Council of Councils
Think Global Health
Online Store
Introduction
Over the last several decades, governments have collectively pledged to slow global warming. But despite intensified diplomacy, the world is already facing the consequences of climate…
Fellowships
International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars
The Program
The IAF for Tenured International Relations Scholars is not accepting applications for the 2025–26 fellowship year.
The International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) for Tenured International Relations Scholars, 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.
This transformative fellowship helps close the gap between research and practice, enriching both 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.
Hear From Past International Affairs Fellows
“We see the folks that really have a huge impact on the conversations that we are having, the questions that we are asking, and the direction that we are headed,” says historian Melissa Jane Taylor about her experience as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow. Described as the “Jewel of the Council,” the International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) programs aim to bridge scholarship and practice by giving participants transformative opportunities to work in a new environment they will give them a different perspective at a critical point in their careers. Whether at home in the United States or abroad in Canada, Europe, Indonesia, and Japan, fellows work in government, international organizations, and think tanks and universities. Join the more than 650 alumni—including Condoleezza Rice and Samantha Power—in shaping the field of foreign policy and the world.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must be full-time tenured professors at a U.S. college or university whose research and teaching focuses on international relations, U.S. foreign policy, or other related fields.
- Applicants must have arranged a paid sabbatical with their home university.
- Applicants must hold a PhD.
- Applicants must propose to spend a year working on peace and security issues in the U.S. government or at an international organization.
The IAF for Tenured International Relations Scholars does not fund pre- or postdoctoral research, work toward a degree, or the completion of projects on which substantial progress has been made before the fellowship begins. The program is meant to be a transformational experience that gives tenured academics the opportunity to work in a policymaking setting. Preference is given to candidates with no significant work experience in the U.S. government or at an international organization.
The IAF-TIRS exposed me to a wealth of new information about U.S. foreign policy pertaining to security, economics, and humanitarian matters. I use these insights to inform my teaching to better link theory and practice in international affairs in the classroom.
Fellowship Award
The fellowship is for twelve months. Selected fellows will begin their one-year fellowship between June and September. Fellows must arrange a paid sabbatical with their home universities. The program will match 50 percent of the fellow’s base salary for the academic year at their university (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 assists fellows in finding a suitable placement for their fellowship. However, all placements are made at the discretion of the host institution. CFR cannot guarantee placement at any particular agency, office, or organization. The fellowship is intended as a full-time in-person experience for the duration of the fellowship; fellows should expect to work on-site with their host organization or agency at least three days per week.
Fellows seeking to spend their fellowship working at a U.S. government agency likely will need to obtain a security clearance. The process for obtaining a security clearance can be lengthy, and the U.S. government alone determines when a clearance can be granted. Because of the time needed to obtain a security clearance, affected fellows need to be flexible about their fellowship start date or be willing to begin their fellowships in a position that does not require a security clearance. Placements at international organizations and on Capitol Hill typically do not require security clearances.
Selection Process
Selection as an IAF for Tenured International Relations Scholars is based on the following criteria:
- scholarly qualifications
- professional experience and accomplishments
- the merits and feasibility of a proposal that addresses a relevant U.S. foreign policy topic
- the contribution the fellowship will make to the candidate’s insight on policymaking and its application to the candidate’s future research and teaching on international peace and security issues
The selection process is highly competitive. CFR awards up to five fellowships annually. A strong preference is given to candidates who have never received a CFR fellowship.
How to Apply
The IAF for Tenured International Relations Scholars program is not accepting applications for the 2025-26 fellowship year.
2024–25 Fellows
Affiliations at the time of the award
Professor, Lafayette College
Associate Professor, School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
Associate Professor of Political Science, Auburn University
Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Public Policy and Law, University of Southern California
Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Alumni
A complete list of former International Affairs Fellows for Tenured International Relations Scholars is available here.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact [email protected].
Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies and Director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars