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"We
still have far too few officers with strong science backgrounds, but
thanks to the National Academies and others in the scientific
community such as the American Association for the Advancement of
Science and the American Institute of Physics and the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a small group of scientific
fellows have joined our ranks, and their number will grow.
Scientists, volunteers have graciously put their own research on
hold, stopped their own work, their own life, to perform tours of
duty in many of the State Department's bureaus, and they are making
a real difference. And we look forward to welcoming more scientists
on to our State Department team, either as fellows or as career
Foreign Service Officers or Civil Service Officers."
Secretary
of State Colin Powell, Remarks to the National Academy, 30 April
2002 |
IEEE-USA is
seeking IEEE U.S. members who are interested in
spending a year working in Washington as an IEEE-USA State Department Engineering &
Diplomacy Fellow. Beginning with the 2013-2014 fellowships, IEEE-USA's fellows serve one-year starting in September. Requests to extend the term for a second year will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The
fellowship offers an opportunity for the science, technology, and engineering community to provide technical
expertise to the U.S.
State Department, and help raise awareness of the value of
your input while you learn about and contribute to the foreign
policy process.
SELECTION CRITERIA
To be considered for an IEEE-USA State Department Engineering & Diplomacy Fellowship, applicants must:
-
Be a REGULAR Member of IEEE at the time of application. Graduate student or student memberships do not qualify.
-
Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application or, at the latest, prior to selection.
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Be a practicing member of the engineering profession with a degree from a four-year university or college that has a recognized program in electrical or electronics engineering, radio, or an allied branch of engineering or science.
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Possess or be able to obtain a security clearance **PRIOR** to the beginning of the fellowship.
-
Possess either,
--a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years responsible experience in engineering or qualified science;
--a Master's degree and a minimum of 5 years of such experience in engineering or qualified science; or
--a Doctoral degree in engineering or qualified science
Work experience must consist of FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT in an engineering or qualified science field.Time spent working as an intern, a graduate assistant, or in non-engineering or qualified science professions will not apply.
The IEEE-USA Government Fellows Committee considers the following factors when selecting State Department fellows:
-- length of IEEE membership,
-- education,
-- technical competence and professional experience,
-- previous public service/public policy expertise,
-- basic comprehension and understanding of the public policy process,
-- evidence of service to IEEE and the engineering profession,
-- communication skills,
-- demonstrated interest in foreign policy,
-- foreign language proficiencies, and
-- overall suitability for the Fellowship.
A joint IEEE-USA and State Department committee reviews finalists, with the State Department giving final approval of the Fellow selection. The selection committee may establish additional criteria. Specifically excluded as selection criteria are age, sex, creed, race, ethnic background, and partisan political affiliations.
APPLICATION MATERIALS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you wish to
apply for an IEEE-USA USAID Fellowship, please apply
directly to IEEE-USA, using the application provided on this
page. Do not apply to AAAS for the IEEE-USA
Fellowship.
The
APPLICATION DEADLINE for the 2014-2015 fellowship year is
Friday, 24 JANUARY 2014.
The interviews for 2014-2014 Fellows are tentatively scheduled for:
3-4 March 2014 in Washington, DC. Interviews are approximately 45 minutes long
and you will need to be here for only one of those days. Scheduling will
occur at the time of notification of an interview.
If the Government Fellows Committee selects you as a finalist, you will be invited to interview
in-person in Washington, DC at IEEE-USA's expense. If selected for a face-to-face interview, finalists must be able to attend in person. Rescheduling the face-to-face interview is not an option.
Reasonable travel and lodging expenses
for the interviews will be reimbursed by IEEE-USA.
The Fellow does not act as a representative of
IEEE-USA during the Fellowship term, and is not considered an employee of
IEEE-USA. (See also
AAAS Ethics Policy.)
If you interview and are selected for an IEEE-USA fellowship, you must spend approximately one week in Washington in mid-April
(15-19 April 2013),
participating in the Fellowship placement process
which is coordinated by the American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS) and the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to
the Secretary of State (STAS). In addition to the opportunities
provided by the AAAS process, the STAS office will
work with you one-on-one and connect you personally with offices that
work on topics of interest to you.
Just prior to the beginning of your fellowship in September, you will attend a
required two-week orientation program coordinated by the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) in early September of each year.
Please mail your application— electronically
—to Linda Hall at:
l.hall at ieee.org.
You may also send a hardcopy if you wish, but we must receive your application via e-mail by the 5pm deadline for it to be considered valid.
IEEE-USA Government Fellows
2001 L Street, NW,
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
202-530-8365 (Phone)
202-785-0835 (Fax)
SECURITY CLEARANCE
IEEE-USA Engineering & Diplomacy Fellows must have a security clearance. Once the Fellow is selected, arrangements must be made immediately with the State Department to obtain a security clearance (if the Fellow does not already have a clearance). A security clearance currently requires a 4-6 month background check.The Fellow will be asked to complete a clearance form, provide contact information, and make various disclosures. For more information, see:
Getting
A Security Clearance...In a Nutshell (OPM)
General
Questions and Answers About OPM Background Investigations (OPM)
Questionnaire
for National Security Positions (OPM Form SF 86)
ORIENTATION
Prior
to beginning a fellowship, Fellows are enrolled in a mandatory,
multi-society, two-week orientation program organized by the
American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The orientation takes place in Washington, D.C. every September at
IEEE-USA's expense. The orientation for 2013-2014 fellows is scheduled for Wednesday, September 4th - Monday, September 16th, 2013.
At the completion of the orientation, each fellow begins their fellowship.
STIPEND & TRAVEL
During the Fellowship year, IEEE-USA Congressional Fellows receive a Fellowship stipend of either $65,000 (MS and BS with experience) or $55,000 (Post Docs/ PhDs just entering the workforce). PhD's
with work significant work experience may receive the higher of the two stipend levels. The Government Fellows Committee has the discretion - based on the applicant's professional experience - to determine which of the two stipend levels an applicant will receive.
Payment of the Fellowship stipend is contingent upon the Fellow's receipt of an appropriate security clearance, participation in the AAAS orientation, and reaching agreement with the State Department on a suitable assignment.
IEEE-USA provides an additional supplementary allowance of $5,000 for travel and relocation expenses; this may be incorporated into the stipend if desired. The Fellows or their employers are responsible for the balance of salaries, benefits, and all other expenses.
When making arrangements to supplement the
Fellowship stipend through a continued salary from an employer, applicants must consider potential conflicts of
interest.
HISTORY
In an October 1999
report,
the National Research Council concluded that, "the Department [of
State] needs the capability to understand how technological factors
influence political and economic developments." In its 15 May 2000
response, the State Department recognized, "the growing significance
of science and technology based issues in foreign policy and is aware that
this trend will continue and accelerate. The Department is determined to
do what is necessary to respond to this challenge and to meet its
responsibilities in this area."
The
State Department Science & Technology Adviser reached out to IEEE-USA and other
science and engineering societies for help in building its S&T expertise; the result is the IEEE-USA's Engineering and
Diplomacy Fellowship program.
