Apply to Breakthrough Generation 2012

The Breakthrough Institute, a leading public policy think tank, is seeking five to seven outstanding young analysts, writers, and thought leaders for a paid fellowship in summer 2012 as part of its young leaders initiative, Breakthrough Generation. Fellowships are highly competitive -- only 5-10 percent of applicants are generally accepted -- and involve cutting-edge writing, research, and analysis on public policy.

Fellowships pay $300 per week for college graduates and $500 per week for those with a postgraduate degree. Activities and projects include writing short articles and op-eds, researching and writing policy white papers, and conducting interviews with the nation's top political and policy experts. Fellows will work 40 hours per week for ten weeks during summer 2012 from Breakthrough's central office in Oakland, CA, and may be considered for long-term employment after the end of the fellowship.

Click here to download our Breakthrough Generation brochure.

To apply, please submit a statement of purpose; resume or CV; and three relevant writing samples to fellows[at]thebreakthrough[dot]org. In your statement of purpose, please indicate why you are interested in working with the Breakthrough Institute and which of the three program areas you are interested in, making reference to Breakthrough's policy work--i.e., climate and energy policy, conservation, or economic policy. For more information about the respective program areas, including a list of published reports and articles, see here; you are also welcome to refer to articles in the Breakthrough Journal. For the conservation program, the Breakthrough Journal articles by Peter Kareiva et al and Erle Ellis are particularly relevant. Writing samples should include at least one op-ed style piece and one research paper (these do not have to be published). Personal recommendations are welcome, but not required.

Applications are due February 15, 2012.