Fellowship Areas: AAAS Diplomacy Fellowships

Program:	Fellows spend one year working either in: one of several bureaus of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State (State), the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), or the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (FIC). Individuals will be selected whose scientific and technical backgrounds can contribute to international affairs, foreign policy, international development, or advancing medical research through international cooperation. The program includes an orientation on international affairs and executive branch and congressional operations, and a year-long seminar series on issues involving science, technology and public policy.
Purpose:	The fellowships are designed to provide a unique, internationally-oriented public policy learning experience; to demonstrate the value of science and technology in addressing important societal and foreign policy concerns; and to make practical contributions to the more effective use of scientific and technical knowledge in the foreign affairs and international development programs of the U.S. government.
Criteria:	A prospective Fellow must demonstrate exceptional competence in: some area of science or engineering (multi-disciplinary experience is especially valued); be cognizant of the ways in which science and technology affect a broad range of international development and foreign policy issues; communicate and work effectively with decision-makers and others outside of the scientific and engineering communities; exhibit a willingness and flexibility to tackle problems in a number of nonscientific areas; demonstrate sensitivity toward political, economic and social issues; and have some experience and/or strong interest in applying knowledge toward the solution of problems in the area of foreign affairs, international development, or advancing medical research through international cooperation. Applications are invited from individuals in any physical, biological, or social science, any field of engineering or any relevant interdisciplinary field. All applicants must have a PhD, MD or an equivalent doctoral-level degree by the application deadline. Individuals with a master's degree in engineering and at least three years of post-degree professional experience may apply. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Federal employees are not eligible.
Award:	In cooperation with the four participating agencies, AAAS selects 15 or more Diplomacy Fellows each year. The fellowships are one-year appointments, potentially renewable for a second year. Annual stipends will begin at approximately $65,000 for the 2007-2008 fellowship year, with provision for health insurance and professional travel. The fellowship assignments provide international travel opportunities. The fellowship awards at State, USAID and USDA require the recipient to obtain a security clearance. The continuation of this program is contingent upon the availability of funds.

AAAS Diplomacy Fellows at the State Department will serve in one of the Department's functional or regional bureaus that have responsibility for defining and implementing the foreign policies of the United States. Opportunities vary widely across a broad range of subjects and areas, depending on the office in which the Fellow chooses to work.

Fellows will gain insight into the role of science and technology in the overall development and execution of U.S. policy, and will interact with many other agencies of the U.S. government, as well as representatives of other countries. Fellows may be involved in coordinating positions with other U.S. government agencies concerning the negotiation of multilateral treaties, or may join a team negotiating an international agreement. They may respond to queries or suggestions from U.S. embassies abroad and foreign embassies in the U.S., as well as from Congress and the White House.

Fellows may serve in the office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, which leads a broad effort to increase S&T capacities in the State Department to deal with the increasingly technical nature of foreign policy issues. Other placements are within the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; the four bureaus which report to the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs; and the six regional bureaus, which include the Bureau of African Affairs, the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, the Bureau of South Asian Affairs, and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. It is anticipated that 10 to15 Fellows will be placed at the Department of State

Web site: www.state.gov

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with field missions in Africa, Asia, the Near East, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, manages U.S. bilateral assistance to developing countries. USAID seeks to promote broadly-based sustainable development.

In addition to supporting the activities of USAID missions, Washington-based staff are responsible for the administration of science and technology efforts of worldwide applicability, for the management of specialized regional and multi-regional projects, and for policy and program coordination. Diplomacy Fellows will work in technical offices at USAID in Washington, DC. The fellowship involves overseas travel to work for limited periods in the field.

Typically, the technical staff with whom Fellows work are involved in the planning, review, monitoring or evaluation of development assistance programs. Fellows have an opportunity to advise and be involved in virtually all aspects of this process and should expect to bring their scientific training to bear broadly on development issues and activities.

Fellows' assignments relate to sustainable development, with an emphasis on economic growth, the environment, health, population, democratization, humanitarian assistance and education. AAAS expects that five to 10 Fellows will be placed at USAID.

Web site: www.usaid.gov

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to build new markets and improve the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace and enhance agricultural productivity in developing nations through market development programs, international trade agreements and negotiations, the collection/analysis of statistics and market information, and through international cooperation. It administers USDA's export credit guarantee and food aid programs, and helps increase income and food availability in developing nations by mobilizing expertise for agriculturally-led economic growth. FAS manages technical assistance and training to foster economic development and food security (including crop forecasting) in developing nations. It links U.S. and foreign scientists for research collaboration and technology exchanges. It promotes agribusiness development, including harmonization of transportation and product standards, and helps to establish partnerships between U.S. and overseas businesses.

Diplomacy Fellows could work on a broad range of subjects, for example, managing the development of U.S. policy and position papers on food, agriculture, rural development, environmental, natural resource and water issues under consideration by international organizations (e.g., the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture). Trade policy development, and efforts to resolve differences with other nations and promote science-based decision making, particularly relating to animal and plant health and safety might also offer options for Fellows.

Fellows might lead liaison efforts with USAID, the Department of State, multilateral development banks, U.S. universities, or other U.S. and international organizations to facilitate cooperation on international food, science, and technology issues. A rapidly expanding area is biotechnology policy and research collaboration. Fellows might help promote understanding and cooperation among organizations and countries on this evolving science. Similarly, the environment, water issues, and sustainable development represent areas with potential opportunities for Fellows. Typically, one or two Fellows will be placed at the Foreign Agricultural Service of the USDA.

Web site: www.fas.usda.gov

The Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) promotes and supports scientific research, training and capacity-building internationally to reduce disparities in global health. To accomplish this broad objective, FIC works with the U.S. scientific community and counterparts abroad; U.S. agencies, including the State Department and other agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services; international organizations; and non-governmental groups. FIC funds research, training and capacity building programs to advance critical initiatives on HIV/AIDS, emerging infectious diseases, medical informatics, maternal and child health, environmental health and other key issues, and supports multi-disciplinary research programs on topics such as the linkage between health status and economic development and international bioethics.

The Fellow will work with a community of researchers, administrators and policy-makers at FIC, to advance medical research, training and capacity-building through international cooperation. Fellows will be placed in the Division of International Relations, the Division of Advanced Studies and Policy Analysis, or the Division of International Training and Research. The Fellow will also contribute to program, policy, and priority-setting efforts. It is anticipated that one Fellow will be placed at FIC.

The AAAS Fellowship at the Fogarty International Center is also known as the Sheldon M. Wolff, MD, Fellowship on International Health. Dr. Wolff was a world leader in infectious disease research. He was a strong supporter of research and training collaborations with partners in developing countries and was among the first to recognize the global impact of HIV/AIDS.

Web site: www.nih.gov/fic

For more fellowship information please go to the application page.

Please note that the deadline for all programs is 20 December of each year. If, after reading the material on this site, you have questions, please feel free to contact us.