South Asia Program Fellowships

Application Information

Applications are now closed

The Stimson Center South Asia Program’s Visiting Fellowship is designed for outstanding rising analysts, scholars, students, and researchers in India and Pakistan who are dedicated to the study of strategic and security issues in the subcontinent.

This fellowship combines professional development of research, writing, and public presentation skills with extensive exposure to the D.C. policy community. Visiting Fellows will develop a research project while meeting with senior scholars and analysts working on South Asian security issues at universities and think-tanks, as well as leading practitioners in the U.S. government. They also contribute analysis to Stimson’s suite of products throughout the one-year period.

The Visiting Fellows Program is designed for early- to mid-career professionals with approximately 7-to-15 years of relevant experience working on strategic and security issues in Southern Asia. Applicants should be prepared to participate in the program under a J-1 Research Scholar visa and must meet all U.S. visa eligibility requirements. Fellows are selected based on criteria such as their research and writing aptitude, demonstrated analytical strengths, and fit with the Fellowship’s goals and Stimson Center’s research interests.

For general inquiries, please write to [email protected] with “Visiting Fellowship” in the subject line.

Fellowship Structure

The Visiting Fellowship includes a one-month summer residency at the Stimson Center’s office in Washington, DC, during which engagement with the U.S.-based policy and research community is a priority. The remainder of the fellowship consists of search and writing in the fellows’ home countries.

Fellowship Requirements

• A co-authored or single-authored research memo developed while in residence at Stimson;
• Three op-ed-style essays published on the South Asian Voices platform over the twelve-month period. Co-authored pieces are welcome;
• Participation in the Stimson Visiting Fellows salon presentation to the wider D.C. policy community;
• Occasional substantive contributions to Stimson Center products and intellectual community (i.e. peer review, podcast interviews) throughout the one-year fellowship.

Application Materials

• A 500-word cover letter detailing the applicant’s research interests, experience, and how the fellowship fits into their career goals;
• A resume or curriculum vitae of no more than two pages detailing the applicant’s professional and educational accomplishments;
• A writing sample of no more than two single-spaced pages;
• A 500-word research proposal on the topic the applicant would like to explore in their policy memo (the topic may be subject to change following selection);
• A letter of recommendation from a professor or former employer explaining what qualifications, skills, and experiences make the applicant an excellent fit for the fellowship.

Additional Information

• The South Asia Program makes an active effort to select a balanced cohort from a range of backgrounds.
• Immediate family members will be eligible to accompany selected fellows during the residency at their own expense and pending visa approval.
• All applicants must apply through the Stimson website.
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring that letters of recommendation are sent to [email protected]

Selection Criteria

Fellows are selected based on criteria such as the quality of their research proposal, research and writing aptitude, and fit with the Stimson Center’s research interests. Successful candidates will likely have some or all of the following:

• Frequent and/or high-quality contributions to South Asian Voices;
• Engagement with and completion of Strategic Learning Initiative courses;
• Demonstrable, substantive experience researching South Asia security or strategic issues;
• A track record of publications in journals, books, or newspapers/magazines;
• A master’s degree or higher in a relevant field.