The PIPS Fellowship Program

 

Students who receive a PIPS fellowship for the 2009-2010 academic year will:

• Write a policy brief and background paper on a question or topic of interest related to international security. These questions will be generated by scholars and members of the policy community who are on the frontlines of analyzing and addressing those issues;

• Correspond and/or meet with the scholars or policymakers who inspired their research-including at a year-end conference during which PIPS fellows will present their papers to members of the policy community;

• Travel to Washington, D.C. during the fall and/or spring semesters to conduct interviews and hear policymakers and scholars speak on pressing security challenges;

• Have the opportunity to develop PIPS projects into independent study projects (during either the fall 2009 or spring 2010 semester) or faculty supervised honors theses;

• Receive support in preparing and submitting PIPS projects for publication or presentation at academic conferences; and

• Be eligible to compete for the Winston Churchill Award, which is given to the PIPS fellow who writes the best policy brief and background paper. The award includes a $500 prize.

 

Eligibility Requirements for PIPS Applicants

 

To be eligible to apply for a PIPS fellowship, students must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of 3.7 overall GPA

• Completed GOVT 204: Introduction to International Relations

• Rising junior or senior

• A major in Government, International Relations, or Public Policy

• Will be on campus during the entire 2009-2010 academic year

 

Preference will be given to applicants who:

• Have completed GOVT 329: International Security

• Can demonstrate a strong prior interest in international relations (e.g., by having taken courses on international relations, foreign policy, and/or regions of strategic interest to the United States, completed internships in fields related to the study and practice of IR, etc.)

 

Application Guidelines

 

PIPS is accepting six research fellows for the 2009-2010 academic year. If you have a strong desire to engage in original policy-relevant security research and meet the application requirements, please submit the following materials in Adobe PDF or paper format (with prior approval):

• Resume (PDF)

• College transcript (official or unofficial) (PDF)

• Writing sample of at least 10 pages in length (PDF)

• Two letters of recommendation from William and Mary faculty speaking to your analytical ability, writing skill, maturity, and capacity to conduct independent research. Faculty letters of recommendation may be submitted via e-mail or, if more convenient, in paper. A formal letter of recommendation is not necessary. Informal assessments are perfectly acceptable. (E-mail or Paper)

Electronic application portfolios should be submitted to pips@wm.edu or in paper to the Government Department office in Morton 10, ATTN: Dennis Smith.

 

The submission deadline for the 2009-2010 academic year is September 1, 2009.

 

For further inquires, please e-mail pips@wm.edu or call 757.221.5086