Application Guide

How to Apply for Associate Fellow

at Center for a New American Security (CNAS)

🏢 About Center for a New American Security (CNAS)

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is a leading bipartisan think tank focused on national security and defense policy, known for its influence on U.S. strategy and its ability to bridge policy and technology. Working at CNAS offers the opportunity to shape high-impact research on AI security at a remote-friendly organization with direct access to policymakers, defense officials, and industry leaders.

About This Role

As an Associate Fellow, you'll design and lead research projects on AI security risks and mitigation strategies, producing reports, policy analyses, and grant proposals that inform national security decisions. This role is impactful because it directly contributes to CNAS's mission of developing pragmatic solutions to emerging technology challenges, influencing both public debate and government policy.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning virtual meetings with CNAS colleagues to coordinate a research project on AI disinformation risks, followed by drafting a grant proposal for a defense funder. In the afternoon, you could fact-check a policy brief on autonomous systems, then prepare for a remote roundtable with experts from government and industry to discuss findings.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Is Looking For

  • Holds a Master's in a field like security studies, political science, or STEM with demonstrated interest in AI policy, not just technical expertise
  • Has practical experience in emerging tech policy, such as prior work on AI governance, defense innovation, or cybersecurity frameworks
  • Possesses strong project management skills, evidenced by experience developing budgets, securing funding, and leading research from conception to publication
  • Is a meticulous writer who can produce rigorous, self-edited work under deadlines, with samples like policy briefs or op-eds on tech security topics

📝 Tips for Applying to Center for a New American Security (CNAS)

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific projects where you researched AI security, stability risks, or mitigation strategies—use metrics like publications or grants secured

2

Include 2-3 writing samples (e.g., reports, articles) that demonstrate rigorous analysis of emerging tech policy, ideally related to defense or national security

3

Research CNAS's recent AI security publications (e.g., from their Technology and National Security program) and reference them in your cover letter to show alignment

4

Emphasize remote collaboration experience, as CNAS is fully remote—mention tools or methods you've used for distributed research or event coordination

5

Detail your grant-writing or fundraising experience explicitly, noting any success with defense, tech, or policy-oriented funders relevant to CNAS

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain your specific interest in AI security and stability risks, citing CNAS's work (e.g., their focus on great-power competition or AI governance)", "Highlight a past research project you designed or managed that parallels CNAS's style—policy-relevant, rigorous, and actionable", 'Describe your ability to write for diverse audiences (policymakers, academics, public) with examples like op-eds or task force reports', "Mention experience with events like roundtables or working groups, emphasizing how you've engaged stakeholders in tech policy debates"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review CNAS's Technology and National Security program outputs from the past year to understand their AI security priorities and tone
  • → Study CNAS's bipartisan approach by noting how they engage both Democratic and Republican policymakers in events or reports
  • → Identify key staff in AI-related roles at CNAS and their research interests to tailor your application
  • → Explore CNAS's funders and partners (e.g., defense contractors, foundations) to grasp their project ecosystem and potential proposal angles

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Discuss a specific AI security risk (e.g., autonomous weapons, disinformation) and propose a mitigation strategy CNAS could explore
2 Explain how you would design a research project on AI stability for a funder like DARPA or a foundation, including budget and timeline considerations
3 Describe your process for fact-checking and editing complex policy analyses to ensure rigor and clarity
4 Share an example of leading a remote event or meeting with diverse participants (e.g., a panel on tech policy)
5 Analyze a recent CNAS publication on AI and suggest how you'd build on it or address gaps
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic writing samples without clear relevance to AI, security, or policy—avoid purely technical or academic papers without applied insights
  • Failing to demonstrate project management specifics—vague claims like 'managed projects' without details on budgets, grants, or deliverables
  • Overemphasizing technical AI skills without linking them to policy implications or CNAS's mission of national security impact

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Center for a New American Security (CNAS)!

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