NSPN's Science Diplomacy Fellowship partners small groups of students or early career scientists with science diplomacy organizations, including consulates and embassies. Fellows engage in cross-cultural, team-based projects that provide experiential learning opportunities in science diplomacy. Fellows will produce tangible outputs, grow their network, and learn about opportunities for science diplomats.

Science Diplomacy Fellowship Program

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

This program is ideal for STEM students and early-career professionals who are ready to gain hands-on science diplomacy experience to build their careers. With the knowledge and skills gained in this fellowship participants have gone on to secure jobs in the field.

If you have any questions, please reach out to info@scipolnetwork.org.

3 Seminars

6 Month Placement

Networking and Career Development

Competitive Application Process

Program Structure

NSPN’s Science Diplomacy Fellowship is designed to allow scientists, engineers, technologists to engage with science diplomacy practitioners through virtual, project-based collaborations. Fellows will create tangible outputs to contribute to the mission of the project sponsor, while learning about science diplomacy and cooperation, and developing resources for the public good. To support the project-based learning the program also includes three seminars featuring guest speakers and foundational skill building in science diplomacy.

  • Three, 90-minute sessions in January feature guest speakers, peer discussions, and hands-on exercises. Attendance at all sessions is required to earn a certificate.

  • Regular check-ins with NSPN programs staff provide personalized feedback and guidance on partner projects and individual career goals.

  • Team-based projects with partners advance science diplomacy.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Benefits

Beyond the skills and knowledge gained in this course participants will gain access to the following benefits:

  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with experienced science diplomacy professionals and peers throughout the program, expanding your network.

  • Certification of Completion: Earn a certificate recognizing your achievement and commitment to advancing science policy.

  • Introduction to Science Diplomacy course training to build knowledge and competency in science diplomacy, valued at $300.

  • Complimentary Registration for Annual Symposium valued at $195 for students and $375 for professionals.

Course Dates & Expectations

Selected participants are expected to attend three, 90-minute virtual sessions in January and then all regular meetings with their host offices (determined with individual project teams). Written products and deliverables for projects are due in August. The dates and times for synchronous course sessions and reports are listed below:

  • January 6 - 12, 2025 | Project Onboarding (dates and times will vary between projects).

  • January 13 - June 30, 2025 | Weekly progress reports and collaborative work with hosts and team. Expected 5 hr/ week time commitment.

  • January 17, 2025 - 12:00 - 1:30 pm ET | Introduction to Science & Technology Diplomacy and Emerging areas.

  • January 24, 2025 - 12:00 - 1:30 pm ET | Power Mapping and Stakeholder Analysis.

  • January 31, 2025 - 12:00 - 1:30 pm ET | International Negotiation and Collaboration.

  • July 1, 2025 | Projects Due to Hosts & NSPN.

APPLICATION PERIOD IS CLOSED

  • Applications are due by December 6, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET.

  • Application decisions, along with a fellowship agreement, will be provided by December 13, 2024.

  • Fellowship recipients must return the signed fellowship agreement by January 2, 2025, to confirm acceptance of the offer.

2025 FELLOWSHIP PROJECTS

For our 2025 cohort we will be partnering with the following organizations. More details about each partner’s project, team size, expectations and deliverables will be shared within the coming weeks.

  • Argentina - US collaborative research in Artificial Intelligence and applications: Science Diplomacy and the mechanisms of partnership development involving disparate actors. 

    PROJECT OVERVIEW

    This project focuses on fostering scientific collaboration between Argentina and the U.S. in artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing AI research, applications, and data science. Fellows will develop strategies for building long-term partnerships between institutions and individuals while analyzing the mechanisms that enable successful collaboration. Deliverables include a white paper with policy recommendations, an expanded compendium of research connections, and information for an interactive map linking potential collaborators. These outputs will inform future initiatives and advance science diplomacy in interdisciplinary and international contexts. Fellows should have strong research and communication skills, with Spanish language proficiency preferred, and will commit up to 20 hours per month over six months.

  • Fostering Regional Collaboration Among Latin American and Caribbean Research Organizations

    PROJECT OVERVIEW

    Regional collaboration plays a fundamental role in advancing agricultural and environmental research across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). However, significant challenges exist, particularly in engaging early-career researchers from different countries within the FONTAGRO network. These challenges include limited access to networking opportunities, barriers to resource-sharing, language and cultural differences, and a lack of cohesive institutional support systems.

    This project aims to foster regional collaboration among LAC research organizations, specifically focusing on enhancing participation and integration of early-career researchers. By identifying and addressing the major obstacles that hinder cross-border collaboration, the project seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, strengthen regional research capacity, and promote sustainable agricultural innovations.

  • Global Health Security Agenda Consortium will host two projects for the 2025 cohort:

    1. Role and Impact of the Non-Governmental Sector on Global Health Security

      PROJECT OVERVIEW
      This project examines the contributions of the non-governmental sector to global health security, particularly in biosafety and biosecurity, with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Fellows will collaborate with the GHSA Consortium and the GHSA Action Package 3 (APP3) to document the role of non-governmental actors and highlight the impact of women and other underrepresented groups in this field. The project involves reviewing Joint External Evaluation (JEE) reports, identifying success stories, and assessing policies that enable effective health security practices during emergencies.

      Deliverables include a summary briefing outlining notable stories of impact, lessons learned from JEE missions, and DEIA-focused feedback on the GHSA DEI Implementation Tool of Practical Interventions Measuring Progress. These materials will provide actionable insights and serve as examples for other countries seeking to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity frameworks.

      Fellows should possess strong research and analytical skills, the ability to work independently, and familiarity with global health policy or DEIA initiatives. The time commitment is estimated at 4-8 hours per month, with a project completion target of August 2024.

    2. Perspectives of the role and types of barriers inhibiting research in low-resource settings. With Coalition for Equitable Research in Low Resource Settings (CERCLE)

      PROJECT OVERVIEW
      This project aims to identify and analyze bureaucratic inefficiencies that hinder research in low-resource settings (LRS) across the Global South, with a focus on clinical and public health contexts. Fellows will explore barriers such as delays in contract approvals, inflexible funding structures, overly complex ethical review systems, and hierarchical decision-making processes that impede the timely progression of research. The work will include a systematic literature review to summarize existing knowledge and research gaps, as well as stakeholder engagement through interviews or focus groups, supported by the development of data collection tools and an analytical framework.

      The project will culminate in a comprehensive analysis and the creation of a "white paper" offering actionable recommendations for improving research governance in LRS. Fellows will contribute to knowledge translation by providing insights that can inform regulations, policies, and practices to streamline research processes in these settings. The project supports CERCLE's mission to advance research equity and advocate for efficient and inclusive practices that address the unique challenges faced by populations in the Global South.

  • Building Bridges: Recommendations for an Introductory Science Diplomacy Program for Emerging Global Health Leaders

    PROJECT OVERVIEW

    The CARE service seeks fellows to develop recommendations for an introductory course on science diplomacy for scientists, addressing the urgent need for collaborative, scientifically informed approaches to global health and policy challenges. This program will equip emerging scientists, primarily PhD students and postdocs, with the skills to advise policymakers, advocate for evidence-based solutions, and explore careers in science diplomacy. Fellows will research best practices, engage stakeholders, identify expert contributors, and draft curriculum recommendations aligned with the Institut Pasteur’s global health mission and extensive Pasteur Network. With a 6-month commitment of 15 hours per month, fellows will collaborate across disciplines to shape a course fostering cross-cultural collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable science diplomacy efforts.

  • The United States Department of State will host two projects for the 2025 cohort:

    1. Identifying Key Choke-Point Technologies in Critical and Emerging Fields

      This project will focus on analyzing critical and emerging technologies (CETs) that significantly impact U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and democratic values. Fellows will investigate key "choke-point technologies" in three priority CET fields: Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Information and Science Technologies, and Biotechnology. The analysis will identify 2-3 critical chokepoints for each field, detailing their roles in implementation, exploration, and market capitalization. Additionally, fellows will examine the supply chain institutions—such as private companies, government entities, and academia—that contribute to these chokepoints, with a particular focus on international dependencies and non-domestic factors critical to these technologies. Deliverables include a comprehensive report with actionable insights and recommendations. Fellows should possess expertise in supply chain analysis, emerging technologies, and international relations.

    2. Evaluating the Economic Impact of International Science and Technology Partnerships

      This project will explore the economic and diplomatic benefits of U.S. international science and technology collaborations, with a focus on manufacturing jobs and other economic impacts. Fellows will analyze partnerships in fields such as materials science, synthetic biology, Quantum, biotechnology, 5G, space applications, nuclear technology, batteries, and semiconductors. Key tasks include quantifying job creation and economic growth linked to collaborations, such as Taiwan’s semiconductor investment in Arizona and the U.S. investment in Gujarat, India under the CHIPS and Science Act. Deliverables include a data-driven report outlining the impact of these partnerships on U.S. economic and talent development, with specific metrics such as job growth, startup success, and manufacturing expansion. Fellows should have strong analytical skills and experience in economic analysis and technology policy.

PROJECT PUBLICATIONS

BELOW ARE SELECT PUBLICATIONS FROM PAST FELLOWSHIP PROJECTS

Science Diaspora Networks: A Report on Their Goals, Functions, and Future

Authored by: Dorothy Butler, Barbara Del Castello, Steve Elliott, Elana Goldenkoff, Isabel Warner, and Alessandra Zimmermann

Deeptech Innovation Ecosystems: A comparison between Boston, Pittsburgh, and Eindoven

Authored by: Irene Duba, Garrett Dunlap, CJ Koch, and supervised by Mart Duitemeijer (NIN)

Improving data and policies to support LGBTQ+ people in STEM

Authored by: Shane Coffield, Kolin Clark, Anna Dye, Colbie Chinowsky, Briana Niblick, Marco Reggiani, Bryce Hughes, Alfredo Carpineti, Randall Hughes, Lauren Crawford, LeManuel Bitsóí

Enhancing Collaboration and Support for the French Scientific Diaspora in the United

Authored by: Joy J. Bianchi

PAST PROJECT EXAMPLES

  • Argentina-US Research Partnership in Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Energy Transition and Nuclear Medicine

    PROJECT OVERVIEW

    International collaboration plays a fundamental role in the advancement of science. An excellent example of this situation is found in the excellent connections between Argentina and the US in the satellite and space sciences development. However, both countries have faced difficulties in establishing or enhancing cooperation between research institutions. The main objective of this project is to bring together researchers from related areas so that they can cooperate on concrete projects. To that end, the goal is the identification of potential research partnerships between Argentine Universities and other Argentine Research Centers and US counterparts in four specific areas of mutual interest: Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Energy Transition and Nuclear Medicine.

  • Building a Scientific, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Network for the Chilean Community in the Bay Area

    PROJECT OVERVIEW

    The project addresses a critical challenge faced by Chilean agencies and diplomatic offices operating in various countries, especially in the Bay Area – the identification and communication with Chilean entrepreneurs, startups, innovators, and researchers driving groundbreaking projects abroad. Presently, there is no comprehensive, standardized, and systematized registry of Chileans actively involved in innovation in the Bay Area.

    The NSPN fellows will lead, along with the Industry & Technology Attaché the design and development of a strategy to address this challenge.

  • Global Health Security Agenda Consortium

    PROJECT OVERVIEW

    Project fellows will support the Task Force on Advocacy and Communications (TFAC) by developing standard policies and procedures for collecting information from GHSA Member countries and organizations to support implementation of the GHSA Strategic Communications Plan and develop templates for gathering and presenting key information from GHSA Action Packages and Task Forces to promote awareness and understanding across technical areas in global health.