2018 Ukrainian Nuclear History Fellowship

The Odessa Center for Nonproliferation (OdCNP), a partner of the Nuclear Proliferation International History Project, invites applications for a fellowship hosted in Odessa, Ukraine. The Fellowship is an opportunity for scholars and researchers to conduct research on themes pertaining to the nuclear history of Ukraine. This fellowship is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The Odessa Center for Nonproliferation is located at Odessa I.I. Mechnikov National University in Ukraine. With the support of NPIHP and the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, OdCNP works to prepare the next generation of nuclear nonproliferation experts in Ukraine through education, training, research, and outreach. Its objective is to catalyze the development of nonproliferation expertise in Ukraine by means of national and international dialogue, training, and research

The Nuclear Proliferation International History Project is a global network of individuals and institutions engaged in the study of international nuclear history through archival documents, oral history interviews and other empirical sources. Recognizing that today’s toughest nuclear challenges have deep roots in the past, NPIHP seeks to transcend the East vs. West paradigm to work towards an integrated international history of nuclear weapon proliferation. NPIHP’s research aims to fill in the blank and blurry pages of nuclear history in order to contribute to robust scholarship and effective policy decisions. It contributes to the Wilson Center’s Digital Archive, the leading resource of primary source documents on the history of nuclear decision-making.

Duration of fellowship and stipend

The Fellow will be awarded a USD 6,000.00 stipend, paid in three installments, to support their lodging, meals, and research expenses while in Ukraine. Fellows will be required to spend at least 85 days in Ukraine.

Areas of research

• Fellows are expected to conduct original research on a topic related to the nuclear history of Ukraine.

• In cases where the primary research area of the fellow pertains to the nuclear history of another country or region, or about a larger systemic or conceptual issue, the Fellowship proposal should relate to a Ukrainian connection or case study.

Program requirements

1. Fellows will write an original research paper and submit it for review by the Wilson Center within three months of the fellowship conclusion. The paper will be reviewed for publication in the Nuclear Proliferation International History Project’s Working Paper series.
2. Fellows will be encouraged to write updates on their research for publication on the NPIHP website.
3. Fellows will share the documentary, archival, and other relevant resources they collect during the course of their Fellowship with the Wilson Center.

Facilities and Support

• OdCNP will provide the fellow with office space and logistical support at their facilities in Odessa for the duration of the fellowship.
• Fellows will be responsible for arranging their own travel to and lodging in Ukraine.

Application Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated on:

1. The research proposal’s relation to the nuclear history of Ukraine
2. The applicant’s experience conducting original archival research in foreign archives
3. The applicant’s Russian and/or Ukrainian language skills. TORFL or equivalent testing scores should be included with your application if available.

Eligibility

• Applicants who are enrolled in a PhD program in History, International Relations, Political Science, or an allied field, or who have completed a PhD Program within the past two years.
• Citizens or permanent residents from any country.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

1. A completed application form
2. A two-page research proposal that explains the topic to be researched, the primary research questions, the methodology, and the research timeline.
3. A Resume/CV
4. A writing sample.
5. A letter of reference.

Applications are due by March 1st, 2018. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF document to:

The Wilson Center
Attn: Nuclear Proliferation International History Project
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20004-3027
Email: NPIHP@wilsoncenter.org