Disinformation Fellowship Competition Now Open
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is seeking a Disinformation Fellow to be affiliated with the Science and Technology Innovation Program. The successful applicant will spend up to one year in residence at the Wilson Center, in the heart of Washington, D.C., where the Fellow will carry out advanced, policy-oriented research and writing designed to bridge the gap between the academic, policy and technology communities. The length of the Disinformation Fellow’s appointment will be determined according to the proposed research and the Wilson Center’s available resources. The minimum period of residence for the Disinformation Fellow is six months.
The Disinformation Fellow is made possible by the generosity of the Facebook, Inc.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from individuals in academia, business, journalism, government, law, and related professions. Candidates must be currently pursuing research on key public policy issues related to the challenge of disinformation, including foreign policy implications (especially regarding the United States, Russia, Brazil, India and Europe).
Applicants must have a proven body of work on this topic and at least ten years of professional and/or research experience. Preference will be given to applicants who have published scholarly books or substantial articles in academic or policy-related journals or newspapers. Scholars must be able to hold a valid passport and J-1 visa and are required to have health insurance, which may be obtained through the Center.
Applicants must be professionally fluent in both written and spoken English and in an additional critical language (e.g. Russian, Portuguese).
Responsibilities of the Disinformation Fellow
This is a residential fellowship. The Fellow will be provided a monthly stipend, plus partial help with transportation and health insurance expenses, and office or library carrel space available 24 hours a day. In addition, the Fellow will be provided with a part-time research assistant when feasible and Windows-based personal computers. The Wilson Center Library provides access to digital resources, its book and journal collections, and to the Library of Congress, university and special libraries in the area, and other research facilities.
While at the Wilson Center, the Disinformation Fellow will be expected to carry out a full schedule of rigorous research and writing based on the topic outlined in the research proposal submitted at the time of application. The Fellow will also be expected to participate in workshops, seminars, and conferences organized by the Center's Science and Technology Innovation Program, and in other ways to participate in the intellectual life of the Wilson Center and the larger community of disinformation observers in Washington. There is an expectation that the Disinformation Fellow will attempt to publish work in U.S. or international publications.
Although Fellows are responsible for obtaining their own housing in the Washington, D.C. area, the Center provides written material to help facilitate the search process.
Selection Criteria
a) significance of the proposed research, including the importance and originality of the project;
b) quality of the proposal in definition, organization, clarity and scope;
c) capabilities and achievements of the applicant; and
d) relevance of the project to public policy regarding disinformation.
A panel of experts will have responsibility for reviewing all applications and making recommendations for appointment.
Procedures and Deadline for Applications
Applications for the Disinformation Fellow seeking appointment are welcome until midnight Eastern Standard Time on April 15, 2019. Applicants should specify the precise time period for which they seek appointment, and will be informed of the disposition of their application within 30 days of the Center receiving the completed application and supporting letters of recommendation. Applicants should submit the following materials to the address given below, and electronically to stip@wilsoncenter.org:
a) a brief (3-5 single-spaced pages) description of their proposed research project, its scholarly contribution, and its policy relevance. Project descriptions should include:
- a detailed explanation of the research topic;
- discussion of the project's originality;
- discussion of the methods, approaches, sources, and materials to be used, and, where appropriate, the importance of Washington-area resources; and
- discussion of the significance of the project as well as its relevance to disinformation-related policy issues.
b) a C.V. or resume
c) two letters of recommendation
Application letters and letters of recommendation should be mailed to the following address:
Science and Technology Innovation Program Disinformation Fellowship
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20004-3027
E-mail: stip@wilsoncenter.org
Applications submitted via electronic mail will be considered only if followed by a hardcopy sent by mail.