Next-Generation Fellowship

The Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction, an initiative based at Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security and supported by the American Physical Society (APS), seeks to mobilize a national network of physicists interested in being informed advocates to policymakers and to the public on the nuclear weapon threat and opportunities for its reduction.

To support this effort, the Coalition invites applications for its Next-Generation Fellowship, which aims to make more diverse and strengthen participation of graduate students, postdocs and early-career physicists and engineers in advancing nuclear weapons threat reduction.

To strengthen diversity and the inclusion of many viewpoints in the nuclear weapons policy field, the Coalition encourages applicants of every gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic background. There are no citizenship requirements, but applicants must expect to reside in the US for the duration of the fellowship. There will be up to four Fellows for 2020-2021.

The one-year Coalition Fellowship offers Fellows opportunities including:

1. Partnering with a senior expert to give two talks on nuclear threat reduction at university physics departments, professional meetings, or a national laboratory
2. Partnering with a senior expert on research and writing of a policy memo on a current nuclear weapons policy issue, which could be the basis for an article in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists or similar publication
3. Training [1-2 days] in Washington DC or online in policy communication, advocacy, and scientist-community partnership building with APS and other non-governmental groups
4. Two trips [1-2 days each] to Washington DC for advocacy and outreach to Congress
5. Networking opportunities with key nuclear arms control policy and science advocacy groups
6. Participation in a 4-day Princeton Summer School on Science and Global Security
7. Eligibility for a $5000 follow-on grant based on a proposal for continued education and work on nuclear threat reduction for a year upon successful completion of the Fellowship.

Travel and other expenses for participation in these activities will be funded by the Physicists Coalition. The Fellow’s salary is expected to be covered by their home institution.

Applications should include:

• A CV and cover letter, including interest in policy or community engagement
• A policy advocacy statement (no more 300 words) on a nuclear threat reduction measure – chosen from the following topics: a no-first-use policy, ending the launch-on-warning option, changes in the nuclear triad, the future of the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction) treaty or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and limits on missile defense systems.
• A letter of recommendation (which may be sent separately by recommender).

Applications should be sent to Charlotte Selton at selton@aps.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until November 15th, 2020.

For more on the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction, see www.physicistscoalition.org.