Deadline: March 31, 2024

The Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship at the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is a paid, three-month summer fellowship program for current graduate and advanced undergraduate students whose research focuses on issues of strategic importance to the United States in Asia.

Those selected will become junior fellows-in-residence at NBR’s Seattle office, where they will conduct original, independent research and participate in the NBR Summer Seminar featuring high-level speakers. Fellows will also engage with expert mentors, attend regional site visits to consulates, policy hubs, and military bases, attend NBR events, take part in professional development and networking workshops, and present their research to NBR staff and select guests from the policy, academic, and business communities. Tuition to the NBR Summer Seminar is included, as well as a modest stipend of $2,000 to $3,000 intended to support living expenses, research costs, and roundtrip airfare, if necessary.

Fellowship Components

Research, Growth, and Mentorship:

Following orientation, fellows will begin a three-month (June to August) fellowship conducting original, independent research on issues of strategic importance to the United States in Asia. Fellows will refine their research topic with the guidance of experts and NBR mentors, conduct interviews and desk study, and present their findings in a research paper. Fellows will receive periodic feedback and attend NBR events and professional development workshops, in addition to regular check-in meetings with experts and NBR editors.

Summer Seminar:

Fellows will participate in the NBR Summer Seminar featuring lectures by experts in the policy and international relations fields. The intensive program will include presentations, site visits, and external meetings to learn more about U.S. foreign policy in Asia. Fellows will present their research findings to NBR staff and guests from the policy, academic, and business communities.

Summer Learning Series:

Throughout the fellowship period, fellows will attend professional development workshops on topics such as memo writing, email etiquette, budget management, as well as career exploration and networking, to support the development of their careers in the policy community. 

Fellowship Eligibility

Qualified applicants for the Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship are:

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student with a focus on Asia and policy.
• Committed to advancing U.S. public policy toward Asia through improved expertise and understanding and/or contributing to the field through policy-relevant scholarly research.
• Able to relocate to Seattle, or already residing there, for the full duration of the fellowship (June through August, 2024).

Required Materials

To be considered for a fellowship, applicants must submit the following materials through NBR’s application website:

• A résume or CV (1-2 pages maximum).
• A cover letter addressing your qualifications for the fellowship, including academic and professional goals (1-2 pages maximum).
• An independent research proposal outlining a topic, why the topic is critical to U.S. policy in Asia, a timeline for completing the project within the three-month fellowship period, and tentative list of sources/bibliography (5 pages maximum).
• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions.
• A letter of recommendation from an academic supervisor or professor sent directly to NBR Senior Project Manager Dylan Plung at dplung@nbr.org by March 31, 2024.

About NBR

The National Bureau of Asian Research is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution dedicated to informing and strengthening policy in the Asia-Pacific and training the next generation of Asia specialists. NBR conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health, and energy issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia. To learn more about NBR, please visit www.nbr.org.

How to Apply

Learn more about the fellowship and how to apply on NBR’s website.

There will be a virtual information session for this opportunity on March 7, 2024 at 10 am HST (12 pm PT). Register here.

All application materials are due by March 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

A selection committee will review applications and conduct interviews in April. Awards will be announced in early May. Fellows will join NBR’s Seattle office in person as junior fellows-in-residence from June to August 2024.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact fellowships@nbr.org.