External Opportunities
Various private, international, governmental, and non-governmental organizations have open vacancies for professionals with profound knowledge of Russia and Eurasia as well as regional languages. Fletcher students and alumni interested in pursuing jobs, internships, grants, scholarships, fellowships, professional training, language training, and further graduate studies related to Russia, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia are encouraged to research the following links.
Please open the tabs below to learn more.
Jobs
- CNA
- Research Analyst (Russia Studies Program) – Click here to access the application (Fletcher alumni connection. Please reach out to arik.burakovsky@tufts.edu if interested.)
- National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
- Akima
- Program and Management Analyst – Click here to access the application (Fletcher connection. Please reach out to arik.burakovsky@tufts.edu if interested.)
- Senior Program/Office Management Assistant – Click here to access the application (Fletcher connection. Please reach out to arik.burakovsky@tufts.edu if interested.)
- Mid Program and Budget Analyst – Click here to access the application (Fletcher connection. Please reach out to arik.burakovsky@tufts.edu if interested.)
- Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist – Click here to access the application (Fletcher connection. Please reach out to arik.burakovsky@tufts.edu if interested.)
- NATO’s Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
- NATO’s Young Professionals Programme (YPP) aims to attract and develop highly talented professionals who are interested in accelerating their career through entry-level positions at NATO. Deadline to apply is October 27, 2024. Click here to access the application.
Internships
- American Academy of Diplomacy – Spring 2025 Internship Program
- The Academy seeks an individual interested in American foreign policy and the practice of diplomacy, as well as in the inner workings of a nonprofit organization. Because the Academy is small, the internships offer students a unique opportunity to become an integral part of the organization’s core team. A student or a recent graduate with continuing education goals and interest in the Foreign Service will find this internship particularly rewarding, as they will be able to interact with our distinguished members, assist with the distribution of their published articles through social media, learn about the Foreign Service and gain insights into the workings of how foreign policy is carried out. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2024. Click here for more information.
- Eurasia Foundation
- With its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and programs in Eurasia, China, and the Middle East, the Eurasia Foundation recruits individuals from all over the world and offers jobs and internships in Russia, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
- Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies
- The Stanford University Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies is a hub for the interdisciplinary study of a vast region stretching from the Berlin Wall to the Bering Strait. It provides a list of professional opportunities, including internships, jobs, and postdoctoral positions related to Russia and Eurasia.
- The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES)
- ASEEES is the leading international organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, and Eastern Europe. ASEEES regularly posts announcements about jobs, fellowships, grants, and internships specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- The Jamestown Foundation
- The Jamestown Foundation’s mission is to inform and educate policy makers and the broader community about events and trends in those societies which are strategically or tactically important to the United States and which frequently restrict access to such information. Utilizing indigenous and primary sources, Jamestown’s material is delivered without political bias, filter or agenda. It is often the only source of information which should be, but is not always, available through official or intelligence channels, especially in regard to Eurasia and terrorism. ASEEES regularly posts announcements about jobs, fellowships, grants, and internships specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- Council on Foreign Relations
- In an ever-changing world, CFR’s work as a leading nonpartisan resource for information and ideas about foreign policy is more important than ever. At CFR, interns participate in one of the foremost paid internship programs in the foreign policy arena. They do work that matters alongside smart and dedicated staff in a diverse and inclusive environment. Interns are paid a competitive hourly wage while gaining valuable experience through exposure to leading foreign policy experts. They are also offered professional development training as a foundation for future work in the field of foreign policy and international affairs. Internship opportunities are offered through the Blavatnik Internship Program and Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program. Click here for more information.
- Kennan Institute
- The Kennan Institute is the premier U.S. center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute regularly posts announcements about internships specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- U.S Russia Foundation
- Founded in 2008, the U.S. Russia Foundation (USRF) makes grants to support a healthy private sector, rule of law, and civil society in Russia, in the conviction that these are necessary for an accountable, democratic government that will mean a better future for Russians and the U.S.-Russia relations. The USRF regularly posts announcements about internships.
- Hudson Institute
- Hudson welcomes undergraduates and post-graduate students in the spring, summer, and fall semesters to support the policy work of the Institute. Interns have a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with Hudson experts and staff on a variety of policy topics, such as national security and defense, cybersecurity and technology, grand strategy and history, and international relations and trade. Hudson offers both in-person internship opportunities at our Washington, DC headquarters and remote internship opportunities. Click here for more information.
- National Endowment for Democracy
- The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is an independent, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Each year, NED makes more than 2,000 grants to support the projects of non-governmental groups abroad who are working for democratic goals in more than 100 countries. Click here to find Internships.
- German Marshall Fund of the United States
- The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, transatlantic organization headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in Ankara, Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels, Bucharest, Paris, and Warsaw that strives champion democratic values and the transatlantic alliance by strengthening civil society, forging bold and innovative policy ideas, and developing a new generation of leaders to tackle global challenges. Internship opportunities can be found here.
- AEI
- AEI internships offer students a unique chance to collaborate closely with distinguished scholars, economists, political scientists, and foreign policy experts who are widely recognized in the United States. These professionals are engaged in extensive research on pressing public policy issues of our time. The institute provides an intellectually invigorating setting that fosters critical thinking, academic excellence, and vibrant discussions. Click here to learn more.
- The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
- The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) internship program is designed to provide a variety of professional opportunities and exposure to rising young leaders in the transatlantic space. The internship program is unpaid and is offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer both virtually and in person. Click here to learn more.
- Post Conflict Research Center
- PCRC provides internship opportunities to local, regional and international youth in an effort to educate them about Bosnia’s conflict history and post-conflict present. In addition, working at PCRC allows interns the chance to directly participate in BiH’s peacebuilding process. Our program involves a wide range of field activities and site visits designed to engage and broaden interns’ knowledge in a variety of areas including transitional justice, human rights, and reconciliation. This is important because PCRC wants its interns to be able to share and disseminate the information they have learned in their own communities as well as utilize and apply their newly acquired skills towards their career goals. Click here to know more.
Fellowships
- Baylor University Doctoral Fellowship
- Department of Political Science at Baylor University invites applications from students interested in pursuing doctoral research on the politics of contemporary Ukraine and Eastern Europe starting August, 2025. The Department is particularly interested in students whose research interests intersect comparative politics and international relations subfields and address such topics as civil society, political institutions and regional and international security in the context of Russian-Ukrainian war. The deadline to apply is December 15, 2024. More information here.
- George F. Kennan Fellowship
- The Kennan Institute seeks applicants for the George F. Kennan Fellowship from diverse, policy-oriented sectors such as media, business, local government, law, civil society, and academia to examine important political, social, economic, cultural, and historical issues in Russia, Ukraine, and the region. Among the aims of the new fellowships are to build bridges between traditional academia and the policy world, as well as to maintain and increase collaboration among researchers from Russia, Ukraine, the US, and around the globe. Fellows will be based at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. for 3-month residencies. There are no citizenship requirements for this grant. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2024. More information here.
- Galina Starovoitova Fellowship on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution
- The Kennan Institute is pleased to announce the latest competition cycle for the Galina Starovoitova Fellowship on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. The prestigious Starovoitova Fellowship was established following US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s 25 January 1999 speech in Moscow in which she announced funding for a memorial fellowship at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in honor of Galina Starovoitova. For more details and application link, click here.
- James H. Billington Fellowship
- The Billington Fellowship was established in 2016 in tribute to the co-founder of the Kennan Institute, Director Emeritus of the Wilson Center, and Librarian Emeritus of Congress, James H. Billington. For this fellowship, we will consider proposed research in the fields of Russian history and culture, and preference will be given to scholars who have received their Ph.D. within the past 10 years. The Billington Fellowship offers a monthly stipend of $5,000, research facilities, a research intern, and computer access. Fellows are required to be in residence at the Kennan Institute, Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. for the duration of the grant. There is no citizenship restriction on this grant. More details here.
- The James S. Denton Transatlantic Fellowship
- The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is hosting a three-week fellowship to engage and work with American experts on addressing major policy issues facing the transatlantic partnership. The program is expected to run in July 2024. Click here to register.
- 2024 ASEEES Fellowships
- Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Fellowship
The Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Research and Dissertation Completion Fellowships offer maximum stipends of $25,000 for graduate students in any discipline whose dissertation topics involve 19th-early 21st century Russian historical studies. This includes the Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Research Fellowship for Women’s and Gender Studies. Please see the ASEEES website for full eligibility requirements. The Stephen F. Cohen-Robert C. Tucker Dissertation Fellowship Program is sponsored by the KAT Charitable Foundation. - First Book Subvention
Awarded twice annually, First Book Subventions are awarded twice annually for subvention of books by first- time authors who have already secured publishing contracts. Multiple awards of up to $2,500 will be made on a competitive basis each year, with funds paid directly to the press.
- Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Fellowship
- Budapest Fellowship Program 2024/2025
- The Budapest Fellowship Program is a full-time, fully-funded transatlantic fellowship in Budapest, Hungary, for young American scholars and professionals, and it includes a Junior Fellowship aimed for students currently pursuing their Master’s degree or recently graduated from a Masters program, and a Senior Fellowship, for advanced doctoral students (i.e. pre-doctoral fellows), post-doctoral researchers, and early career professionals, who hold at least a Master’s or a Ph.D. degree.
- Martin J. Sherwin Fellowship
- This fellowship supports emerging scholars in the fields of nuclear policy and history research. Competitively selected junior researchers (post-doc/recent PhD/junior faculty) will receive a three to six-month residential fellowship to conduct independent research at the Wilson Center and in the Washington DC area. 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 their fellowship tenure. Eligible scholars may come from all disciplines, though a historical approach is required.
- Bertelsmann Foundation
- The Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship (BFF), formerly known as the Congressional European Parliamentary Initiative (CEPI), is a hybrid experience that convenes over the period of six months. Fellows start with an in-person trip in Brussels to kick off the fellowship, followed by an engaging, four-month virtual program in which they meet once a week with experts related to the year’s topic. The Fellowship comes to a close with a trip to Washington, D.C., where fellows are able to further engage in person. A final publication providing concrete policy recommendations related to the topic is written by the fellows themselves, published at the end of the BFF program. Please follow the link here for application details.
- The Kennan Institute
- The Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is committed to improving American expertise and knowledge about Russia, Ukraine, and other countries in the region. It offers fellowships, research assistant positions, as well as scholarships in humanities and social sciences to scholars and specialists from government, media, and business. Please follow the link here for details on fellowships and internships.
- The Davis Center at Harvard University
- The Davis Center offers a variety of graduate grants and fellowships to support academic year tuition and fees, living expenses, research travel, and intensive summer language study. Click here to view the various grant and fellowship opportunities.
- The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES)
- ASEEES is the leading international organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, and Eastern Europe. ASEEES regularly posts announcements about jobs, fellowships, grants, and internships specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative (ECCRI)
- The European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative (ECCRI) promotes the interdisciplinary study of cyber conflict and statecraft in Europe and beyond. ECCRI exists to make rigorous, objective research on cyber conflict and statecraft accessible to policy-makers and the general public. The applications for European Cybersecurity Fellowship 2023-2024 are now closed. Details can be found here.
- Eisenhower Fellowships
- Eisenhower Fellowships will host a groundbreaking Eastern Europe Program to strengthen democratic governance across the region. The program will identify and host outstanding leaders from Turkey, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden and exiled Ukrainians. The 2023 application cycle has closed. Details can be accessed here.
- NATO Defense College (NDC) Resident Fellowship Programme – NDC Research Division
- In place since 1993, and counting over 130 alumni, the NDC Resident Fellowship Programme currently consists of four sub-programmes ( Eisenhower Defense Fellowships, Partnership for Peace Fellowships, Mediterranean Dialogue Fellowships, Other Military Cooperation/Partners Across the Globe Fellowship (OMC/PaG) ) for a total of eight fellowships per year. It is designed for international security scholars/academics/researchers of NATO Allies and its Partners. Click here to learn about applications. Applications are closed until April 1, 2025.
- European Institute
- Cold War Archives Research (CWAR) Fellowship – The fellowship gives students the opportunity to conduct archival research on the cultural history of the Cold War and develop original research papers based on their findings. Those interested in public and cultural diplomacy, journalistic history, and the engagement of modern Europe with other regions during the Cold War will find abundant resources for productive investigations at archives they will visit with the group. Click here to know more.
- Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
- Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) fellowships offer unique opportunities for U.S. citizens with a demonstrated commitment to a career in foreign policy to gain experience in a new environment. Selected fellows broaden their perspective of foreign affairs either by pursuing work in a policymaking setting or research in an academic environment. Click here to know more.
- Central Asia Program
- The Central Asia Program is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Leadership Programs in fields crucial for the sustainable development and prosperity of societies. These programs will last 10 months (August 2024 – June 2025) and the participants will have opportunities to gain skills, knowledge, and connections through rigorous academic programs, collaboration with accomplished researchers, and networking with major Washington, DC-based institutions, think tanks, and policymakers. The participants will also enjoy the perks of The George Washington University (GW) community: access to state-of-the-art technology, resource centers, and a variety of events. The Central Asia Program is a part of the GW’s Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies – the #1 university-affiliated regional studies center in the US. Find more details about the programs here.
Grants
- 2024 ASEEES Grants
- Mutual Aid Grant
Developments in recent years have highlighted the financial precarity confronted by many of our colleagues in Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies. For contingently-employed graduate students and faculty instructors in the SEEES field, the impacts of institutional austerity, rising living costs and other economic factors are particularly acute, warranting active intervention. To support contingent faculty and graduate student members based in the US with urgent financial need, ASEEES has established a small mutual aid grant program in collaboration with the Working Group for Solidarity in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, an ASEEES affiliate organization. To apply for financial assistance, please complete the online application, available on the ASEEES website, by the deadlines of either March 1 and September 1. Applicants will be eligible to apply for up to $250, with grants disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis for each application round. Applicants may receive the mutual aid grant once. Help us sustain this program by donating to the Mutual Aid Fund HERE. - Internship Grant
ASEEES’ Internship Grant Program provides MA, PhD, and professional school students and recent graduates (i.e. those who have graduated no more than two years prior to the competition deadline) with grants that make it possible for them to accept unpaid or underpaid internships in areas broadly related to Russia, including Russia’s relations with other regions/countries. These internships must be in the US and should be substantial in duration and responsibilities (20-25 work hours per week), lasting two months for summer internships and four months for semester internships. The grant offers $2,000 a month, to be paid directly to the grantee (intern) during their internship. - Dissertation Research Grants
ASEEES Dissertation Research Grants (DRGs) support doctoral dissertation research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia in any aspect of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies in any discipline. Graduate student of any citizenship, in any discipline currently enrolled in a PhD program in the United States (and for the Bailey Dissertation Research Grant, in the US and Canada) may apply. - Summer Dissertation Writing Grants
Thanks to the generosity of donors and members, the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies is offering a limited number of grants, with a maximum stipend of $6,000, for the purposes of summer dissertation writing on any aspect of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies in any discipline. The writing grant program is directed at PhD students at US universities who do not qualify for the ASEEES Dissertation Research Grant because they do not intend to conduct research in the region.
- Mutual Aid Grant
- The BEAR (Between the EU and Russia: Domains of Diversity and Contestation)
- The BEAR network’s key objective is to promote a better understanding of how the EU and Russia influence and inspire minority politics, integration efforts, and societal contestation on the EU’s eastern borders. The BEAR offers various grant opportunities.
- The Davis Center at Harvard University
- The Davis Center offers a variety of graduate grants and fellowships to support academic year tuition and fees, living expenses, research travel, and intensive summer language study. Click here to view the various grant opportunities.
- The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES)
- ASEEES is the leading international organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, and Eastern Europe. ASEEES regularly posts announcements about jobs, fellowships, grants, and internships specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- Kennan Institute
- The Kennan Institute is the premier U.S. center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute regularly posts announcements about grants specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- The Davis Center at Harvard University
- The Davis Center offers a variety of graduate grants and fellowships to support academic year tuition and fees, living expenses, research travel, and intensive summer language study. Click here to view the various grant and fellowship opportunities.
- The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES)
- ASEEES is the leading international organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, and Eastern Europe. ASEEES regularly posts announcements about jobs, fellowships, grants, and internships specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- Kennan Institute
- The Kennan Institute is the premier U.S. center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute regularly posts announcements about grants specifically relevant to the broad scope of interests and expertise of its members.
- The American Research Institute of the South Caucasus (ARISC)
- ARISC is an American Overseas Research Center, an independent not-for-profit, that supports research in and about Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, both in the South Caucasus and the US. A member of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), ARISC offers fellowships, programming and research support. ARISC is an Affiliate Organization of the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES). Click here to know more.
Graduate Studies
- SRAS Spring 2025 Study Abroad Program
- These immersive educational journeys are tailored to fit your budget, schedule, and academic aspirations. Embrace the vibrant local culture of the Baltics, Central Asia, the Caucasus, or Poland. Immerse yourself in our dynamic Russian as a Second Language programs or join one our specialized feature programs and explore security, regional studies, international relations, identity, and other contemporary issues pivotal to our times. Make the most of your semester abroad! Applications for Spring 2025 are due October 15, 2024. Learn more here.
- SRAS
- SRAS is a team of consultants and advisers dedicated to the educational opportunities offered by challenging locations. Our team has studied within the educational systems of the locations we represent and we continue to live in and/or regularly travel to those cities. This gives us the local insight we need to provide effective educational programming as well as safe and informed experiences for our students and clients. Learn more about the programs offered by SRAS here.
- University of Arizona Study Abroad Program
- Arizona in Kazakhstan gives Russian language students a unique opportunity to learn the language and experience the culture in one of the most vibrant, successful post-Soviet-era countries. Click here to learn more.
Professional Training and Conferences
- Monterey’s Middlebury Institute of International Studies
- MSSR brings together graduate students and professionals for a summer of study at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California, providing a wide-ranging modules on Russian history, foreign policy, and values in political decision making. The Monterey Summer Symposium on Russia (MSSR) accepts applications on an annual basis. Please follow the link here for application details.
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
- CSIS’ five-day Understanding the Russian Military Today professional development program explores the elements of Russian military power, including their composition and future prospects, social and historical foundations, doctrine, and current operations. Participants will build on classroom knowledge with hands-on analytical training and exercises. The course is led by defense and security experts from CSIS, other think tanks, and the academic community. Please follow the link here for application details.
- AVİM
- AVIM offers trainee program opportunities all year round. Applicants from Turkey and other countries may apply for short and long term trainee programs. AVİM Trainee Program participants are expected to provide assistance in organizational matters such as supporting the AVİM staff in organizing different events, monitoring of the developments in the Eurasian region as well as to contribute to AVİM reports and other publications. AVİM Trainee Program participants are assigned specific topics relevant to their research interests during their trainee program. By the end of the trainee program period, participants are expected to submit a policy paper based on their studies.
- American Councils for International Education
- A leading non-governmental organization that implements various programs around the world through cultural exchange, language training, and professional development. The organization searches for professionals in different realms to reach it goals.
- Armenia – American Councils Study Abroad
- Nestled between Turkey, Georgian, Azerbaijan, and Iran, Armenia is at the heart of the Caucasus, where Europe meets Asia. Since 1996, American Councils Armenia has implemented more than a dozen programs, providing 1,400 high school and university students, educators, and faculty members with opportunities to study, research and gain professional skills. At the same time, dozens of American students, scholars, and professionals have traveled here to learn Armenian or other regional languages, conduct academic research, take part in reciprocal visits, or participate in professional internships.
Language Training
- Harvard Summer School Russian Language offers rapid-paced language course for beginner level.
- Middlebury Russian Language School offers eight-week program at Middlebury College. The program includes beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, fully immersive experience, and intensive language learning.
- Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey: Summer Intensive Program offers intensive eight-week program for beginning and intermediate levels.
- American Councils for International Education offers eight-week summer programs at choice of Moscow International University, the Russian State Pedagogical University (Gertsen Institute) in St. Petersburg or the KORA Center for Russian Language in Vladimir.
- Harvard Ukrainian Institute offers seven-week intensive Ukrainian language program at Harvard.
- American Councils Study Abroad: Eurasian Regional Languages Program offers summer program that includes wide range of Eurasian regional languages, including Armenian, Azeri, Georgian, Kazakh and Ukrainian in variety of Eurasian countries. Possibility of also studying Buryat, Kyrgyz, Tatar, Turkmen, Tuvan and Yakut.
- The Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies
- Title VIII Opportunities at ASU’s Critical Languages Institute – Click here to learn more.