Editor’s Note: circulation of these opportunities does not imply endorsement of the perspectives and agendas that inform them.

1) The Cadieux-Léger Fellowship

The Policy Research Division (POR) of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is pleased to announce the 2012 Cadieux-Léger Fellowship.

The Cadieux-Léger Fellowship provides direct experience in a policy planning environment to researchers concerned with the diverse challenges facing Canadian foreign policy.

The Cadieux-Léger Fellow is integrated in the Policy Research Division at DFAIT as a full-fledged analyst. While at DFAIT, the Fellow is expected to advance Canadian foreign policy and the Policy Staff’s research agenda, which includes the following themes:

1. Natural Resources Management and Stewardship in International Relations
2. Migration and Diversity Management: Implications for International Policy
3. The Role of Science & Technology and Innovation in International Relations
4. Global Rebalancing and Burden-Sharing

The Fellow’s work should include writing papers, offering presentations, and participating in the policy development process, including by networking with internal and external experts and contributing to policy working groups.

The Policy Staff develops its research based on the Open Policy Development Model (OPDM), adapting foreign policy making to the challenges of the 21st century. The OPDM aims to create a more efficient and collaborative work environment through knowledge-sharing, exchanging experience and ideas, as well as soliciting and welcoming input from a variety of stakeholders in new ways, from the beginning of the policy development process. In this respect, we expect the Fellow to build new networks within DFAIT, the government and with external experts. We place a particular emphasis on consulting new sets of stakeholders who may not have been were not considered before and who’se good ideas can be engaged, leveraged and empowered.

View former Cadieux-Léger Fellows
Eligibility

The ideal candidate will:

* be available from September 2011 to June 2012;
* be working towards a PhD on a topic of relevance to Canada’s foreign policy;
* be currently recognized as having full-time student status by the academic institution in which they are presently enrolled. Part-time students working on their thesis or recognized by the academic institution in which they are presently enrolled as having a disability will also be considered;
* be required to do a supervised research work term; and
* be enrolled in an academic program that includes supervised laboratory or field research related to a thesis or other major research project.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to obtain a Secret-level security clearance in order to finalize the selection procedure.

* While non-Canadians may apply, preference is given to Canadian citizens. A Canadian citizen is a person who was born in Canada or who has obtained Canadian citizenship.
Selection Criteria

Applying for the Cadieux-Léger Fellowship is done through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP). Only candidates that have completed this step of the process will be considered.

Interested candidates must provide the following information:
i. a curriculum vitae;
ii. a complete transcript;
iii. a one page research proposal on a significant foreign policy issue and its implications for Canada;
iv. a proof of enrolment for 2010-11 in a recognized academic institution;
v. a sample paper or publication; and
vi. the names of three references.
Award

The Cadieux-Léger Fellowship lasts six months and the Fellow will receive a total sum not greater than $30,000.
Application Information

The deadline for applications is no later than midnight, September 15, 2011. The successful candidate will be required to relocate to Ottawa at his/her own expense.

Given the important volume of applications, only candidates shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.

http://www.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/fellowship-bourse/cadieux-leger.aspx?view=d

2) The Minerva Research Initiative competition is now open!

Minerva is a university-based social science basic research program initiated by the Department of Defense in 2008 to improve our fundamental understanding of the social, cultural, behavioral, and political forces that shape regions of the world of strategic importance to the US; in 2009 seven large university consortia and 17 smaller projects were awarded Minerva grants, with research still underway. We look forward to a new cohort of interesting and important basic research
efforts to begin in Spring 2012.
White papers and full proposals are solicited which propose basic research in the following seven areas:
(1) Strategic Impact of Religious and Cultural Changes
(2) Terrorism and Terrorist Ideologies
(3) Science, Technology and Military Transformations in China and Developing States
(4) National Security Implications of Energy and Environmental Stress
(5) New Theories of Cross-Domain Deterrence
(6) Regime and Social Dynamics in Failed, Failing, and Fragile Authoritarian States
(7) New Approaches to Understanding Dimensions of National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation
Proposals will be considered both for single-investigator awards as well as larger, multidisciplinary and multi-institution teams. This competition is open to institutions of higher education (universities), including foreign universities. Non-profit
institutions and commercial entities are also eligible to compete as collaborators on university-led proposals.
Due to processing delays releasing the BAA, we are extending the listed deadlines by two weeks (soon to be reflected in online documents):
White Papers: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Full Proposals: Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Visit http://minerva.dtic.mil/ for more information on the FY 2012
Minerva Research Initiative BAA, topic descriptions, and FAQs, as well as links to ongoing Minerva research efforts. Access the BAA directly at http://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=8.