The Serpens
Non-Resident
Fellowship Apply Here
The Russo-Ukrainian war remains the defining conflict of our generation and of generations to come.
What happens on that battlefield ripples outward, felt worldwide; and despite conflict erupting around the globe, it is still here that the security of the West in the twenty-first century will be decided.
But the distance between what the front already knows and what Western strategy reflects is a widening vulnerability.
We built this fellowship to close that gap, opening our doors, and our frontline, to the next generation of defense thinkers.
We need creative, unconventional, and unexpected strategic thinking to win this fight. Join us.
We are looking for:
- Researchers and analysts working on Ukrainian, American, Western security.
- Practitioners with direct operational or industrial experience — in unmanned systems, battlefield innovation, defense production, procurement, and beyond.
- Specialists in adjacent fields with expertise that the defense debate needs and rarely gets: export control law, defense economics, logistics, strategic communications, and beyond.
- Western scholars and practitioners working on questions where Ukrainian experience is the missing evidence base.
There is no age requirement and no institutional affiliation requirement.
The fellowship is non-resident: you don’t need to relocate or leave your current work. But, if you do want to come to Ukraine, we’ll be here.
The fellowship lasts 6 months, with possibility to renew your tenure.
What fellows do:
Research and publish. Produce two to three pieces with SCIS during your tenure: this could include a contribution to one of our flagship analytical reports, or policy briefs, or independent articles and papers.
Take part in our community. Fellows are encouraged to attend our military lectures, workshops, and other exclusive programming, as well as collaborate across SCIS in sharing your expertise with your colleagues.
Solve real problems. Present findings directly to the policymakers, operators, and industry partners who can act on them.
What SCIS Provides
Carry the title of SCIS Non-Resident Fellow.
An editor and analytical team.
Paid across the fellowship to support your work.
Publish to our audiences, amplified through SCIS's channels and networks.
Draw on our network across Ukraine's military and defense forces to get firsthand access for your research.
The Application Process
We review applications bi-weekly, and will come back to you within two weeks of your submission. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview.
Fellowships begin on a rolling basis. Our first fellows will be announced in September 2026.
If the fellowship is fully subscribed when you apply, we will tell you and hold your application for the next opening, rather than turning it down.
Notes For Applicants
Serving officials and active-duty personnel. We encourage your applications, but publication under your own name may require approval from your command or institution. Please raise this with us early, and we can structure your work around it.
Editorial independence. Fellows write in their own name. SCIS provides editorial support and holds a standard of rigor, but published views are the author's own, and we say so on every piece.
Conflicts of interest. If you hold a commercial position in the defense sector, tell us at application stage. It is not automatically disqualifying, but it is a problem if it isn't disclosed.