Apply for the Open Society University Network Academy Fellowships 2024-25(Fully-funded and remote)

Now in our second century, Chatham House has an ambitious goal to prepare the next generation of thinkers to meet the challenges of tomorrow

Our Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation, established in 2014 and opened by Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, develops future policy makers and drives positive change in world affairs by equipping future leaders with the knowledge, skills and networks to make a lasting, positive impact on international affairs.

Academy fellowships, embedded in our exclusive training programme and supported by our prestigious research teams, offer an exciting opportunity to:

• Build key leadership skills;
• Develop a research project at a world leading policy institute and;
• Connect with Chatham House’s unique expert network, engaging in dialogue and debate to expand understanding of critical international issues.

Academy Fellowships

In a joint initiative with the Open Society University Network, The Academy is looking to host two fellows for a short-term, four-month fellowship from October 2024 to January 2025.

The fellowship offers candidates at the early to mid-stage of their career the opportunity to spend four months at Chatham House working with a research programme and developing their leadership skills and thematic knowledge.

Academy Fellows are professionals from a wide range of backgrounds including government, research, academia, civil society, journalism, for example, who are at the early to mid-point of their career and who are passionate about identifying evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing international challenges. They are often experts in their individual fields who show exceptional promise as emerging leaders in their home countries, regions or even internationally.

Fellows are strongly encouraged to consider the overall Chatham House mission, values and goals, align their proposal with the work and focus of the research programmes listed, and develop research proposals that seek to directly contribute to the topics listed:

Digital Society Initiative

• Established models of technology governance and provision, particularly in Western democracies, are under significant scrutiny. While public rulemaking meets private design and delivery is under the spotlight, what concrete success stories from elsewhere in the world showcasing different approaches could stand as alternative models? Examples may look like digital public infrastructure programmes, new approaches to licensing or in government procurement, or in state capacity building exercises to design and deploy technology for the public good.
• Technology is an essential component of contemporary democratic processes. In the face of rapidly changing information systems, what Global Majority case studies showcase innovative policy responses in service of a healthy digital commons? And are there lessons that can be translated to other states?

Global Economy and Finance Programme

• Is the dollar’s dominance coming to an end? How can we measure changes in the distribution of global currency power?
• How can the global economic governance system be made more legitimate?

Global Health Programme

• Considerations for regional strategic stockpiling of medical countermeasures for health emergencies: strengthening supply chain resilience and self-sufficiency.
• Governance of pathogen research
• Examination of the effectiveness of compulsory license flexibility in the Trips Agreement – is it fit for purpose?
• How effective are laboratory systems in Africa? What are the gaps, redundancies and vulnerabilities and how can a regional approach help?
• Were lockdowns really necessary and are they a good idea for next time?

International Security Programme

• How can the parallels between space and cyberspace on responsible state behaviour help address shared challenges in both domains and ensure their secure and peaceful utilization?
• In light of the evolving geopolitical challenges and emerging security threats, in what ways should NATO adapt to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness in maintaining regional and global security in the future?
• How can international legal frameworks and collaborative efforts be strengthened to ensure greater accountability for cybercriminal activities targeting Critical National Infrastructure, and what role do emerging technologies play in enhancing attribution and prosecution?
• How can European states adjust their deterrence messaging for future threats without falling victim to a security dilemma?

Environment and Society Centre

• How have current geopolitical shifts affected global and national resource dynamics regarding energy, food and critical materials? How can international governance frameworks reduce these risks and vulnerabilities?
• In a time of increasing political tension and polarisation, what is the role of international collaboration, and how can international governance be reinvigorated to continue to respond to climate-related challenges?

Europe Programme

• What should a future European security architecture look like? What is the long- and short-term impact on this of the war in Ukraine?
• How can democracy in Europe be deepened? What role does economic policy in this revitalisation of democracy in Europe?
• What is the future of industrial policy in Europe in the face of competition from China and the US? How should the UK relate to this?

Middle East and North Africa Programme

• Palestine – domestic and foreign policy
• Climate change in MENA – implications, policy, scope for regional cooperation
• Political economy and accountability, preferably in Libya and/or Maghreb
• Artificial intelligence in MENA – governance and accountability, regional leadership
• China-MENA – nature of the relationship, implications for regional security and geopolitical competition

Russia and Eurasia Programme

• Developments in Russia’s war on Ukraine
• The future landscape of post-war Russia
• The reconstruction and societal healing of Ukraine
• The effects of the war on the other ‘survivor states’ of Eurasian communism (what was once the Soviet Union)
• Societal resilience in war time and reforms that contribute to it

UK in the World Programme

• The UK’s science and technology capabilities, ambitions and its potential role in global governance (Particularly around developments concerning AI)
• The UK’s strategic relations with the ‘Global South’, including the UK’s role in the Indo-Pacific; UK-India; UK-China; UK-Commonwealth
• UK foreign policy and prosperity/resilience at home – the ‘securenomics’ idea that Labour is putting forward (drawing heavily on Biden’s FP for the middle-class policy from when he took office)
• How UK foreign policy impacts different regions/devolved nations, and whether/how do different regions/nations within the UK perceive/shape/influence UK foreign policy made in Westminster.

US and the Americas Programme

• How does your research speak to the broader international implications of America’s changing global role?

Selection criteria

The successful candidate will:

• Be affiliated with an Open Society University Network (OSUN) institution;
• Have experience conducting independent research and hold an undergraduate or postgraduate level qualification or have equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area;
• Have the relevant background experience, including experience in the field of the proposed research, as demonstrated through a CV;
• Have proven leadership experience or potential;
• Show commitment to the Chatham House mission, goals and values and to identifying evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing international challenges;
• Be able to communicate how the fellowship will enable them to create positive impact, in line with the Chatham House mission and overarching purpose of Academy Fellowships as outlined above;
• Show motivation to undertake the fellowship, meet all fellowship deliverables, and take full advantage of the networks, events and opportunities offered at Chatham House; and
• Demonstrate proficiency in spoken English.

Benefits

Academy Fellows receive a monthly stipend of £2,365 for London living costs, including accommodation, utilities, food, transport, and other basic expenses.

In addition, the Academy will cover reasonable costs related to:

• Relocation (Flights, train, etc. to/from the UK, three nights of accommodation, visas, extra cases/boxes, etc.)
• Payment of the UK’s Immigration Healthcare Surcharge which allows access to the UK National Health Service (Note: you may be required to pay for dental and optical treatments and medicines prescribed by a doctor)
• Research, outreach, and dissemination costs (fieldwork, travel, conferences, publication, roundtables, events, etc.)

Additionally, Fellows attend the Academy Leadership Programme through which they access:

• Workshops, seminars, and events
• Media training
• Career coaching
• Writing support
• Networking opportunities, including with Chatham House staff, the Academy’s faculty and alumni
• Chatham House membership upon completion of the fellowship

Contract: 4 months.

Location: Hybrid (Office/Home), minimum 2 days in the office per week, plus expected attendance at leadership programme sessions.

Closing Date: 11 am BST, Wednesday 15 May 2024. You will be notified of the status of your application within 4 weeks of the role closing.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch at Academy@chathamhouse.org

Please note: We screen candidates anonymously. We will not see your personal information before your application has been moved forward in the process. Please exclude any personal or identifiable information in your application answers including your personal statement.

The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.