James C. Gaither Junior Fellowship

Summary

The James C. Gaither Junior Fellows program, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace offers approximately 15 one-year fellowships to graduating seniors and individuals who have graduated during the past academic year who desire careers in international affairs. James C. Gaither Junior Fellows work as full-time paid research assistants to Carnegie’s senior scholars at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, DC.

In selecting fellows, the Carnegie Endowment looks for the following:

• Ability to offer a well-structured, compelling, and logical argument on a complex topic
• Demonstration of one's ability to adopt a think-tank writing style (e.g., direct, objective, succinct, main points are easy to identify & come early in the piece, etc.)
• Academic study or work experience related to the program being applied for
• Strong academic performance
• Letters of recommendation speak clearly to the applicant’s qualifications and ability to succeed in the program they are applying to

Campus Nomination Process

Overview: Interested students must email the Associate Director for Fellowships in the Advising Center after October 1 to request access to the application materials distributed by Carnegie.

By the campus deadline of Sunday, November 9 by 11:59 p.m. EST applicants must upload the following components to the campus Gaither application Box folder:

• A completed application form
• A resume / C.V. (1-2 pages)
• A personal statement of up to two pages, double-spaced, on why you want to be a Junior Fellow, what you hope to learn, how you are prepared to be a research assistant, and why you are applying to a particular program/project.
• A writing sample of three to five pages, double spaced, either a full-length piece or excerpt from a larger piece, with in-text citations (either footnotes / endnotes / or parentheticals).
• A brief explanation, of no more than half of one page, on why you selected this sample. Choose a sample that is relevant to the program / project you are applying for.
• Two letters of recommendations
  • Note: Recommendations should be signed and written on letterhead. Applicants must arrange for their recommenders to upload letters to the Gaither application Box folder by the campus deadline
• An unofficial transcript that includes fall course registration

Application Format: The application is completed entirely on PDF and Word documents that are uploaded to to the Gaither box folder.

Deadlines and Timeline: 

• Summer through early fall: Interested applicants should begin reviewing Carnegie's different research programs, projects, and publications to determine, and develop familiarity with, the program you would like to apply for
• October 1: Email the Associate Director for Fellowships in the Advising Center to request the application form and instructions distributed by Carnegie. Please note: Our office will stop distributing applications when there are two or fewer weeks left until the campus deadline.
• Sunday, November 9 by 11:59 p.m. EST: Campus Application Deadline. By this date the application materials outlined above must be uploaded to W&M's Gaither application Box folder.
• Mid-November through mid-December: Applications are reviewed by the Gaither campus review committee.
  
• Early January: Applicants whose materials have been endorsed by the campus committee will be able to edit their application before submitting it in time to meet the national deadline of January 15 .

Endorsements: William & Mary can endorse a maximum of two students for the Gaither Junior Fellows Program. 

National Application Process

The Gaither national deadline is January 15, 2026. A more detailed deadline will be posted once the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace releases the application form.

All students must meet the campus deadline in order to be eligible for endorsement by the national deadline. Learn more about the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program including eligibility requirements, placement details, and previous award winners.