IEEE-USA is seeking expressions of interest from IEEE U.S. members interested in spending a year working in Washington as an IEEE-USA Engineering and Diplomacy Fellow. The Fellowships begin in January of each year and offer an opportunity for an engineer to provide technical expertise to the U.S. State Department, and help raise awareness of the value of engineering input while learning about and contributing to the foreign policy process.

For more information, see Department of State Publication:  "Professional Science and Engineering Society Fellows Program" (2008)

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 Advisor 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.  Other organizations currently providing State Department fellowships include the American Institute of Physics and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Selection Criteria

To be considered for an IEEE-USA Engineering & Diplomacy Fellowship, applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen at the time of selection.

• Be an IEEE member in good standing at Member grade or higher for at least two (2) years. Student and society memberships do not count towards the two year requirement.

• Possess a BS in engineering or qualified science and 10+ years professional experience; MS in engineering or qualified science and 5+ years professional experience; or PhD/ Post-doc in engineering or qualified science, entering the workforce.

• Possess or be able to obtain a security clearance **PRIOR** to the beginning of the fellowship.

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.

Post Selection

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)

During the latter part of the year before the fellowship begins, the Fellow will be invited to interview with interested State Department bureaus and choose an assignment from among the resulting opportunities. IEEE-USA has no role in selecting the Fellow's assignment, 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.)

Fellows are also required to attend a two-week orientation program coordinated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in September of each year. The 2011 AAAS fellows orientation for executive branch fellows is scheduled for 1 - 14 September 2010.

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 experience will receive the higher stipend. The Government Fellows Committee has the discretion to determine stipend levels based upon an applicant's experience.

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.  IEEE-USA will also reimburse reasonable pre-fellowship travel and lodging expenses (with prior approval) related to the AAAS fellowship orientation and assignment interviews.  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.

How to Apply

Fellowship Application Kit
AAAS Ethics Policy
Program Guidelines
Past Fellows & Their Reports
 

2011 PROGRAM APPLICATION (POSTMARK) DEADLINE:
15 MARCH 2010

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.

The interviews for 2010 Fellows are tentatively scheduled for 27-28 April 2010.  An in-person interview at the scheduled time is mandatory and rescheduling the interview at a later date is not an option.

Please mail your application— electronically —to Bernadette Concepcion at: b.concepcion at ieee.org. You may also send a hardcopy if you wish, but we must receive your application via e-mail by the deadline for it to be considered valid.

IEEE-USA
2001 L Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
202-530-8365 (Phone)
202-785-0835 (Fax)