Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship

The Program

Nuclear security is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. The spread of nuclear weapons to unstable and hostile states, the risk of conflict between nuclear-armed nations, and the potential for terrorist groups to acquire nuclear arms all demand new thinking and creative policy solutions. The Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship, sponsored by the Stanton Foundation, offers younger scholars studying nuclear security issues the opportunity to spend twelve months at CFR’s offices in New York or Washington, DC, conducting policy-relevant research. While in residence full time at CFR, selected fellows will be expected to lead a project of their own design, conduct original research, and write at least one policy-relevant document. The fellows will also be mentored by the fellows of CFR’s David Rockefeller Studies Program.

There is no better place to bridge the worlds of ideas and policy than CFR, which provides unrivaled access to leading scholars and senior members of the policy community.

Jooeun Kim, Research Fellow, Georgetown University (2019–20 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow)

Eligibility

Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Applicants must possess a strong record of professional achievement.
Applicants must be postdoctoral fellows or junior faculty in a tenure-track position at a recognized university.
Junior faculty at law schools or with a law degree as their terminal degree are also eligible.

Fellowship Award

The fellowship runs for twelve months, preferably beginning in September. The program awards a stipend of $137,000 for junior faculty and $101,000 for postdoctoral fellows. Payment will be made in twelve equal monthly installments. Fellows are considered independent contractors rather than employees of CFR and are not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance.

Selection Process

Selection as a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow is based on the following criteria:

scholarly qualifications
professional accomplishments
merits and feasibility of an application proposal that focuses on nuclear security issues. Appropriate potential topics include nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation, nuclear weapons, and nuclear force posture

The selection process is highly competitive. The selection committee chooses one or two candidates each year as fellows.

An unrivaled experience in terms of opportunities to build bridges with the policy community and thereby ground research in a real-world context.

Sarah Kreps, Professor, Cornell University (2013–14 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow)

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the program’s eligibility requirements can apply online between October 15 and December 1, 2024, for the 2025–26 application cycle.