APSA Congressional Fellowship Program 2008/2009
The American Political Science Association (APSA) Congressional Fellowship is a highly selective, non-partisan program devoted to expanding public knowledge and awareness of the U.S. Congress around the world. Each year, the German Marshall Fund provides support for two mid-career German professionals to participate in the prestigious ten-month fellowship. Fellows secure their own jobs as legislative assistants in Congress by contacting member offices directly. Once they obtain a position, APSA Fellows gain an insider's view of Capitol Hill and an intimate understanding of the functioning of the federal government as a whole. The program provides participants with a unique perspective of the American political system that they then take home with them. To date, GMF has supported the participation of 48 German Fellows.
Based in Washington, DC, the program starts each year in November with a three-week intensive orientation on the legislative process and current congressional affairs. Fellows then begin their office assignments on Capitol Hill in December. Several enrichment opportunities are offered throughout the program to deepen the learning experience, including a trip to the Member's district, a weeklong visit to the Canadian Parliament, a day trip to Annapolis, Maryland, and participation in the bi-weekly Wilson Seminar Series on legislative processes. The program ends in August of the following year.
Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $3,800 for ten months, plus $2,150 for program-related international travel, $125 for books, and additional travel expenses for the visit to the Canadian Parliament and one trip to the district office of their respective Congress member.
Two outstanding Fellows were selected for the 2007-08 APSA program: Immanuel Steinhilper, a young diplomat working for the German foreign office, and Antonia Schabel, chief of staff of a German Member of Parliament. Both will arrive in Washington in the fall of 2007 and secure assignments in Congressional offices. The 2006-07 APSA fellows were Andrea-Victoria Noelle and Joern Holtmeier. They found assignments in the offices of Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Representative Joseph Crowley (D-New York).
Application for 2008/2009
The German Marshall Fund invites individual applications from German policy and opinion leaders no later than November 30 for the APSA Congressional Fellowship 2008/2009. The American Political Science Association (APSA) Congressional Fellowship is a highly selective, non-partisan program devoted to expanding public knowledge and awareness of the U.S. Congress around the world. Each year, the German Marshall Fund provides support for two mid-career German professionals to participate in the prestigious ten-month fellowship (November through August).Fellows secure their own jobs as legislative assistants in Congress by contacting member offices directly. Applicants must be German citizens, possess excellent written and spoken English language skills, and have a minimum of three years work experience. Candidates should demonstrate how their professional path would benefit from the APSA Congressional Fellowship.
Those with a purely academic research agenda will not be considered. Potential candidates include political journalists, early-to-mid-career academics with outstanding records, and experts from the fields of foreign policy, economics, migration, environment, science, and social issues. Representatives from business, trade organizations, and labor unions are invited to apply provided they can demonstrate existing political and public policy ties. Applications should include:
o A curriculum vitae with accompanying cover letter;
o Two letters of reference; and
o An essay addressing the significance of the Congressional Fellowship program for your future career. (Please be as specific as possible regarding which Congressional office you would like to work in and on what set of issues you would wish to focus on.)
Fellows will be chosen in early 2008 based on their commitment to transatlantic relations, quality of their written and oral presentation, preparation for the program, professional excellence, and current and future involvement in the public policy process in Germany.
Please send applications and further inquiries to:
Ursula Soyez
Program Officer
re: Congressional Fellowship The German Marshall Fund of the United States Oranienburger Str. 13-1410178 Berlin Tel: 49-30-28 88 13-23
Fax: 49-30-28 88 13-10
E-mail: usoyez AT gmfus.org
