USIP Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship: Prestigious 8-Month Fellowship with $15,000 Monthly Stipend for Senior Experts in Security Cooperation and Conflict Prevention

The USIP Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship Competition, in support of Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) and USIP priorities, seeks applications from senior experts who will advance thought leadership and scholarly research at the intersection of security cooperation and conflict prevention. Priority will be given to research proposals which closely align with the missions of both USIP and DSCU.

While much of the public academic and policy debate around security cooperation tends to focus on U.S. assistance programs to develop partner capacity, security cooperation is a much broader term that includes a wide variety of activities with allies and partners including: personnel exchanges, combined exercises and training, education programs, international armaments cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, training and equipping, defense institutional capacity building, and women, peace, and security programs.

Research Focus

Connecting Security Cooperation with Peace and Stability: How can security cooperation programs and activities play an active role in promoting regional stability, preventing conflicts that threaten the interests of the United States, reducing the risks of U.S. involvement in conflicts abroad, and helping establish safe and secure communities across U.S. partner nations?

We welcome proposals that contribute to building the knowledge base around this theme

Application Requirements

Applicants should have extensive experience in research, policy and/or practice, and a strong record of scholarship related to security cooperation. Applicants will be selected based on their potential to make original contributions to the field. USIP values qualitative, quantitative, and participatory research approaches.

Profile of USIP Jennings Randolph Senior Fellows

This eight-month fellowship at USIP headquarters in Washington D.C, is intended for senior experts who have a background in security cooperation and/or global or international partnerships and notable experience in research, practice, and/or policy and strategy. During their tenure, the fellow will conduct research in their areas of expertise, while also becoming an integral part of USIP by contributing to thought leadership and research efforts. The Senior Fellow will engage with the USIP community, DSCU faculty and fellows, and is expected to contribute to the DSCU Speaker series, the annual Security Cooperation Conference, and other research-related events, as appropriate.

Fellowship Details

USIP expects to award one fellowship related to the thematic questions described above. The fellowship is for an eight-month period, January 2026 through August 2026, at USIP headquarters in Washington, D.C. The fellowship offer cannot be deferred. The fellow will receive a monthly stipend of $15,000. The fellowship does not cover housing costs nor health insurance. USIP will cover one round-trip airfare to Washington, D.C. The fellowship, supported by the DSCU Young Institute, is funded through an Economy Act Support Agreement between DSCU and USIP. This fellowship is contingent upon the availability of funding during the relevant fiscal year.

Registration and Application Process

Applications that do not include all the following items will not be considered.

Research Application: All applications and documents related to this competition must be submitted online through the FLUXX portal.
Academic CV: Please provide a CV of no more than five pages
Recommendation Letter: A letter of recommendation must be included as part of your application.
All application materials must be in English.

Applying for the Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship competition is a two-step process.

REGISTRATION: All applicants must register for the current competition in the FLUXX portal even if you have previously registered for another USIP competition. A new registration will need to be completed in full.

APPLICATION: After completing the registration, applicants must prepare and submit a complete application. USIP does not provide status updates on submitted applications at any time.