The Vandenberg Coalition seeks to hire a current graduate student as a part-time Graduate Research Fellow to contribute to the organization’s policy research & writing for the Fall Academic Semester (September–December 2023). The Fellow will receive a $2500 stipend for completing the program.

The application deadline is 5PM EDT on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

To apply, please complete the application form found HERE.

Please reach out to Samuel Byers at samuel@vandenbergcoalition.org with any questions.   

Responsibilities:

The Fellow will assist the Vandenberg Coalition’s policy team with research, analysis, and writing related to a wide variety of foreign policy & national security issues. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Drafting policy memos on topical issues;
• Conducting background research and assisting in the drafting of Vandenberg research products;
• Assisting Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board members in preparation of congressional testimony;
• Helping to prepare briefing materials to be provided to Members of Congress, candidates, and other senior policymakers.

The fellowship is part-time (approx. 10-12 hours per week) and remote. Applicants not currently residing in Washington, D.C. are encouraged to apply on an equal basis.

The Fellow will benefit from access to Vandenberg’s large network of foreign policy & national security professionals, have the opportunity to work closely with Vandenberg staff and members of the Coalition’s extensive Advisory Board, gain experience in the research and drafting of policy briefs and memos, and develop a greater understanding of the intersection between the study of international relations and the foreign policy making process.

Eligibility

Successful applicants will have excellent research and written communications skills and the ability to produce high quality work on a self-directed basis. Applicants should have a demonstrated understanding of one or more areas related to American foreign policy & national security (e.g. defense policy, regional/country studies, economics & trade, etc.).

• Applicants must be current or incoming students enrolled in a graduate program (MA, MS, PhD, etc.) for the Fall 2023 academic semester.
• Applicants must have an expressed interest in foreign policy & national security and an interest in working in these fields post-graduation. (Applicants need not be working towards a degree in political science, international relations, government, etc. so long as they can connect their current studies to future work in foreign policy & national security.)
• Applicants must hold shared values with the Vandenberg Coalition as articulated on our website.
• Applicants must have an average 3.0 GPA in their current program (or undergraduate GPA for applicants metriculating in Fall 2023).
• Applicants must complete the fellowship application and submit at least one reference.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

What Is the Vandenberg Coalition? 

Founded in 2021, the Vandenberg Coalition (TVC) is a 501(c)(3), non-partisan network of foreign policy leaders, both experts and practitioners, that prepares current and future national security leaders with the context, network, and vision that harnesses principled American leadership to overcome the most significant national security challenges of our time. The network includes over 100 national security experts and former government officials who are collectively involved in the following:  

• Hosting foreign policy and national security briefings for state and congressional leaders as well as candidates for federal office 
• Developing an “Experts Network” that can be offered to other institutions, the press, or candidates and Members of Congress to build out their expertise 
• Developing a network of young foreign policy experts who can staff incoming Congressional and Presidential offices/administrations 
• Organizing educational events with aligned organizations, think tanks, and scholars 
• Providing briefing papers and news-of-the-day bulletins on key national security topics to candidates and Members of Congress, and providing messaging to make these topics accessible to constituents 
• Serving as a connector for incoming Members of Congress and candidates for federal office with the D.C. think tank and educational community