Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) Fellowship

CISAC Fellows spend the academic year engaged in research and writing in residence at Stanford University, and are expected to participate in seminars and to interact and collaborate with leading faculty and researchers. Natural scientists have the opportunity to conduct research on the scientific and technical aspects of security topics, as well as to work in collaboration with faculty members. The CISAC fellowship provides an unparalleled opportunity for scholars and professionals to explore complex international problems and innovative solutions in a collegial and collaborative environment.

Fellowship Opportunities by Research Area 

• Biotechnology Innovation & International Security Fellows focus on projects related to innovations  in biological science and technology and their interactions with a shifting policy and international security landscape. Fellows will also be affiliated with Bio Policy & Leadership in Society (Bio.Polis) – a strategic initiative of the Department of Bioengineering in partnership with the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) at Stanford University.
• Inaugural Fellowship for Early Career Scientists and Engineers at U.S. National Laboratories: Fellows spend the academic year engaged in research and writing. Natural scientists have the opportunity to conduct research on the scientific and technical aspects of security topics, as well as to work in collaboration with faculty members from a range of disciplines from political science to the physical and biological sciences. The CISAC fellowship hones the ability of lab scientists to work in the policy environment in Washington and beyond.
• The MacArthur Foundation Nuclear Security Fellowships are intended to promote training and policy-relevant scholarship in three interrelated areas: nuclear weapons policy in a changing global context; nuclear terrorism and transnational flows of materials and knowledge; and nuclear energy and nonproliferation challenges.
• Natural Sciences or Engineering International Security Fellows with backgrounds in the natural sciences and in engineering may use their technical expertise from the public and private sectors, the national laboratories, and the military to: pursue research projects on the intersection of hard science, policymaking, and international security; and to hone their science communication skills.
• The Social Media Lab Fellowship offers postdocs the opportunity to pursue research on psychological, HCI, political, social, and policy perspectives of social technology. We seek fellows that focus on any of the following research areas: (1) social media and well-being, with an emphasis on young people; (2) misinformation, trust and technology; (3) AI-mediated communication and generative AI in social dynamics. Fellows will be housed at the Cyber Policy Center and will work closely with the research teams at Stanford Social Media Lab and the Cyber Policy Center.
• Social Sciences or Humanities International Security Fellows (predoctoral, postdoctoral, junior faculty, and professional) may focus on a variety of security topics, including: nuclear weapons policy and nonproliferation; nuclear energy; cybersecurity, cyberwarfare, and the future of the Internet; biosecurity and global health; implications of geostrategic shifts; insurgency, terrorism, and homeland security; war and civil conflict; consolidating peace after conflict; as well as global governance, migration, and transnational flows, from norms to criminal trafficking.
• The Stanford Existential Risk Initiative (SERI) Fellowship offers unique possibilities for impact for fellows dedicated to pursuing existential risk reduction, both in research and education. Fellows will have the opportunity to develop and pursue independent research agendas addressing large-scale risks across any of the four research areas (advanced artificial intelligence, biological risks, nuclear risks, and extreme climate change), with a faculty member appointed to oversee and facilitate their research.
• The Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship is designed to aid in the development of the next generation of thought leaders in nuclear security by supporting research that will advance policy-relevant understanding of nuclear-related issues. They offer engineers, scientists, and social scientists the opportunity to focus on issues related to nuclear security. Alongside their scholarly work, fellows are expected to produce directly policy-relevant work, such as a media appearance, a published article on a reputable website, or a written briefing for a government or international organization.