Career Center

The Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin seeks applications from recent PhD recipients for its Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

Consistent with the Clements Center’s emphasis on history, strategy, and statecraft, applicants from all disciplines whose research bears directly on foreign and defense policy, intelligence, or international security are welcome to apply.  While our preference tends to be the discipline of history, or research with a strong historical component, we highly encourage applications from PhD recipients in political science, political philosophy, public policy, language studies, area studies, and classics whose research contributes to traditional political and military history. Successful applicants will be able to spend the substantial portion of their time working on their own research and writing projects, while taking advantage of the many academic resources available at the University of Texas-Austin. Additionally, Fellows will be required to play an active role in the Clements Center’s programs and activities; any specific responsibilities will be by mutual agreement between the Fellow and the Clements Center leadership. Fellows accepted to the program will be offered a competitive stipend, full use of UT facilities, and office space at the Clements Center. In some cases Fellows will be welcome to teach a course at the University of Texas. Each appointment is for one year, and in exceptional cases may be considered for renewal for a second year.

Applications open on October 16, 2023. Applicants should submit a current c.v., cover letter, graduate school transcripts, a brief (no more than two-page, single-spaced) statement of proposed research, and three letters of recommendation. Applicants whose research addresses the Indo-Pacific region’s increasing role in U.S. foreign policy and security should indicate whether they want to be considered for a formal affiliation at the Clements-Strauss Asia-Policy Program. Applications are due no later than January 26, 2024.  Note that applicants are required to have received their doctorate by August 2024, the date the Postdoctoral Fellowship will commence.  Please direct any questions to Emily Burch, the Clements Center’s Administrative Program Coordinator, at emily.burch@austin.utexas.edu. 

About The Clements Center for National Security

The William P. Clements, Jr. Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin draws on the best insights of diplomatic and military history to train the next generation of national security leaders. Established in 2013 with the support of distinguished policymakers and scholars, the Clements Center is a nonpartisan research and policy center uniquely positioned in the Office of the President. The Clements Center honors former Texas Governor Bill Clements and his leadership on national security during his service as Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1973-77. Clements managed the Pentagon and helped guide American national security policy during a critical time. He brought a deep appreciation for history to every aspect of his leadership, policies, and decision-making. The Clements Center carries forward Bill Clements’ legacy by: teaching students how to integrate the wisdom of history with current challenges in national security and prepare for careers as policymakers and scholars, supporting research on history, strategy, and national security policy, convening scholars and policymakers to improve our understanding of history, statecraft, and national security... Why History, Strategy and Statecraft? Understanding history is essential for wise and effective national security strategy and statecraft. History enables leaders to glean the wisdom of the past without incurring its costs. History can provide American leaders with a deeper sense of perspective, an appreciation for the patterns of the past, and the wisdom to determine the most effective policies for the future. Yet history is neglected in statecraft today. Most national security policymakers have not been adequately trained in how to use history in their decision-making, while most academic history departments do not produce research that is relevant and accessible to policymakers.

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