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2013-2014 Foster Fellows Program

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The William C. Foster Fellows Visiting Scholars Program was established by Congress in 1983, and over 60 scholars have served at the Department of State since the Program’s inception. The Program is named in honor of William C. Foster, the first director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, who served from 1961 to 1969.
By law, specialists in the physical sciences and other disciplines are afforded an opportunity for active participation in the arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament activities of the Department of State. This also allows the Department the opportunity to gain the perspective and expertise such persons can offer. Appointments are made for a full year in the Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (AVC) Bureau, the International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) Bureau, or the Political-Military Affairs (PM) Bureau at the Department of State.
For the 2013-2014 Foster Fellows Program, the Department is specifically recruiting applicants from the disciplines of aero/astronautics, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, or physics.

Program Background

The Foster Fellows program affords academic faculty the unique opportunity to bring their research and expertise to the Department of State to assist in policy and programmatic development in arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament activities. Fellows are assigned to one of the three bureaus under the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security—the Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (AVC) Bureau, the International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) Bureau, or the Political-Military Affairs (PM) Bureau.
The Department has high regard for Foster Fellows, and truly values the contributions and fresh perspectives that Fellows bring from academia. Upon appointment, each Fellow will create a Plan of Action with his or her supervisor to map out the responsibilities and goals of his or her yearlong tenure. Fellows will also be afforded opportunities for training, attending events featuring prominent Department officials, and networking with other Foster Fellows, alumni, and fellows in different programs throughout the Department.

Eligibility Requirements

For the 2013-2014 Foster Fellows Program, the Department is specifically recruiting applicants from the disciplines of aero/astronautics, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, or physics.
Foster Fellows must be citizens of the United States, on the tenured faculty of a recognized institution of higher learning or on a tenure-track or equivalent. They must also have served as a permanent career employee of the institution for at least ninety days before selection for the Program. Prior to appointment, applicants will be subject to a full-field background security investigation for a Top Secret security clearance. Candidates must be able to meet security requirements and will not be extended a formal offer of appointment until a security clearance has been granted and all other requirements have been met. This procedure may take over six months. Visiting scholars will also be subject to applicable federal ethics laws, including those involving conflicts of interest, and standards of conduct applicable to Executive Branch employees.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply to a specific position or positions, posted below. We strongly advise applicants to submit their application packages electronically to FosterFellows@state.gov to ensure rapid receipt. Applications may also be submitted via fax to 202-647-1407. Those wishing to submit their applications by mail should send them via USPS First Class Mail to:
Brian D. Nordmann
U.S. Department of State
AVC/VTT, Room 5871
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520
Applications sent by mail must be received by the application date. Please note that all mail sent to the Department goes through a security screening process, which can take up to two weeks.
The following items must be included in each application package:
  • A letter of intent indicating the positions in which you are interested and the perspective and expertise you offer
  • Curriculum Vitae (including tenure status)
  • Three letters of reference, including one from your Department Chair (for applications submitted via email, these must be signed and scanned as PDF documents)
  • One or two of your published articles
  • A one- to two-page proposal on a topic you would like to investigate during your year-long tenure, including why this topic should be of interest to the Department and Bureau to which you are applying.
Applications must be received by midnight (EST), Friday, February 1, 2013. Late applications will be deemed technically ineligible and will not be considered.

Selection Process

Candidate applications will be reviewed by appropriate Department of State staff in the ISN Bureau. Selected applicants will be invited for interviews at the State Department in Washington, D.C. in February-March of 2013. Final selections are expected to be made by late early March. Fellows will begin their assignments in the Fall of 2013.

2013-2014 Position Descriptions

 This year two offices are recruiting Foster Fellows for positions in the disciplines of aero/astronautics, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, or physics. Click on the links below for descriptions of the position, office, and the necessary qualifications of applicants. Please keep in mind that while two offices are recruiting, only a select few will be chosen for final placement. Applicants must include the specific position(s) to which they are applying in their letters of intent.

Funding

Fellows selected for placement will be offered full salary reimbursement to their home institutions as well as a daily stipend during their assignment.

Statutory Authorization

The Foster Fellows Program was first authorized by Section 202 of the Arms Control and Disarmament Act of 1983. The statutory language is contained in 22 U.S.C. § 2568:
A program for visiting scholars in the fields of arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament shall be established by the Secretary of State in order to obtain the services of scholars from the faculties of recognized institutions of higher learning. The purpose of the program will be to give specialists in the physical sciences and other disciplines relevant to the Department of State's activities an opportunity for active participation in the arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament activities of the Department of State and to gain for the Department of State the perspective and expertise such persons can offer. Each fellow in the program shall be appointed for a term of one year, except that such term may be extended for a 1-year period.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the application or selection process, please email FosterFellows@state.gov.

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