Christine Mirzayan Graduate Fellowship Program

The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program currently accepts applications for the Fall 2010 session.

The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program within the Policy and Global Affairs Division of the National Academies is designed to engage its Fellows in the analytical process that informs U.S. science and technology policy.  Fellows develop basic skills essential to working or participating in science policy at the federal, state, or local levels. 

Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and those who have completed graduate studies or postdoctoral research in any social/behavioral science, medical/health discipline, physical or biological science, any field of engineering, law/business/public administration, or any relevant interdisciplinary field within the last five years are eligible to apply.

During the program, fellows engage in studies and activities throughout the National Academies. Some examples of projects fellows conducted include developing:

• An outline of themes of leading research in remote sensing applications;
• A workshop on how scientists in developing countries can take better advantage of the new wireless communication networks to gain access to the Internet;
• A background paper on the current state of knowledge about the demography of street-children, and on what is known about the cost and effectiveness of existing programs to help street-children and orphans in the U.S. and abroad.

The program is open to all US and non-US citizens who meet the criteria. However, you must be currently enrolled in a US university and have proof of holding a valid J-1 or F-1 status. If you are accepted into the program, copies of your immigration documents will be required immediately.

The Fellowship stipend/grant for the 12-week program is $8,000. It is intended to offset living expenses for the period and not intended as a way to earn money. Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

The stipend is paid out in two check installments.  The first installment (50% of the session stipend will be sent to each accepted fellow approximately 2 to 3 weeks after the Fellowship Program Office receives the executed agreement form acknowledging intention to participate in the program.  The second installment (remaining 50% of the session stipend) will be paid out to each Fellow during the first week of the program.  More information will be provided upon acceptance.

To apply, you need to fill out the online application form on the program website and o send at least one academic reference. The deadline for receipt of application materials for the Fall program is May 1, 2010.