“I use ‘disruptive’ in both its good and bad connotations. Disruptive scientific and technological progress is not to me inherently good or inherently evil. But its arc is for us to shape. Technology’s progress is furthermore in my judgment unstoppable. But it is quite incorrect that it unfolds inexorably according to its own internal logic and the laws of nature.”
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs supports and collaborates with several student and professional organizations at the school on career development and policy-relevant events. The Center has proudly partnered with Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D), the Black Student Union, the Armed Forces Committee, the Women in Power Conference, and the Future Society to host seminars and conferences at HKS. We welcome opportunities to forge partnerships between students and the Center.
» Get Belfer updates on student events and opportunities by signing up here.
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Wendy Sherman, Belfer Center Senior Fellow and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, speaks about her career path from social work to the State Department as part of a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session hosted by W3D and moderated by Co-Chairs Alexandra Schmidt and Gabrielle Tarini MPP19.
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Loretta Lynch, former Attorney General of the United States, speaks on the issues she faced during her time as the U.S. Attorney General during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and moderated by Demarquin Johnson joint MPP/JD at Harvard.
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Belfer Center Senior Fellow Michèle Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, discusses her experiences and the challenges around increasing the number of women in national security leadership positions at the first Women in Power Conference. Alexandra Schmidt MPP19, Co-Chair of W3D served as moderator.
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Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor to President Obama, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, and Belfer Center non-resident Senior Fellow, gives students and fellows career advice during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and W3D.
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Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D) hosts a networking reception to kick-off the semester with their first guest, Liz Sherwood-Randall, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and Belfer Senior Fellow.
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Juliette Kayyem, Director of the Homeland Security Project, speaks with a group of students over lunch as part of the Belfer Center Female Faculty Lunches hosted by Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D).
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W3D and the Future of Diplomacy Project host Dr. Aminata Touré, the first female Prime Minister of Senegal, to converse with students about gender, foreign affairs, and leadership.
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Kevin Rudd, Belfer Center Senior Fellow, President of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Prime Minister of Australia, talks to students about his career during a student session in the Belfer Library.
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Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta, speaks to students and fellows as part of a Belfer Center Student Session co-hosted by the Black Student Union and Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D).
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Katie Rae, CEO and Managing Partner, The Engine, gives insights from her career during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with The Future Society and moderated by Arjun Bisen MPP19.
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Students meet with President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson at Bessastaðir (the President's official residence) during the trip to the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland.
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Wendy Sherman, Belfer Center Senior Fellow and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, speaks about her career path from social work to the State Department as part of a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session hosted by W3D and moderated by Co-Chairs Alexandra Schmidt and Gabrielle Tarini MPP19.
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Loretta Lynch, former Attorney General of the United States, speaks on the issues she faced during her time as the U.S. Attorney General during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and moderated by Demarquin Johnson joint MPP/JD at Harvard.
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Belfer Center Senior Fellow Michèle Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, discusses her experiences and the challenges around increasing the number of women in national security leadership positions at the first Women in Power Conference. Alexandra Schmidt MPP19, Co-Chair of W3D served as moderator.
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Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor to President Obama, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, and Belfer Center non-resident Senior Fellow, gives students and fellows career advice during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and W3D.
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Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D) hosts a networking reception to kick-off the semester with their first guest, Liz Sherwood-Randall, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and Belfer Senior Fellow.
-
Juliette Kayyem, Director of the Homeland Security Project, speaks with a group of students over lunch as part of the Belfer Center Female Faculty Lunches hosted by Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D).
-
W3D and the Future of Diplomacy Project host Dr. Aminata Touré, the first female Prime Minister of Senegal, to converse with students about gender, foreign affairs, and leadership.
-
Kevin Rudd, Belfer Center Senior Fellow, President of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Prime Minister of Australia, talks to students about his career during a student session in the Belfer Library.
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Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta, speaks to students and fellows as part of a Belfer Center Student Session co-hosted by the Black Student Union and Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D).
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Katie Rae, CEO and Managing Partner, The Engine, gives insights from her career during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with The Future Society and moderated by Arjun Bisen MPP19.
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Students meet with President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson at Bessastaðir (the President's official residence) during the trip to the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Belfer IGA Fellowship
The Belfer International and Global Affairs Student Fellowship Program helps prepare a community of high-achieving Harvard Kennedy School students to cultivate 21st century, global ideas and to gain the strong analytical and innovative leadership skills necessary to excel in the global affairs arena. The Belfer IGA program also aims to impart to students the importance of community, service, and leadership.
For Incoming and returning Masters in Public Policy (MPP) students at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) who enroll in the School’s International and Global Affairs (IGA) policy area of concentration.
Belfer IGA Student Fellows have the opportunity to participate in policy research in association with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, HKS’s oldest and largest research center. After completing an information form over the summer, IGA then pairs students in the fall with a research project or program at the Belfer Center where they will observe and participate in policy research. These awards offer students the opportunity to spend five hours per week on research assistance to Belfer Center projects and programs, and provide a unique opportunity for mentorship by leading faculty and researchers.
Featured People
2018 Belfer IGA Fellows
Funding Support
The Belfer Center occasionally funds HKS students (or officially recognized Harvard student organizations) for research, publications, and events related to the core interests of the Center. These decisions are made on an ad hoc basis and the point of contact for travel stipends, research funding, and event support is karen_ejiofor@hks.harvard.edu.
All applications are accepted through the common application (below) in the fall semester.
Several of the Belfer Program and Projects offer research opportunities for students during the semester.
Defending Digital Democracy Project (D3P)
The Defending Digital Democracy Project (D3P) is a student-based project at the Belfer Center. We center our work on student volunteers. Students are offered the chance to travel both domestically and internationally, working with election officials and key stakeholders in the democratic processes in the U.S. and other countries. The student team meets weekly and works closely with Eric Rosenbach and Robby Mook to craft D3P's activities and scope. In the past, students have conducted election research across the U.S., and created and ran table top exercises for election officials.
Interested students may reach out to mari_dugas@hks.harvard.edu, Project Coordinator, for more information and details on team meetings.
digital HKS offers a vibrant student community for students interested in exploring a career in digital technology and the public interest including designing, building, and engaging with digital technologies as they relate to civic participation, digital equity, governance of government platforms, and data accountability. There are many ways for students to get involved with the digital HKS community including becoming a research assistant or course assistant, helping to organize practitioner convenings (including the annual digital services event), writing for the digital HKS Medium publication, and much more throughout the year. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Vanessa Rhinesmith (email).
Environment and Natural Resources Project
ENRP offers internship funding for HKS and Harvard College students pursuing internships on a topic related to energy, the environment, or natural resources, at organizations that do not offer them a salary. More information on eligibility and application details can be found on our website.
ENRP has three paid part-time research assistant (RA) positions available in 2019 and the posting can be found on KNET here.
The Future of Diplomacy Project (FDP)
The Future of Diplomacy Project hires one Research Assistant during the academic semester and another one during the summer. They serve as an ambassador of FDP to the student body. They are responsible for supporting event logistics, disseminating information about our guest speakers and research publications, and conducting research for the Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook. We post vacancies for these positions on the OCA website, send emails to PICs and post on our Facebook page.
Managing the Atom Project (MTA)
The Managing the Atom Project will be accepting applications early next year for summer intern positions. Please contact jacob_carozza@hks.harvard.edu
The Middle East Initiative has a variety of offerings for students at Harvard Kennedy School. We encourage you to explore some of these opportunities on their website or contact us at MEI to discuss your interests in depth.
The Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship (PETR)
The Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship hires one Research Assistant during the academic semester. They serve as an ambassador of PETR to the student body. They are responsible for supporting event logistics, disseminating information about our guest speakers and research publications, and conducting research for the Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook. We post vacancies for these positions on the OCA website, send emails to PICs and post on our Facebook page.
Additionally, the Project on Europe hires a Research Assistant for our Rafael Del Pino- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC) Fellow each year. The fellow is in residence at the Harvard Kennedy School for the full academic semester and conducts research on a subject of their choosing. The Research Assistant helps the fellow conduct his/her research.
Technology and Public Purpose Project
The Technology and Public Purpose (TAPP) Project led by former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is a new initiative that works shape technological change for the public good. The TAPP Project offers a select number student research assistant positions on a rolling basis. Student Research Assistants work closely with other members of the TAPP team to conduct research and develop products related to emerging technologies and dimensions of public purpose.
Policy Analysis Exercise and Student Papers
These papers and projects are examples of the Policy Analysis Exercise, Second Year Policy Analysis, and independent research by Harvard Kennedy School students whose work was supported, in part, by the Belfer Center.
PAE Travel Funding
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs provides travel/research grants to HKS students concentrating in International and Global Affairs working on their Policy Analysis Exercises through a competitive process.
Projects with connection to Belfer-affiliated faculty or related to the following topics will receive priority: science, technology, environmental policy, diplomacy, the military and international affairs.
The application process and timeline is coordinated with other HKS research centers, and all applications are accepted through the Common Application (found on KNet) in the fall semester. Please contact karen_ejiofor@hks.harvard.edu with questions.
We are committed to connecting students to policy-focused research, fellowship, and funding opportunities in the field of international affairs. External opportunities that may be relevant to our student body will be posted here. Please directly contact the sponsoring organizations for more information.
Council on Foreign Affairs: International Affairs Fellowship in India
The Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) in India, sponsored by Bharti, seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between rising generations of leaders and thinkers in the United States and India. The program provides for one to four mid-career U.S. professionals with a proven record of accomplishment in academia, business, government, and/or journalism to spend three to twelve months conducting research and working in India.
Deadline: February 28, 2019
Study Group: Reimagining Civic Discourse on Social Media
Students and fellows at Harvard and surrounding universities are invited to apply for a spring semester study group with Ash Center Fellow Deepti Doshi, Director of Community Partnerships at Facebook, MC/MPA '12; and Mo Safdari, former Program Manager for Election Integrity at Facebook, MBA/MPP.
Deadline: January 29, 2019
Contacts
For more information, feel free to reach out to the contacts below.
