The Nuclear Scholars Initiative is an annual program run by the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues. It brings graduate students and young professionals to CSIS in Washington, DC for monthly two-day workshops from February through July.
Participants study nuclear-weapons policy, technical, and operational issues with senior experts while developing research, writing, and analytical skills. Applications for the 2026 class are closed, and the 2027 application is scheduled to open in fall 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Six months of monthly, two-day, in-person workshops at CSIS in Washington, DC.
- Sessions with senior experts, professional-development seminars, discussions, debates, simulations, and table-top exercises.
- An opportunity to publish a short analytical piece on the PONI Next Generation Nuclear Network blog.
- A possible opportunity to present research at a PONI conference.
- Travel costs may be covered for select participants based outside the Washington, DC area; no broader stipend or cost coverage is published.
Eligibility
- The program is intended for graduate students and young professionals interested in nuclear-weapons issues.
- Candidates with less than seven years of professional experience are welcomed; applicants with more experience are recommended to consider the Mid-Career Cadre, but the page does not state a hard experience cap.
- The 2026 cohort offered a limited number of places to non-U.S. citizens. The 2027 nationality arrangements have not yet been published, and the page states no categorical nationality or residency exclusion.
- The official page publishes no age, gender, or specific degree-credential requirement.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Submit the 2027 interest form linked from the official program page to receive updates.
- 2Return to the program page in fall 2026, when CSIS says the 2027 application will open.
- 3Follow the application instructions and required-material list once CSIS publishes them; those details are not currently available.
- 4Direct program questions to the PONI contact listed on the official page.
Program timeline
November 17, 2025
Application deadline for the 2026 class.
February–July 2026
Monthly two-day workshops for the 2026 class.
Fall 2026
Applications for the 2027 class are scheduled to open; CSIS has not announced an exact date.