Fellowship Program Overview

Applications for the 2025 #STMIC Fellowship are now open! Apply by September 30, 2024 11:59PM Eastern Time

What is the #STMIC Fellowship?

The #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellowship is a program providing mid-career cybersecurity professionals with an opportunity to conduct policy research and analysis, access professional development, examine critical cyber security issues, and explore questions of diversity and the human side of cybersecurity.

During the course of their year-long fellowship with New America, #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellows will conduct an independent research project. Their first nine months will be dedicated to professional development and planning, researching, and finalizing their work product. The final three months are dedicated to promoting their research work with the help of New America and program staff. During our inaugural year, our Fellows conducted independent projects on a variety of consequential cybersecurity topics, spanning from mapping the global impact of spyware on activists, to the cybersecurity risks of AR/VR technologies.

What’s in it for you:

• An honorarium for your year with New America;
• Regular professional development opportunities geared towards strengthening your research and writing skills, and amplifying your work to a public audience;
• Access to New America’s resources and connections to help support your research and expand your professional network; and
• Support towards publication, communication and marketing of projects with the support of New America

Who can be a #STMIC Fellow?

This fellowship is open to all, including individuals who faces under-representation, systemic bias or discrimination in the cybersecurity profession. This includes, but not limited to, professionals who identify as Black and/or person of color, LGBTQIA+, on the gender spectrum, or neurodiverse. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply.

This program is designed for mid-career professionals, which are typically individuals who have at minimum 3 years of work experience. Successful applicants will have a track record of working independently, strong writing skills, and demonstrated interested in cybersecurity or issues related to cybersecurity (e.g. data privacy, emerging technology, or workforce training). In particular, we're looking for applicants who have demonstrated experience and are looking to strengthen the following skills:

• Communicating to an audience: being able to communicate ideas and connect to an audience through writing and public speaking are critical to highlighting your work and core to continual career advancement.
• Designing and executing on projects: whether it be a consulting project, internal software update, or a policy research project, we’re looking for candidates who can plan and execute a project independently, and are looking to refine that skill over the course of the Fellowship.
• Managing time and resources: Fellows will be working on their projects over a long period of time, and will need to balance fellowship commitments with their other professional and personal priorities.

Although Fellows will be expected to conduct their own projects, the #STMIC Fellowship Program will provide opportunities for Fellows to interact with each other and receive guidance and feedback from the Fellowship staff and advisors.

What is expected of a #STMIC Fellow?

• Produce a work product representative of their fellowship project. This can be in the form of a report published through New America, an academic paper publishable by a journal, a guidebook, or some other product that can be shared and distributed. In addition to the deliverable, Fellows are expected to be prepared to present their work during in a final public-facing event.
• Publish or participate in at least one public speaking engagement first nine months of your Fellowship. The purpose is to preview to the public release of your work product with New America, and put into action the skills you learn during the professional development workshops.
• Attend the fellowship orientation and final event at New America’s offices in Washington, DC (travel will be reimbursed). Workshops and networking opportunities will also be offered regularly as part of this fellowship, and Fellows are strongly encouraged to attend based on their professional goals and topical interests.
• Promote their profile and their work. This fellowship is structured to build public relations and public speaking skills and utilize them in the final three months of the fellowship. Public engagement can include media appearances, writing op-eds, participating in a public panel, participating in congressional testimony, or writing for New America’s blog The Thread.
• Act as a representative of New America. This can encompass responsibilities such as being available for media calls and other public speaking opportunities, and professionalism on Fellow’s non-personal social media accounts.

If you have any questions or would be interested in supporting the program, please email sharethemic@newamerica.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a fellowship year look like?

Our 2025 Cohort will begin on January 1, 2025 thru December 31, 2025. The first nine months of the Fellowship (January through September) are dedicated to professional development and research. The final three months of the fellowship (October through December) will be focused on helping you promote your project publicly.

During the first nine months, Fellows will receive guidance in finalizing their research scope, monthly professional development workshops, and support in developing their final product. The professional development workshops are focused on strengthening Fellows’ research skills and preparing them for public engagement during the final three months of their fellowship.

I currently work full time, can I still apply?

Yes, you are welcome to apply as long as you are able to meet the program expectations required above. It is your responsibility to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with your employer if you are selected as a #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellow.

I am not a U.S. citizen, can I still apply?

Yes, this fellowship is open to non-U.S. citizens as well. Please note that events and professional development workshops will be hosted on Eastern Standard Time.

I don't have experience within cybersecurity but am interested in transitioning into the field, can I still apply?

Yes, you are still welcome to apply as long as your intended project and work product is related to cybersecurity. In your application, we encourage you to emphasize how your area of expertise and interest contributes to the field of cybersecurity.