The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) and the National Security Education Program (NSEP) are pleased to announce the Bridge Award for 2007–2008. A cooperative effort between NSEP and NBR, this award seeks to equip and empower returning Boren Fellows with the analytical and practical skills helpful to pursuing effective careers in Asian affairs.
NBR invites any recipient of the Boren Fellowship, with interests similar to NBR’s program areas, to apply for a three to nine-month award at NBR’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington, or at NBR’s Washington, DC, office. This award would be part of the Boren Fellowship and would be in lieu of domestic support.
The Bridge Award Program provides opportunities for up to 10 Boren Fellows to work at the National Bureau for Asian Research (NBR), immediately following his/her return from the NSEP Boren Graduate Award overseas. Selected fellows can work up to two semesters and will receive compensation for their work. Fellows will work as research associates at NBR offices either in Seattle, Washington, or in Washington, DC. S/he will work within an ongoing NBR program area. This award opportunity will afford Boren Fellows opportunities to gain further knowledge of Asia within their regional or functional areas of interest, to work within an organization that is focused on policy-relevant research, and to become better acquainted with the American foreign policy process.
Award recipients will work in one of these program areas. Candidates will indicate which program area(s) they are most interested in at the time of applications.
Positions will vary, depending on whether the Fellow is placed in NBR’s headquarters in Seattle or in the Washington, DC, office. The organization’s research programs are based in Seattle. The Washington, DC, office’s principal focus is on connecting the research to relevant constituencies and on policy impact. There are research components to awards in both locations, each with different areas of emphasis, as explained below.
The Seattle-based Bridge Award recipient will work under the supervision of the appropriate program manager. The duration of the award can run from a minimum of three months to a maximum of nine months. Recipients can work a minimum of 20 hours a week to a maximum of 40 hours per week. The award usually commences within one month of the fellow’s return from the Boren overseas experience.
Duties of the Fellow will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Qualifications for the position include:
The Washington, DC-based Bridge Award recipient will work under the supervision of the appropriate DC-based staff member. The duration of the award can run from a minimum of three months to a maximum of nine months. Recipients can work a minimum of 20 hours a week to a maximum of 40 hours per week. The award usually commences within one month of the fellow’s return from the Boren overseas experience. Duties of the Fellow will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Qualifications for the position include:
If interested in being considered for this program, applicants to the Graduate Award should answer question #4 on The NSEP David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship Graduate Award application form. The applications for all NSEP Fellowship award recipients who have addressed this question will be forwarded to NBR for consideration. Written applications will be reviewed first by NSEP, after The Institute of International Education (IIE) forwards them, and then forwarded to NBR for decisions as to whom to interview. Award finalists will be called for a phone interview. A face-to-face interview may be conducted after the candidate returns to the United States. The review committee will have access to all the materials submitted to the NSEP Graduate Award Program – application, letters of reference, grade transcripts, and language forms. At the time of the interview, the applicant will indicate the time frame s/he would like to work, the beginning date s/he will be available, and the approximate number of hours s/he would be available.
Candidates will be notified when the selections are made, and will be placed within the NBR program that matches his/her qualifications and research interests, whether in Seattle or in Washington, DC.
Any recipient of the Boren Award, with interests similar to NBR’s program areas, is eligible to apply. An NSEP Fellow must have recently completed the overseas portion of the Boren Fellowship when s/he begins the award.
A Fellow will receive compensation based on the amount of time s/he works.
If you have a question that is not answered below, please contact Sarah Snyder at ssnyder@nbr.org.
Within the various research programs, what are some of the specific projects conducted by NBR?
Each NBR program has an evolving research agenda, and new projects are constantly being added,
and concluded. A sample of the type of programmatic research topics drawn from current NBR’s
current work includes:
I wish to pursue a career in the federal government. How will the Award help me obtain
a job in the federal government?
NBR strives to bridge the academic, business, and policy arenas in policy-relevant
areas of the Asia-Pacific. It disseminates its research through briefings, publications,
conferences, Congressional testimony, and email forums. Fellows who go to NBR have
an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the policy process in the regional area
of interest, and how the organization’s research informs those processes and policymaking
constituencies. In some cases exposure and connections are made that assist future
employment. In addition, by working at NBR, Fellows will develop analytical skills
and gain work experience, which are critical for employment in the Federal government.
Will my experience at NBR count toward my service obligation?
No, it will not count toward your service agreement. However, it will enable
you to understand and connect with the policy process in ways that may help
with future employment.
Can I still receive domestic language and area studies support if I receive the award?
No, you cannot receive both. If you receive the award and have requested domestic
academic support in your Boren application, you will have to drop the domestic
support. However, if you apply and do not receive the award, you can use your
requested domestic support for academic language and/or area studies training.
May I seek additional employment during my time as a fellow?
If you have committed to work less than 40 hours per week, you may seek
employment elsewhere.
Can I defer the award when I return?
No, you must begin your work at NBR usually within a month after your return
from the Boren overseas experience.
Is this award only for students who are interested in social sciences?
NBR’s research agenda covers a wide range of geographic and functional areas.
Likewise, the interests of the fellows who will participate in this may reflect
these broad interests, from business, to public health, to law, etc.
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