due to the Carnegie Endowment in mid-January. Candidates must apply through Grinnell College and may not apply independently.

Ethical Guidelines

All applicants are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines.

Grinnell's History

In recent years Grinnell has a strong history of success with this program. Though only 10-15% of the 200 applicants are invited to interview for the eight Fellowships each year, five of Grinnell's last fourteen nominees have been finalists, and three of those five were selected as Fellows. Your undergraduate experience and education has prepared you exceptionally well for this opportunity, and you should be confident that you will be a good candidate if you are interested in applying.

For More Information

For more information on this opportunity, or to have questions answered about the application process, please contact Doug Cutchins, x4408, 1233 Park St. Candidates should not contact the Carnegie Endowment directly. Candidates may, though, contact Grinnell alumni Geoff Swenson '03 (gswenson@gmail.com) or Gretchen Lay '07 (gretchen.lay@gmail.com) to learn more about their experiences as Carnegie Junior Fellows.