Application
2013-2014
Dear Applicant:
Are you a member of the pro-Israel community who would like to influence policy through a career in the public sector, media, research or government? If so, we invite you to apply to the Israel Research Fellowship, a year-long program providing gifted and highly-motivated individuals interested in a career in public service at the executive level (i.e. international affairs, government, non-governmental organizations, politics, or media). We are looking to identify those most familiar with and heavily involved in programs relating to the Jewish community and Israel who wish to make a difference.
We look forward to welcoming a new group of talented individuals to the Fellowship Class of 2013/14.
Deadline: Friday March 15, 2013
COMPLETING THE APPLICATION
1. Meeting the Basic Criteria
The Israel Research Fellowship is designed for applicants who have completed a Masters, Ph.D. or J.D. degree by June 2013. However, the program will also consider outstanding college graduates who have obtained impressive grades in their BA or BSc.
The Fellowship is open to those who have excelled in their university or graduate work and expect to pursue a career in public service.
2. Obtaining Your Transcript
You must submit an updated copy of your university or graduate/law school transcript. Although we prefer an original transcript, we will accept a copy if necessary. Please note that some offices may require some time to process a request; please be mindful of the deadlines in making your arrangements.
We understand that procedures vary by country; should difficulties arise, please contact the Fellowship office for further guidance.
European applicants should submit a certified copy of an overview of their grades in the last two semesters and an explanation of the grade system in the specific country.
3. Completing Your Application
The application and all supporting materials must be typed or printed clearly in ink. Please ensure that your first and last names are printed clearly at the top of each page. If you need additional copies of the application form, it can be downloaded from our website, www.israelresearchfellowship.org.
We invite you to send in your application as an e-mail attachment. If you have any questions while completing your application, please contact Ari at +972 54 765 4234, or .
4. Submitting Your Application
The whole application must be EMAILED by FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2013. It must include the following:
1. Application Form (with first and last name recorded at the top of each page)
2. Four Photographs (passport size) (Scanned)
3. Formal Resume/CV
4. Essays
5. Writing Sample or Relevant Creative Piece of Work
6. University Transcripts (Scanned). US applicants must also provide an official copy of your university transcript
7. Two letters of recommendation to be submitted by a faculty member, advisor, or professional reference, one of whom must have known you for at least one year. Please provide them with the relevant email address.
Use the checklist at the back of this booklet to track your completed application.
Email the completed application to us at .
5. The Interview
Fellowship Interviews
Initial interviews with Finalists will take place during March and April 2013. Finalists in Israel will be interviewed in person; those abroad will be interviewed telephonically or via the internet.
Those selected as Fellows will be notified by the end of May 2013.
Please note that once you have accepted the Fellowship, we no longer look at other candidates. As such, Fellowship drop-outs (i.e. people who have accepted the Fellowship but leave before completing the Fellowship year) deprive others of the Fellowship.
Placement Interviews
Once the Fellows have been selected, they will then be invited for interviews with one or more potential placement organizations. Initial placement interviews need not be in person should the Fellow still be abroad (i.e. they can be done telephonically or via the internet). However, all Fellows have to be in Israel by the beginning of August – at the latest – for final-round interviews with potential placement agencies. Please take this into consideration when making summer plans before the Fellowship year. Failure to comply may result in the forfeiture of the Fellowship.
6. The Fellowship Year
The Fellowship year begins the first week in September 2013 and concludes at the end of August 2014. Please take this into consideration when making summer plans before the Fellowship year.
The Fellowship is full-time, i.e. 9:00am-5:00pm (or later) Sunday through Thursday. Fellows are not allowed to have other jobs or study while completing the Fellowship; our previous experience has shown that this quickly becomes unworkable.
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APPLICATION FORM
Personal Information
Contact Information
Country in which you currently reside: ______
Academic Information
I. Graduate/Law School Studies
Name of Institution / Location / Dates of Attendance / Date of Degree / Degree/Area of ConcentrationMajor GPA*:______Overall GPA*:______Honors: ______
Scholarships*:______
II. Undergraduate University Studies
Name of Institution / Location / Dates of Attendance / Date of Degree / Major / MinorMajor GPA*:______Overall GPA*:______Honors: ______
Scholarships*:______
III. High School/Secondary School
Name of Institution / Location / Date of Degree / Area of Concentration* If not applicable, please write N/A.
Language Skills
Please list each language spoken along with your degree of fluency.
Language Fluency (i.e. read, write, converse, lecture, etc...)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Army Service
Country:
Branch of Service:
Duration of Service:
Major Responsibilities:
Rank Achieved:
Communal Life
Please list the communal, political or grassroots organizations, groups or associations with which you have been involved.
General
1. How did you find out about the Israel Research Fellowship Program?
Check one:
Word of mouth; whom?
Website; which?
Ad in newspaper or magazine; which?
e-flyer?
Other – please specify:
2. Please rate each of these skills from 1 to 5 in the following areas with 1 being the highest level (Note: You may assign the same rating to more than one skill).
Writing
Research
Coordinating programs
Speaking in public
Creating and implementing new projects
Is there a skill not listed above that you would like to acquire? ______
3. Which two skills would you most like to learn or improve? Check up to two:
Writing
Research
Coordinating programs
Speaking in public
Creating and implementing new projects
4. Name and briefly discuss a book you read during the past year that impressed you.
5. In your free time, what hobbies or interests do you pursue?
Placement Preferences
The following is a list of previous NGOs, research institutes, think tanks and media agencies as well as government ministries and departments in Israel where fellows have been placed in the past.
NGOs, Research Institutes, Think Tanks and Media
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· International Counterterrorism Institute
· Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
· Headline Media
· World Union of Jewish Students
· Reut Institute
· Institute for Policy and Strategy
· NGO Monitor
· Jewish Diplomatic Corps
· UN Watch
· Institute for National Strategic Studies
· Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies
· Israel Democracy Institute
· MediaCentral
· The Media Line
· The Middle East Research Institute
· Shalem Center
· StandWithUs
· The Israel Project
· Global Research in International Affairs Center (GLORIA)
· The Jerusalem Post
· Institute for Zionist Strategies
· Dan Shomron Center, Kinneret College
· Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
· Menachem Begin Heritage Center
· Koteret Journalism School
· The Jewish People Policy Institute
· Druze Initiative
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First Name______Last Name______
Government
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First Name______Last Name______
· Knesset
· Office of the Prime Minister
· National Security Council
· Ministry of Foreign Affairs
· Ministry of Justice
· Ministry of Strategic Affairs
· Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor
· Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs
· Supreme Court of Israel
· Jerusalem Office of the Mayor
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First Name______Last Name______
Note: The IRF is no longer placing Fellows in government positions
Rank 4 organizations from the ‘NGOs, Research Institutes, Think Tanks and Media’ list above in order of preference.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The above lists are where fellows have been in the past, and are a good guide for you. Should you wish to work somewhere not mentioned above, please let us know:
1. the name of the organization,
2. what it is that the organizations/agency does, and
3. why you would like to be placed there.
The Essay Section
Note: We receive a large number of applications. This is therefore your opportunity to really distinguish yourself. Any essays that exceed the word limit will not be considered.
Essay 1: Personal Statement
Write a 400 word personal statement which should include the following areas:
o Strengths
o Weaknesses
o Life experience: Studies/Work/Army/Volunteering etc.
o Research or policy experience
Essay 2: ‘Israel today; tackling de-legitimization on a global scale’ (400 words)
Letters of Recommendation
Please ask two different faculty advisors or professional workplace supervisors to email directly to the Israel Research Fellowship a recommendation letter on your behalf to . The letters should include the following:
1. The applicant’s accomplishments and strengths
2. Anecdotal evidence, where relevant
3. The applicant’s demonstration of leadership qualities and positive character traits
Please record below the name, title and position, institutional affiliation, telephone number and email address of each of the two individuals writing on your behalf. Each letter should include the person’s name, title and position, and other contact information.
Please note that the letters of recommendation can be accepted in the following languages: English (preferred), Hebrew, French, German or Spanish.
Name / Title and Position / Institution / Phone Number / EmailPersonal References
Please provide us with the name, relationship to you, and contact information of one other individual whom we can potentially contact.
Name / Location / Relationship / Phone Number / EmailAdditional Information/Curriculum Vitae
1. Please attach a résumé/CV outlining your academic, professional and extracurricular activities and accomplishments. (Not to exceed two pages)
2. Please attach a writing sample or any other relevant creative piece of work you think would be relevant to your application.
3. Optional: You may enclose up to three (3) items such as newspaper articles, op-ed pieces or essays you have written during the past two years, or articles written about you.
Disclosure of Misconduct
Please answer the following three questions by checking “yes” or “no” next to each question. For any question answered with a “yes”, please attach a separate page on which you provide a full explanation of the circumstances.
1. Have you ever been convicted of, or is any charge now pending or expected to be brought against you, for any crime other than a minor traffic violation?
Yes No
2. Have you ever, at any college or university, been in other than good standing because of academic deficiencies, censured for misconduct, or the subject of disciplinary proceedings?
Yes No
3. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary actions by a professional organization?
Yes No
Signature and Release
I hereby certify that the information supplied on this application form and in any related materials is my own work and is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that misrepresenting or withholding information is grounds for the denial or revocation of acceptance to the fellowship. I shall promptly inform the Israel Research Fellowship if there is any change in any of the facts given. The Israel Research Fellowship may verify any information provided.
I agree that any materials submitted to the Israel Research Fellowship in connection with this application become the sole property of the Israel Research Fellowship. I authorize the Israel Research Fellowship to release my application to executives at institutions for placement purposes and that the Israel Research Fellowship reserves the right to publish anonymous group biographical data taken from this application.
Signature: Date:
Do not forget to scan in four passport sized (2x2) photographs.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
______Application Form
______4 passport-size photos
______Résumé/CV not exceeding two pages
_____ 2 Essays (personal statement and ‘Israel De-legitimization’ essay)
______Writing Sample
______Contacted university registrar for direct mailing of official transcript
(US applicants only)
______University Transcript
______Requested letters of recommendation
______Photocopied completed application for your records
______Emailed application to Israel Research Fellowship
Note:
Please save the application in the flowing format before sending it via email:
The word “apirf” followed by your first name then your family name. E.g. If your name is John Smith, you should save the file as:
Apirfjohnsmith.doc
Israel Research Fellowship
www.IsraelResearchFellowship.org
Israel Research Fellowship Application 9