Council on Foreign Relations, Fellowship Affairs

International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars

The Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars

The Council on Foreign Relations’ International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars (IAF-TIRS), sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, offers tenured academics whose research and teaching are connected to international peace and security issues practical experience in foreign policy through a twelve-month placement at a U.S. federal government agency, in Congress, or with an international organization.

The fellowship helps close the gap between research and practice, enriching the teaching and scholarship of tenured academics by giving fellows experience as practitioners. The program also benefits policymakers by exposing them to critical scholarly research relevant to the foreign policy and national security issues facing the United States and the world. Professors from the humanities, social sciences, law, economics, regional studies, and other academic disciplines with research interests in international relations are encouraged to apply.

The Fellowship Award

The fellowship is for twelve months. The program will match 50 percent of the fellow’s base salary for the academic year (up to a maximum of $80,000 for the year) as well as provide modest assistance for moving expenses for those who need to relocate for the fellowship. Fellows are considered independent contractors rather than employees of CFR and are not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance. No indirect costs can be deducted from the stipend award.

CFR will assist selected fellows in finding a suitable placement for their fellowship year. CFR cannot guarantee placement at any particular agency, office, or organization.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be a U.S. citizen and have tenure at a U.S. college or university whose research and teaching are connected to international peace and security. Applicants must hold a PhD and have a prearranged sabbatical with their university. Preference is given to candidates with no significant work experience in the U.S. government or with an international organization, and who have never received a CFR fellowship.

CFR has a longstanding commitment to making the foreign policy community in the United States more representative of American society as a whole and actively seeks fellowship candidates from diverse backgrounds.

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the program’s eligibility requirements can apply online now through October 31, 2023.

Virtual Information Session

Register now for the fellowship virtual information session on August 30, 2023 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. A second information session will be held on September 20, 2023 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.