Transatlantic Post-Doc Fellowship for International Relations and Security (TAPIR)

Call for Applications 2012

The Transatlantic Post-Doc Fellowship for International Relations and Security (TAPIR) is open to candidates who have recently received their doctorate in social and political sciences or economics and whose research focuses on topics of international relations and/or international peace and security issues. Fellowships are granted for a duration of 24 months to prepare Fellows for a career in policy-oriented and international research at renowned think tanks and political consulting research institutes. Fellows spend three eight-month stays at research institutions or think tanks participating in the programme - at least one on the Eastern, and one on the Western side of the Atlantic. 

Fellows will be supervised by a researcher at each host institute, while being integrated into the relevant research units or projects. Fellows will have the opportunity to work on issues of major and immediate political significance, and to publish their work in journals or paper series that will be read by decision-makers at national and international levels. The Fellowship aims to involve participants actively in the work and research of leading international think tanks. It is not intended primarily to fund the completion of major individual publications or of academic peer-reviewed journal articles. 

The fellowship consists of

• a monthly stipend of Euro 1,800.-
• a monthly allowance for health insurance of Euro 200.-
• and a one-time travel allowance of Euro 3,500.- for travel to and from the host institutions.

Fees for residence permits are not included. 
 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Transatlantic Post-Doc Fellowship, candidates should have successfully defended their Ph.D. by the start of the programme (1st October 2012). Candidates must have a strong interest in working in a policy-oriented international environment and must demonstrate their ability to do so by previous international academic experience. 

Applicants must either be citizens of the U.S., Canada or Europe (in a broader geographical definition) OR must have resided in the U.S., Canada or Europe at least for two-and-a-half years in the five years before the application deadline. 
 

Application procedure

Applications should contain

• A five-page research statement outlining the candidate's current and longer-term academic interests (research proposal). This does not have to be limited to transatlantic issues.
• A terse Curriculum Vitae with a list of principal publications (max. four pages in total). Please state your citizenship if you are U.S., Canadian or European citizen OR details about your residency there (see above).
• Two letters of recommendation (attached to your application or sent separately by your referee)

All files, including letters of recommendation, should be sent in PDF format to transatlanticfellowship@swp-berlin.org by 1st February 2012. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Successful candidates will be informed by May 2012. 
 

Selection

Up to five Fellowships will be awarded in 2012. Fellows will be selected by a jury composed of members of the participating institutes. Selection criteria are the academic excellence of the candidate and the quality of the research statement. 

The decision of the jury is final and no appeal is possible. All candidates are informed of the outcome of their applications by e-mail. 
 

Funders

The programme is funded by, among others, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Deutsche Bank, Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Otto Group, Robert Bosch Stiftung, and Transatlantikprogramm der Bundesregierung. 

For further information, please contact: 

Tobias von Lossow
 Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
Transatlantic Fellowship Program
Ludwigkirchplatz 3-4
10719 Berlin 

phone: +49 (0)30 88007-106
 fax: +49 (0)30 88007-5106 / -100
 e-mail: tobias.vonlossow@swp-berlin.org