The MARTIN J. SHERWIN FELLOWSHIP was established by the Wilson Center and the Sherwin family to honor the memory and accomplishments of Martin J. Sherwin, a preeminent scholar in the field of nuclear history who was deeply concerned about the dangers of the nuclear age. His biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, American Prometheus (co-authored with Kai Bird), received the 2006 Pulitzer Prize and became the basis for a major film, “Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan. A three-time Wilson Center fellowship recipient, Dr. Sherwin worked on his final book at the Wilson Center, a definitive work on the Cuban Missile Crisis titled Gambling with Armageddon. While in residence he developed enduring connections to the Wilson Center’s Nuclear Proliferation International History Project (NPIHP).  As senior advisor and a lead instructor at the innovative NPIHP Nuclear History Boot Camp for nearly a decade, he helped to shape this major project, becoming a mentor-at-large to hundreds of PhD students from around the world.   

Fellowship Details

The MARTIN J. SHERWIN FELLOWSHIP provides support for research projects by emerging scholars (post-doc/recent PhD/junior faculty) in any field of nuclear history. Eligible projects may come from all disciplines though a rigorous historical approach is required. The three-to-six-month residential fellowship offers a monthly stipend of $4,000 plus travel expenses to conduct independent research at the Wilson Center and in Washington, D.C. Fellows will receive office space at the Center, have access to Library of Congress holdings, and will present their work in a public forum during or soon after their fellowship tenure. The first call for applications will open on January 5, 2024, and the selection results of the fellowship competition will be announced publicly.

 Eligibility

Applicants can be citizens or permanent residents from any country, but applicants from countries outside the United States must hold a valid passport and be able to obtain a J-1 visa even if they are currently in the United States. English proficiency is required as the Center is designed to encourage the exchange of ideas among its fellows.

Fellows must devote full time to the fellowship project and may not accept a teaching assignment, another residential fellowship, or undertake any other major activities that require prolonged absence from the Wilson Center during the tenure of their fellowship. Once fellowships are awarded and at the Center’s (or fellow’s) discretion, project titles may be modified to reflect the Center’s mandate to serve as a bridge between the world of learning and public policy. Fellows are expected to provide a final report within one month of the end of their fellowship assessing their experience in Washington.

Application Deadline and Materials 

Both nominations and self-applications are welcome. The deadline for the submission of applications is February 15, 2024.

A complete application package must include the following:

1. Application cover letter, including detailed contact information for applicant and requested appointment dates in the summer/fall 2024;
2. An essay on planned objectives and activities (not to exceed 2,000 words);
3. A curriculum vitae, listing relevant experiences, accomplishments and publications (not to exceed three pages);
4. A list of relevant literature and resources;
5. One letter of recommendation. (To be submitted directly by the recommender.)

Selection

Selection will be based on the merit of the proposed research project and the applicant’s qualifications and experience. It involves a peer-review process guided by a selection committee. Results will be announced by March 31, 2024. 

The selection committee is composed of George Frampton (Atlantic Council), Gregg Herken, Leopoldo Nuti (Roma Tre University), Jayita Sarkar (University of Glascow), Alex Sherwin, and Anna-Mart van Wyk (University of Johannesburg).

Background

The Fellowship Fund has been generously supported by dozens of Marty's family members, friends, colleagues, and former students, as well as by several philanthropic foundations. It is administered by the Wilson Center’s History & Public Policy Program.  Learn more about the Fellowship on the Wilson Center website.

Send completed applications as well as questions prior to the February 15, 2024, deadline to historyandpublicpolicyprogram@wilsoncenter.org. Please use “Sherwin Fellowship Application” for the subject line.