Junior Fellows provide research assistance to scholars working on the Carnegie Endowment's projects:
A)Democracy, Conflict and Governance
B) American Statecraft Program
C) Nuclear Policy Program
D) Technology and International Affairs Program
E) Middle East Program
F) International Security and Political Economy
G) Asia Program
H) Russia and Eurasia Program
I)Africa Program
J)Global Order and Institutions Program
K) Sustainability, Climate and Geopolitics Program
L) Europe Program
Available placements vary from year to year and are announced in October; see application information below.
Carnegie Junior Fellows receive a monthly salary and benefits. Fellows are responsible for their own housing but receive relocation stipend of up to $1500.
The application and Junior Fellows' assignments available during the 2024 application cycle for the 2025-2026 fellowships may be found here.
Please read the information about assignments and the related essay questions carefully: each year some project assignments have specific requirements, for language or other coursework, typically listed on the last page of the application information.
Interested applicants must first apply for Yale's nomination. The campus nomination process is coordinated by the Office of Fellowships.
Yale College is invited to nominate two or three candidates to the national competition each year. Finalists are invited to interview virtually with representatives of the Carnegie Endowment in late February and March, and decisions are expected to be announced by the end of March.
An essay of one page (double-spaced) on why the applicant would like to become a Junior Fellow.
A one- to two-page résumé.
Two confidential letters of recommendation (at least one of which should ideally be from a faculty member in the department of the applicant's major).
An essay of no more than three (3) typewritten, double-spaced pages on one of this year's set questions. These topics are intended to test skills in analysis, logic, and written expression. The essays should be thought pieces, not research papers. Applicants should submit an essay related to the available assignment in which they are most interested, although the James C. Gaither Junior Fellow Program may ultimately select an applicant for a program outside their designated primary interest or make an assignment to more than one program. This year's essay topics can be found in the official application materials via the link provided above.
Transcripts: Unofficial Yale College transcripts suffice for this application. An unofficial transcript is also required from any other institution attended for post-secondary studies.
Interested Yale applicants, after doing some research of their own, may refer questions to Alison Bumke (meetings by appointment). Further information about Policy and Think Tanks can be found on the OCS Policy and Think Tanks resources page.
Eligible are graduating seniors and alumni who have graduated from Yale College within the past academic year. Individuals who have begun graduate studies are not eligible (except in cases of joint bachelor's/master's degrees).Candidates must have completed a significant amount of coursework related to their discipline of interest, and have achieved a high academic standard.
Each year some project assignments have specific requirements, for language or other coursework; please read the official application materials carefully, including the last page.
There are no citizenship requirements; however, all applicants must be eligible to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (for example with OPT).
NOTE: The Carnegie Endowment does not accept direct applications for this program; only students nominated by participating universities can be considered.