Deadline: 30 November 2025
The Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship, sponsored by the Stanton Foundation, offers younger, postdoctoral scholars studying nuclear security issues the opportunity to spend twelve months at CFR’s offices in New York or Washington, DC, conducting policy-relevant research.
The Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship is a transformational program that enables selected fellows to lead a project of their own design, conduct original research, write at least one policy-relevant document, and contribute to the Council on Foreign Relations’ work on nuclear security issues. The program focuses on nuclear security issues, including nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation, nuclear weapons, and nuclear force posture.
The fellowship provides an exceptional opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to engage deeply in policy-relevant research under the mentorship of fellows from the Council on Foreign Relations’ David Rockefeller Studies Program. The one-year program, running for twelve months preferably beginning in September, offers a stipend of $101,000 for the 2026–27 academic year, disbursed in twelve equal monthly installments. Fellows will be considered independent contractors rather than employees and will therefore not be eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance.
Fellows will be based in either the Council’s New York or Washington, DC, office. As the fellowship emphasizes collaboration and engagement, it is designed as an in-person experience, requiring fellows to work on-site at least three days a week, including Tuesdays and Thursdays designated as Anchor Days.
Eligibility for the fellowship is limited to U.S. citizens who possess a strong record of professional achievement and hold postdoctoral status. Selection as a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow is highly competitive and will be based on scholarly qualifications as well as the merits and feasibility of an application proposal that focuses on nuclear security issues. Each year, the Council on Foreign Relations awards only one fellowship, making it a prestigious and sought-after opportunity for emerging experts in the field.
Interested candidates must submit basic biographical, educational, and employment information, two letters of recommendation, and a project proposal as part of the application process.
Applications for the 2026–27 fellowship cycle will be accepted online till November 30, 2025.
For more information, visit Council on Foreign Relations.