Jefferson Science Fellows at the U.S. Department of State

The contribution of state-of-the-art science, technology, and engineering (STE) to the formulation and implementation of U.S. government policy, both domestic and foreign, has been recognized throughout the second half of the 20^th-century as a critical element in reaching sound, comprehensive conclusions that reflect “good governance”. Without an accurate, timely understanding of rapidly advancing STE issues, it is increasingly difficult to identify and establish sound governmental policy that effectively meets the needs of modern societies. The articulation of “accurate science for statecraft” to policy makers has become an essential element in establishing effective international relationships in the 21^st century.

Recognizing this need, the Secretary of State announced, on October 8, 2003, the Jefferson Science Fellows (JSF) program at the U.S. Department of State, establishing a new model for engaging the American academic STE communities in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. The pilot JSF program is administered by the National Academies and supported through a partnership between American philanthropic foundations (the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation), the U.S. STE academic community, professional scientific societies, and the U.S. Department of State.

The 2007 Jefferson Science Fellows were announced on July 23, 2007. Information on the 2004, 2005, and 2006 Jefferson Science Fellows are available on this site.

2008 Program Description

Tenured academic scientists and engineers from U.S. institutions of higher learning are eligible for selection to be Jefferson Science Fellows. Each Fellow will spend one year at the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for an on-site assignment in Washington, D.C. that may also involve extended stays at U.S. foreign embassies and/or missions. All JSF assignments will be designed in consultation with regional and/or functional bureaus within the U.S. Department of State/USAID. While in general JSF assignments will involve providing up-to-date expertise in the rapidly advancing STE arenas that routinely impact the policy decisions encountered by the U.S. Department of State/USAID, each Fellow will also be expected to become conversant with the functional operation of the U.S. Department of State/USAID. In doing so, the JSF program complements and enhances the existing efforts by both the continuing employees within the U.S. Department of State/USAID and other temporary fellows supported by non-governmental organizations who address STE issues. Following the fellowship year, the Jefferson Science Fellow will return to his/her academic career, but will remain available to the U.S. Department of State/USAID for short-term projects over the following five years.

Since the JSF program is a partnership between the American philanthropic foundations, the U.S. STE academic community, professional scientific societies, and the U.S. Department of State, financial and institutional support for the pilot JSF program is shared between all partners.

The tenured academic position of those selected to be Jefferson Science Fellows, together with all the rights and privileges associated with that tenured position, will be maintained by the Fellow’s home academic institution during their assignment at the U.S. Department of State/USAID.
During their one-year assignment at the U.S. Department of State, the salary and benefits of the Fellow will be paid by the academic institution at which the tenured appointment is held.
The Fellow’s home academic institution will be expected to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (JSF/MOU) with the U.S. Department of State to document this support.
The Jefferson Science Fellow will receive a stipend of $50,000 from funding provided by the Department of State, the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation. The stipend is intended to offset the costs of temporary living quarters in the Washington, D.C. area.
It is expected that each Fellow will travel as part of their assignment with the U.S. Department of State/USAID. Travels funds will be available on a shared basis from funding provided by the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation and from the U.S. Department of State/USAID to assist the Fellow with their travel for U.S. government business.
The U.S. Department of State will apply for a security clearance consistent with the assignment given to each Fellow and will provide the administrative and logistical resources normally associated with an assignment at the U.S. Department of State/USAID.
Each Jefferson Science Fellow will be expected to return to their home academic institution following their JSF assignment at the U.S. Department of State and to remain available for short-term projects for a period of five years.

Nominees and applicants must be U.S. citizens and must hold a tenured faculty position at a U.S. degree granting academic institution of higher learning.

Nominations for a JSF award will be accepted from U.S. academic institutions that have signed a JSF/MOU with the U.S. Department of State. Each institution having a JSF/MOU may nominate two candidates each year.

Universities that have not signed a JSF/MOU, but who wish to nominate a faculty member(s), should consult the National Academies (jsf@nas.edu) or the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State (202-647-8725) for guidance on how to initiate the process.

Applications will be accepted from tenured faculty at U.S. academic institutions. Prior to applying, applicants should determine if their institution has a JSF/MOU with the U.S. Department of State. Applications will be accepted from individuals at institutions not having a JSF/MOU in place; however, applicants cannot progress to the interview stage until this requirement has been met. Therefore, applicants should notify their institution when they apply and encourage them to initiate a JSF/MOU as described above.

Nomination/application packages, prepared as described below, must be received by the National Academies no later than January 15, 2008. Incomplete nomination/application packages, or those received after the deadline, will not be reviewed.

Panels selected by the National Academies will review all nomination/application packages. A group of finalists will be invited to Washington D.C. for interviews with a JSF Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will make recommendations to the JSF Executive Organizing Committee who will make final decisions on awards.

Nominations and applications are limited to scientists, technologists, and engineers holding a tenured faculty appointment at a U.S. college or university.

Eligible nominees and applicants will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Ability to articulate science and technology issues to the non-specialist/general public.
Ability to rapidly and accurately understand scientific advancements outside their discipline area and to effectively integrate this knowledge into U.S. Department of State policy discussions.
Open-mindedness and receptive attitudes toward public policy discussions at the U.S. Department of State/USAID.
Stature, recognition and experience in the national and international scientific or engineering community.

Those individuals offered JSF awards must successfully complete and maintain security clearances required for them to undertake their duties within the U.S. Department of State/USAID.

Instructions for Nominations and Applications

The nomination/application package consists of several parts. All parts of the package should be submitted together to:

Jefferson Science Fellows Program
The National Academies
Fellowships Office
500 Fifth Street NW, Keck 568
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 334-2872
Fax: (202) 334-2759
E-Mail: jsf@nas.edu

Name and Current Institutional Affiliation
Education (degrees, institutions, dates)
Academic Employment History (including dates, academic rank and tenure)
Honors and Awards (list up to 10 of the most significant)
University Service (past 5 years)
Professional Society Service (past 5 years)
Other National or International Professional Experience
Peer-Reviewed Publications (no more than 5 of the 10 pages; you may indicate the total number of publications from which the list is derived)
Other Publications or Patents

The nominee/applicant should provide a concise (1-2 page) statement of interest in the Jefferson Science Fellows Program. In this statement, he/she should explain what benefits they hope to derive for themselves and their university, if selected for the program, and also indicate any knowledge they might have of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development and possible contributions they might make to different bureaus and offices therein.

The nominee/applicant should prepare responses to the following two questions. Each response should be limited to 2 pages.

Within your general field of research, describe three major advances in the past ten years that have had significant societal impact on an international scale. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of these impacts, and how effective the scientific community has been in providing information required to permit policy makers to make informed decisions.
Within your general field of research, identify one or more issues in science and technology that have not received sufficient attention by U.S. foreign policy makers. Describe steps that should be taken by scientists and policy makers to better address these issues.

Nominations/applications must be accompanied by at least three (3), and no more than five (5), Letters of Recommendation from peers of the nominee/applicant. Letters of Recommendation should address the qualifications of the nominee/applicant relative to the selection criteria listed above. Letters of Recommendation must be limited to no more than 2 pages.

JSF/MOU

Receiving a Jefferson Science Fellows award is considered a significant honor, both for the individual, and for their academic institution. The JSF award is structured as a partnership between American philanthropic foundations (the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation), the U.S. STE academic community, professional scientific societies, and the U.S. Department of State designed to meet the challenges of science and technology in foreign policy.

To formalize the respective responsibilities of that partnership, a JSF/MOU must be executed between the participating academic institution at which the nominee/applicant holds a tenured position and the U.S. Department of State before they can be considered for an interview. The MOU can be obtained from either the National Academies (jsf@nas.edu) or the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State (202-647-8725).

Program Timeline

January 15, 2008	Nomination/application deadline
February 2008	Interviews of finalists and selection of awardees
August 18, 2008	Jefferson Science Fellows report to the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State

2008 Program Description

Instructions for Nominations and Applications

JSF/MOU

Program Timeline

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