Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

2022-2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship: The Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy at the the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs

The Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) seeks applications from recent Ph.D. recipients for its Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

The Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy (AJI) is a four-university, transatlantic consortium, which in collaboration with the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation for Public Benefit, will recruit, train, and mentor the next generation of historically-minded scholars and practitioners in statecraft, diplomacy, and strategy. As a member of this consortium, the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is pleased to offer up to three postdoctoral fellowships to scholars pursuing research in historically-minded statecraft and strategy. 

Generously supported by the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation for Public Benefit, the AJI is a partnership between the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge, the Centre for Grand Strategy in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at SAIS, and the Center for Statecraft and Political Communication at the Stockholm School of Economics. The partnership promotes the research and engagement of a cohort of up to twenty-four PhD and postdoctoral fellows across its member universities. 

About the AJI Fellowships at the Kissinger Center

Incoming postdoctoral fellows at Johns Hopkins SAIS will work closely with the faculty and affiliates of the Kissinger Center and have opportunities to participate in the Center’s activities and the broader intellectual communities of SAIS and Johns Hopkins University. The new scholars will also collaborate with faculty, affiliates, students, and fellows from the other institutes in the consortium, creating a multi-institutional, multinational intellectual community that spans the Atlantic, as well as have publishing opportunities through Engelsberg Ideas.
 
The program builds and expands upon the Kissinger Center and SAIS's strengths in diplomatic and military history, strategic studies, security studies, international relations, and economics and international political economy. SAIS is interdisciplinary and policy-engaged, and its location in Washington DC allows scholars easy access to major instruments of government, think tanks, and federally funded research and development centers, as well as important archives. SAIS also has campuses in Bologna (Italy) and Nanjing (China), providing additional opportunities to engage with the scholarly and policy communities in Europe and Asia.

The AJI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program builds and expands upon the Kissinger Center and SAIS's strengths in diplomatic and military history, strategic studies, security studies, international relations, and economics and international political economy. SAIS is interdisciplinary and policy-engaged, and its location in Washington, DC allows scholars easy access to policymakers, think tanks, federally funded research and development centers, and important archives. SAIS also has campuses in Bologna (Italy) and Nanjing (China), providing additional opportunities to engage with the scholarly and policy communities in Europe and Asia. Read more about the Postdoctoral Fellowships here.

Position Details and Qualifications:

The AJI Postdoctoral Fellowship is a two-year, full-time position in residence at the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs (1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20036).

Applicants interested in becoming AJI Postdoctoral Fellows should follow the steps described below. The application period is now open and will close on February 1st, 2022. Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to start in the summer/early fall of 2022 and continue for two calendar years, although a later start date can be negotiated in special circumstances. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be expected, in addition to pursuing his or her own research and writing, to contribute to the intellectual life of the Kissinger Center as well as the AJI consortium and to participate in their programming.

Incoming postdoctoral fellows at Johns Hopkins SAIS will have opportunities to participate in the Center’s activities and the broader intellectual communities of SAIS and Johns Hopkins University. The new scholars will also collaborate with faculty, affiliates, students, and fellows from the other institutes in the consortium, creating a multi-institutional, multinational intellectual community that spans the Atlantic, as well as have publishing opportunities through Engelsberg Ideas.

Applicants for AJI Postdoctoral Fellowships must have completed their PhD by the time they take up the fellowship. The idea candidate will demonstrate excellent research and writing skills in historically-minded research in statecraft, diplomacy, and/or strategy. Preference will be given to those who are no more than 5 years beyond completing their dissertation, although others are also eligible.

Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to remain in residence at the Kissinger Center for the duration of their fellowship. We encourage candidates with PhDs in history, political science, and international relations to apply, but other disciplines are also welcome.

During their time at the Kissinger Center, AJI Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to complete significant historically-minded research projects on statecraft, diplomacy, or strategy, including but not limited to substantive articles, monographs, and book projects. Fellows are also expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the Kissinger Center, SAIS, and the AJI consortium.

Stipend information:

AJI Postdoctoral Fellows will receive highly competitive stipends for two years. Fellowships will cover health insurance premiums and provide additional benefits through SAIS and the Kissinger Center, including access to university facilities and research resources. Fellows will also apply for research funds.

How to Apply:

Please submit the following through our Interfolio application:

1. An application letter laying out your research/scholarly plans for the fellowship
2. A curriculum vitae
3. A writing sample
4. Three letters of recommendation as well as contact information for the recommenders submitting letters on your behalf.

The applicant is responsible for collecting all materials and submitting them before 23:59 EST on February 1^st, 2022. Application materials should be submitted using the online application portal.