Preparing the Army to succeed in future conflict requires drawing on a diverse team of critical and creative thinkers with a variety of viewpoints. With this in mind, the Modern War Institute at West Point invites applications for its research fellows program. We seek fellows committed to pushing the boundaries of policy-relevant research in our themes of human resources, allies and partners, and combined arms warfare.

Research fellows are junior or mid-career professionals who seek an active but temporary relationship with MWI. We seek a diverse pool of talented applicants from a variety of backgrounds: military and national security professionals, analysts, and academics, from the United States as well as its allies and partners. This program is open to individuals of any age and citizenship who are committed to the ideals of the institute and the US Army.

Competitive applicants will have demonstrated an ability to carry out innovative and original research and to advance discussions about the ethical design, generation, support, and application of landpower—as part of a broader, multidomain system—in contemporary tactical, operational, and strategic environments. They will be able to identify how their specific experiences, research interests, and expected contributions for the coming year align with the MWI mission and research themes. We are particularly interested in applicants who can explain the applicability of their research to one of MWI’s three research themes. Lastly, we are strongly committed to providing publication and mentorship opportunities for fellows, and we encourage applicants to describe why MWI is the best organization for them to pursue these efforts through.

Expectations

All fellows contribute to MWI’s mission by expanding our ability to conduct rigorous research, amplify expert voices, and offer relevant programming. Fellows must complete at least one article, review, or report for publication by MWI during their term. In addition, we expect fellows to participate actively in MWI events, including our War Council series and War Studies Conference, as well as to contribute to MWI-affiliated research by serving as a peer reviewer. Furthermore, MWI fellows will include their MWI affiliation in bylines for publications related to modern war when appropriate.

All positions are unpaid and accepted on a purely voluntary basis. Fellows will serve a one-year term that begins on September 1, 2023. We will consider single-term renewals on a case-by-case basis.

Application Instructions

Applicants should send a CV, a published writing sample, and a one-page cover letter. The cover letter should detail the applicant’s relevant work and research experience, a specific proposed research or program agenda relevant to MWI’s mission and one of this year’s research themes, and how the West Point and US Army communities would benefit from their scholarship or vice versa.

Please send all items in PDF format with “MWI Fellows Application” in the subject line to mwi@westpoint.edu no later than 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 30, 2023. You may also contact us using this email address if you have any other questions about MWI or its programming.