Nuclear Scholars Initiative

Funding: Funded: amount not specified; verify on website (PONI covers travel costs for select participants outside the DC area; no stipend confirmed). Who can apply: Top graduate students and young professionals from across the US with fewer than seven years of professional experience; a limited number of non-US-citizen spots are also offered. Length: Six months, with monthly two-day workshops (February–July) in Washington, DC. Mentorship and direct interaction with senior nuclear policy experts. Field: Nuclear weapons policy, deterrence, and nonproliferation issues. Deadline: 2026 cohort applications are closed; 2027 cohort applications open in fall 2026 (verify on website).