Application 2012-2013

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 highlymotivated 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 2012/2013.

Deadline: Sunday February 12, 2012 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 2011. 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 ari@israelresearchfellowship.org.

4.

Submitting Your Application

The whole application must be EMAILED by SUNDAY February 12, 2012. It must include the following: 1. 2. Application Form (with first and last name recorded at the top of each page) Four Photographs (passport size) (Scanned)

Israel Research Fellowship Application

3.

4.
5.

6. 7.

Formal Resume/CV Essays Writing Sample or Relevant Creative Piece of Work University Transcripts (Scanned). US applicants must also provide an official copy of your university transcript 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 ari@israelresearchfellowship.org.

5.

The Interview

Fellowship Interviews Initial interviews with Finalists will take place during March and April 2012. 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 2012. 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. If the fellow is interviewing for a government position, then s/he has to be in Israel by the end of June at the latest. 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 2012 and concludes at the end of August 2013. 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.

Israel Research Fellowship Application

APPLICATION FORM Personal Information

Last Name Citizenship (list all) Passport Number(s) Birthday ______/______/______ Month / Day / Year

First Name

Middle Initial

_____Male _____Female Name of Spouse: _______ _________________

Marital Status: ______ Single _____ Married Children: _____ No _____ Yes

Name(s) and ages: ______________________________________

Contact Information

Street Address City E-mail address Phone Cell Phone State/Province Zip/Postal Code Country

Country in which you ___________________________________________

currently

reside:

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Academic Information
I.
Graduate/Law School Studies
Name of Institution Location Dates of Attendance Date of Degree Degree/Area of Concentration

Major GPA*:_____________ Overall GPA*:___________ Honors: ___________________________ Scholarships*:___________________________________________________________________ __ II. Undergraduate University Studies
Name of Institution Location Dates of Attendance Date of Degree Major Minor

Major 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.

Israel Research Fellowship Application

Language Skills
Please list each language spoken along with your degree of fluency. Language 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Fluency (i.e. read, write, converse, lecture, etc...)

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?
Israel Research Fellowship Application

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?

Israel Research Fellowship Application

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 International Counterterrorism The Middle East Research Institute Institute Jerusalem Center for Public Shalem Center Affairs StandWithUs Headline Media The Israel Project World Union of Jewish Students Global Research in International Reut Institute Affairs Center (GLORIA) Institute for Policy and Strategy The Jerusalem Post NGO Monitor Institute for Zionist Strategies World Jewish Diplomatic Corps Dan Shomron Center, Kinneret UN Watch College Jerusalem Institute for Israel Institute for National Strategic Studies Studies Menachem Begin Heritage Center Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Koteret Journalism School Studies Israel Democracy Institute The Jewish People Policy Institute MediaCentral Druze Initiative Government 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

We would like to know your preferences when it comes to placement agencies. Please state the following: Preference: Government Media NGOs, Research Institutes, Think Tanks and

Rank 4 organizations from the NGOs, Research Institutes, Think Tanks and Media list in order of preference. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Israel Research Fellowship Application

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 ari@israelresearchfellowship.org. the letters should include the following: 1. 2. 3. The applicants accomplishments and strengths Anecdotal evidence, where relevant The applicants 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 persons 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 Email

Israel Research Fellowship Application

Personal 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 Email

Additional Information/Curriculum Vitae

1. Please attach a rsum/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 2. No

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

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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.

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APPLICATION CHECKLIST
______ ______ ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Application Form 4 passport-size photos Rsum/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

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Israel Research Fellowship www.IsraelResearchFellowship.org

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