U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) ENGINEERING & INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIP
Deadline: 14 December 2020
Location: Washington, DC; USA (May also travel to other countries)
Type of Contract: Fellowship
IEEE-USA is seeking members interested in serving as advisors to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Known as an IEEE-USA ENGINEERING & INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOW, you will spend a year, beginning in September, living and working in Washington, D.C. The fellowship offers an opportunity for member of the science, technology, and engineering community to provide valuable technical expertise to USAID while learning about and contributing to the foreign policy process.
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. Government agency working to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. President John F. Kennedy created USAID by executive order in 1961. U.S. foreign assistance has always had the two-fold purpose of furthering America’s interests while improving lives in the developing world. USAID carries out U.S. foreign policy by promoting broad-scale human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies, creates markets and trade partners for the United States, and fosters good will abroad.
USAID’s approach includes developing and delivering scientific and technical breakthroughs to solve development problems. Science and technology are a USAID priority, reflecting the overriding objectives of U.S. global development policy.
Application Info
If you wish to apply for an IEEE-USA USAID Fellowship, please apply directly to IEEE-USA using the application provided on this page. Do not apply to AAAS for the IEEE-USA Fellowship.
Please send your application to Erica Wissolik at [email protected]. We must receive your application via e-mail by the 5pm deadline for it to be considered valid.
IEEE-USA Government Fellows
2001 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
PLEASE NOTE: You may apply for one, two, or all three of the IEEE-USA fellowships (Congressional, State, USAID) in any one year. However, you must submit a separate cover letter and separate supporting packages (application forms and reference letters) for each type of fellowship. Each letter must carefully illustrate your understanding of the specific fellowship, and an awareness of the distinctions between the responsibilities of legislative and executive branch personnel. IEEE-USA will not accept one application package in which you state you are interested in all three types of fellowships.
SELECTION CRITERIA
To be considered for an IEEE-USA Engineering & International Development Fellowship, applicants must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be an IEEE Member (which includes those in graduate student membership status) in good standing at the time of application.
- Applicants must possess either:
i.) a Ph.D.; or
ii.) a Master’s degree plus a minimum of five (5) years of full-time, professional work experience.
Applicants who are in the final stage of obtaining a Ph.D. may apply and interview for the Fellowship. However, the applicant must provide official transcripts confirming possession of a Ph.D. prior to the start of the Fellowship on September 1st. The degree must be granted by an accredited program in a subject field that falls within the science, engineering, computer, or allied disciplines eligible for IEEE membership. In exceptional cases, the Government Fellows Committee may waive the Masters plus work experience or Ph.D. requirements for candidates with extraordinary compensating experience. Work experience must consist of full-time, relevant professional employment and does not include internships or student-related employment.
- The required five years of work experience must consist of full-time, relevant professional employment and does not include internships or student-related employment and research positions.
- An applicant must be a U.S. citizen at the time of application or, at the latest, prior to selection.
- An applicant must possess or be able to obtain a security clearance prior to the beginning of the fellowship.
Please review the Program Policies & Procedures and the USAID position description documents for complete information on eligibility requirements.
A joint IEEE-USA and USAID committee reviews finalists, with USAID giving final approval of the fellow selection. The selection committee may establish additional criteria. Specifically excluded as selection criteria are age, sex, creed, race, ethnic background, and partisan political affiliations.
The fellow does not act as a representative of IEEE-USA during the fellowship term, and is not considered an employee of IEEE-USA.
INTERVIEWS AND PLACEMENT
If the Government Fellows Committee selects you as a finalist, you will be invited to interview in-person in Washington, D.C. at IEEE-USA’s expense. IEEE-USA will reimburse reasonable travel and lodging expenses associated with the interviews. Finalists must be able to attend in person. Rescheduling the face-to-face interview is not an option.
The interviews are scheduled for 4-5 February 2021. Interviews are approximately 45 minutes long and you need be here for only one of those days. Scheduling will occur at the time of notification of an interview.
If selected for an IEEE-USA USAID fellowship, the fellow may also required to spend one week in early April, interviewing and exploring available opportunities at the agency. Dates vary by year and are established by AAAS. Again, IEEE-USA will reimbiurse reasonable travel and lodging expenses associated with this week.
IEEE-USA has no role in selecting the fellow’s assignment, the fellow does not act as a representative of IEEE-USA during the fellowship term, and is not considered an employee of IEEE-USA. (See also AAAS Ethics Policy.)
ORIENTATION
In early September, prior to beginning a fellowship, fellows are enrolled in a mandatory, multi-society, two-week orientation program organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The orientation takes place in Washington, D.C.. At the completion of the orientation, the fellow immediately begins the fellowship.
SECURITY CLEARANCE
IEEE-USA USAID Fellows must have a secret-level security clearance. If a successful candidate does not already possess a clearance, arrangements must be made immediately with the agency to obtain a security clearance. A security clearance currently requires a 4-6 month background check.The fellow will be asked to complete a clearance form, provide contact information, and make various disclosures. For more information, see:
- Getting A Security Clearance…In a Nutshell (OPM)
- General Questions and Answers About OPM Background Investigations (OPM)
- Questionnaire for National Security Positions (OPM Form SF 86)
STIPEND AND TRAVEL
Fellows will receive a stipend of either $75,000 (for those fellows who possess both the required degrees and at least five years of full-time, professional work experience), or $65,000 (for Post Docs and new PhDs just entering the workforce). To be considered for the higher stipend, the work experience must consist of full-time, relevant professional employment. Student-related employment and research, or time spent working in graduate-level internships will not be counted. Stipends are normally paid in two equal lump sum payments at the beginning and mid-point of the fellowship. Alternative payment schedules can be negotiated. An additional, supplementary expense allowance of $5,000 is given to offset the costs of relocation to Washington, DC, but can be used for any fellowship expense, or wrapped into the fellowship stipend at the fellow’s discretion.
Stipends are non-negotiable and the Government Fellows Committee retains sole discretion to determine which stipend a fellow will receive based upon an applicant’s experience and education. For more details, please review the Policies and Procedures.
Payment of the fellowship stipend is contingent upon the fellow’s receipt of an appropriate security clearance, participation in the AAAS orientation, and reaching agreement with USAID on a suitable assignment.
When making arrangements to supplement the fellowship stipend through a continued salary from an employer, applicants must consider potential conflicts of interest.
HOW TO APPLY?
Just visit the official site: https://ieeeusa.org/advocacy/government-fellowships/usaid-fellowships/
