In honor of Dr. Richard Ellings’ 30 years of leadership of the National Bureau of Asian Research, NBR has established the Richard Ellings and Marta Korduba Research Fellowship Program.

The program consists of an intensive, three-month research and professional development program designed for current graduate and advanced undergraduate students whose degrees focus on issues of strategic importance to the United States in Asia. Through the program, NBR awards fellowships to a select class of fellows each year, from multiple academic disciplines and from universities across the United States.

Fellows spend a summer as junior fellows in residence at NBR’s Seattle office and participate in a summer seminar series featuring high-level speakers from NBR’s network of experts.

Fellows will receive a $6,000 stipend from mid-June to mid-August, which is intended to cover cost of living, in addition to round-trip economy class airfare to and from Seattle.

RESEARCH, GROWTH, AND MENTORSHIP

Following orientation in June, the fellows will begin conducting independent research and developing a policy memo under guidance from select experts and NBR editors. The fellows will receive periodic feedback on their research, take part in relevant NBR events, and participate in professional development workshops at NBR, in addition to brief, regular check-in meetings with experts and NBR editors to answer any questions that arise during the fellowship period.

SUMMER SEMINAR

The Ellings-Korduba fellows will participate in an intensive summer seminar featuring lectures by experts in the policy and international relations field. Fellows will participate in seminars, conduct site visits, and attend external meetings to learn more about the multiple dimensions of U.S. foreign policy in Asia. During the summer program, the fellows will present their research findings and/or policy memos to NBR staff and select guests from the policy, academic, and business communities.

Qualified applicants for the Ellings-Korduba Fellowship will:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be a graduate student or advanced undergraduate student with a focus on Asia and policy.
• Desire to advance public policy toward Asia through improved expertise and understanding, or to contribute to policy-relevant scholarly research.
• Be willing to relocate to Seattle for the duration of the fellowship period (June to August), attend the NBR Summer Seminar, and take part in other NBR events and professional development activities.

• senior
• graduate

• US Citizen

To be considered for a fellowship, an applicant must submit the following materials through NBR’s application website:

• A two-page summary resume (full academic CVs will not be reviewed).
• A two-page cover letter that addresses your qualifications for the fellowship and how this fellowship program will contribute to your studies and future career plans.
• A two-page independent research proposal outlining a topic for research, why the topic is critical to U.S. policy, and methodology as well as sources. Please detail your plan for completing your research project within the three-month fellowship period.
• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions.
• A letter of recommendation from an academic supervisor or professor.