Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program

Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellows Program: At a Glance

Eligibility: 

• Fourth-year students and recent graduates
• Eligible to work in the U.S. for one year after graduation

Selection Criteria:  

• Research experience
• Strong interest in international affairs
• Related academic study and/or work experience
• Quality of the essays

Candidates for the Carnegie Junior Fellows Program can affirm the following: 

• I have a serious career interest in international affairs.
• I have conducted substantive academic, applied and/or legal research.
• I have completed a significant amount of coursework and have language skills pertaining to the program to which I am applying.
• I have strong analytical, writing and editing abilities.

Extensive Description

What is the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program? Through the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows program, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace offers approximately 15 one-year fellowships to uniquely qualified graduating seniors and individuals who have graduated during the past academic year. The Program is designed to provide a substantive work experience for Junior Fellows who have a serious career interest in international affairs. They work as research assistants to Carnegie’s senior scholars in Washington, DC on a full-time basis. Junior Fellows begin working on September 1 and continue through June 30. Some fellowships may extend through August 31 through mutual agreement between the program and the Junior Fellow.

Diversity Initiative: As an organization dedicated to pursuing global engagement and peace, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes the organization is enriched and should be informed by a diverse array of perspectives. Carnegie welcomes a third application if at least one of the nominees is from a historically underrepresented group.

Salary and Housing: The monthly salary is $4,000, paid semi-monthly, subject to federal, state and local taxes. A generous benefits package is provided, including medical, dental and life insurance as well as vacation
leave. Gaither Junior Fellows will be provided up to $1,500.00 (grossed up for taxes) in relocation support but are otherwise responsible for their own housing arrangements.

Responsibilities

Assignments: Fellows perform the following tasks: 

• Provide research assistance to Senior Carnegie Associates who work on a variety of international affairs issues. 
• Conduct research, contribute to op-eds, papers, reports, and books, edit documents. 
• Participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize briefings attended by scholars, activists, journalists and government officials.

Eligibility Requirements

• Graduating seniors
• Students who have graduated during the last academic year (but have not started graduate work except in cases where the student has completed a joint bachelor’s/master’s degree program)
• Strong academic background
• Strong interest in international affairs
• Eligible to work in the U.S. for twelve months from approximately September 1 through June 30 following graduation

Application Process

Interested candidates must complete a campus application for University endorsement. 

Applicants should confirm that they meet the expectations of their program of interest.

2026 – 2027 Program Requirements:

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

American Statecraft Program

Nuclear Policy Program

Technology and International Affairs Program – Strong writing skills and research skills are essential.

Middle East Program – Strong reading fluency and the ability to perform academic as well as on-line research in Arabic essential. Strong background in Middle East politics and/or history is a huge plus.

International Security and Political Economy [to work with the International Security and South Asia Programs] – Quantitative data analysis and GIS skills are required. A strong mathematical background is a plus. An academic background in international relations theory or international political economy along with an interest in military issues is essential.

Asia Program – Mandarin Chinese language skills, particularly reading comprehension, are essential. 

Russia and Eurasia Program – Excellent Russian and/or Ukranian reading skills required.

Africa Program

Global Order and Institutions Program

Sustainability, Climate and Geopolitics Program - Data skills (such as helping create graphs or tables for Carnegie publications) are a plus. Applicants should have completed coursework related to sustainability and climate issues. A foreign language or regional expertise is a plus—the program seeks to bring an international perspective into US debates on climate change.

Europe Program - Fluency and the ability to perform research in a European language other than English are a plus. Background knowledge on European politics is essential.