Fellowship announcement
The Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) is pleased to open applications for the International Mid-Career Biosecurity Fellowship (2025)—a month-long hybrid program beginning mid-May with a virtual component, and concluding with in-person sessions in Germany from June 17 to 20, 2025. This fellowship comes at a time of rising geopolitical tensions, rampant misinformation, and recurring infectious disease outbreaks; the devastating impact of biological threats has become more evident than ever. These threats—whether emerging naturally, accidentally, or through deliberate actions—pose serious risks to global security and stability.
Application Deadline:
🕕 6:00 AM US Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Monday, May 5, 2025
Application Review: Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Fellowship Cohort Size: 10–12 participants
About the Fellowship
This program is designed to support mid-career professionals and rising leaders in:
- Biosecurity
- Countering WMDs
- Nonproliferation
- Global health
- International relations
- National security
Fellows will engage deeply with key issues related to biological risks and will exchange knowledge with peers and leading experts.
Fellowship Activities Include:
- Virtual Course Component:
- Self-paced online course (equivalent to a condensed college semester)
- Topics covered:
- History and trajectories of biological weapons programs
- The bioeconomy
- Emerging biological risks and tech convergence
- In-Person Component (Germany, June 17–20, 2025):
- Site visit and group dinner in Munich
- Two and a half days of dialogue and workshops in Berlin
- Participation in the Global Biosecurity Accelerator Dialogue
- Engagements with:
- Former and current government officials
- Public and private sector innovators
- Policymakers from NATO and Indo-Pacific partner countries
- Networking Opportunities:
- Connect with peers, senior officials, and experts across the growing biological risk reduction field.
All activities will draw on CSR’s deep expertise and collaborative networks. Guided by a bold vision, CSR aims to eliminate the threat of biological weapons and prevent future disease outbreaks from becoming pandemics. Learn more in the Handbook for Ending Catastrophic Biological Risks and other CSR resources.
Fellowship Benefits
- Comprehensive understanding of biosecurity and biothreat mitigation.
- Strengthened professional network across biosecurity and biotechnology sectors.
- Contribution to efforts preventing future pandemics and bio-based mass destruction.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be mid-career professionals (generally 10+ years of professional and/or advanced academic experience; flexible definition)
- Have a background in:
- National security
- Global health
- International relations
- Medical, legal, policy, or other relevant fields
- Hold a graduate degree or be currently enrolled in a graduate program
- Demonstrate a strong interest in addressing biological threats
Note:
Prior experience in biological risk is not required. Professionals from adjacent fields are welcome.
Nationality Requirement
Applicants must be citizens of:
- NATO member states (excluding the United States)
AND - NATO’s four official Indo-Pacific (IP4) partners:
- Australia
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea
This eligibility scope is based on the specific nature of the fellowship and related logistical considerations.
Location & Travel
- Participants may complete the virtual course from any location with reliable internet access.
- Attendance at the in-person workshop in Germany (Munich and Berlin) is mandatory.
- Travel costs will be covered by CSR.
Program Duration
- Approximately 1 month
- Begins with the virtual learning module (mid-May 2025)
- Concludes with in-person engagements June 17–20, 2025
Community of Practice
- Fellows will become part of CSR’s expanding biosecurity ecosystem.
- They may be invited to future exclusive events as circumstances permit.
Application Instructions
Applicants must:
- Complete the CSR application form (see link below).
- Upload:
- Resume/CV
- Cover letter outlining:
- Goals for participating in the fellowship
- Relevance to current work
- Include contact information for two references in either the resume or cover letter.
- Be prepared for a telephone interview if shortlisted.
Application Deadline:
Monday, May 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM US Eastern Time
About the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR)
The Council on Strategic Risks is a nonprofit, non-partisan security policy institute. It focuses on identifying and addressing systemic risks to 21st-century security, including how these risks intersect and amplify each other.
CSR’s team, advisors, and board members include:
- Former top U.S. government officials in biosecurity
- Leaders from the biotech innovation sector
- Experts with extensive global networks
About the Global Biosecurity Accelerator (GBA)
CSR launched the Global Biosecurity Accelerator (GBA) in Helsinki to promote international biosecurity leadership. The GBA:
- Brings together global experts to share best practices
- Tracks national biosecurity initiatives
- Facilitates the development of interoperable capabilities
- Hosts regular track 1.5 dialogues
CSR believes biological resilience must be a priority for all nations.
For more opportunities, visit the Opportunities for Youth’s website.