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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
Technologist-in-Residence Fellowship
The Program
The Technologist-in-Residence Fellowship, sponsored by the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, seeks to enhance the knowledge, broaden the expertise, and enrich the perspectives of early- and mid-career technologists by providing them with a substantive opportunity to research and discuss issues at the intersection of technology and foreign policy or national security. Technologists in residence are expected to spend their time at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) producing policy-oriented research and analysis that explores the connections between emerging technologies and foreign policy and national security. The goal is to promote enduring professional networks and interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing among technologists and CFR experts and members, thereby increasing mutual understanding of the linkages between emerging technology and foreign policy and national security.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The Council on Foreign Relations does not sponsor applicants for employment visas.
- Applicants must be early-career or mid-career professionals.
- Applicants must have a strong record of professional achievement in the technology sector and a demonstrated interest in the field of foreign policy.
- Applicants must hold at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Strong preference is given to applicants currently working at a private-sector technology company. A PhD is not required for university-based applicants, though successful candidates from academia typically hold an advanced degree. The program does not fund pre- or postdoctoral research, work toward a degree, or the completion of projects on which substantial progress had been made before the fellowship begins.
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.
Fellowship Award
The fellowship runs for ten months, starting in September 2024. The program pays a salary at the rate of $130,000 for ten-months for full-time employment. Payment will be made on a biweekly (every two weeks) schedule. The technologist in residence will be a CFR employee and be eligible for CFR employment benefits, subject to provisions specified by contract, law, or policy.
The technologist in residence will be based in either CFR’s New York or Washington, DC, office. The fellowship is intended as an in-person experience; fellows should expect to work on-site at least three days per week, including Tuesdays and Thursdays as Anchor Days.
Selection Process
Selection for the technologist in residence is based on the following criteria:
- professional experience in the technology sector
- a demonstrated interest in foreign policy
- merits and feasibility of a proposal on some aspect of the connection between emerging technology and U.S. foreign policy or national security
- the contribution the fellowship will make to the applicant's career development
The selection process is highly competitive. A selection committee reviews all applicants and awards one fellowship each year. Strong preference is given to candidates who have never received a CFR fellowship.
An unrivaled experience in terms of opportunities to build bridges with the policy community and thereby ground research in a real-world context.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the program’s eligibility requirements can apply online between January 2 and February 28, 2025, for the 2025–26 fellowship cycle.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact [email protected]