CReST Fellowship Announcement
CReST: Center for Revolutionary Scientific Thought
Change the World!
Looking for the best ideas from the best young minds in the country!
The CReST Fellowship offers twelve months of support to recent high school graduates and college undergraduates who want to make a world-class impact early in their career.
The Center for Revolutionary Scientific Thought (CReST) at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies will sponsor the best minds we can find every year in their efforts to change the world.
Extraordinarily talented undergraduate students are selected to spend one year at the Institute to address a big, complex problem with creative, complex solutions regarding how science and technology will change the world as we know it. The fellowship is designed to develop future science, technology, and policy leaders by sponsoring creative thought and innovative approaches to major societal problems. Bright, young, talented students who yearn to impact society in a big way are encouraged to apply for the fellowship. Candidates will be expected to work hard, take risks, and demonstrate focus in their approach to solving the nations biggest problems.
Selected fellows will be rewarded with a scholarship to address big, complex problems in the world with bold, multifaceted solutions for one year to implement their plan and complete necessary additional research.
The scholarship award of up to $50,000 will cover all living expenses and costs of one year at the Potomac Institute. In addition, CReST Fellows will receive personal mentorship, guidance, and training from Senior Fellows and elected officials associated with the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.
CReST Fellows are expected, with guidance and support from the Potomac Institute, to make a policy impact on our government. Their ideas and solutions to grand challenges and problems in society are expected to be revolutionary and novel.
The Potomac Institute is open to all ideas for the next big impact project, but there are a handful of topics that are most interesting to the science and technology think tank. Some of these topics include:
- Neurotechnology
- Information and Communication Technology
- Sustainability
- National Security
Fellows are expected to relocate to the Washington, DC area to be full-time at the Potomac Institute. They will be a part of the PIPS office in Arlington, Virginia, and will have a space with an office, computer, and access to all PIPS resources and employees, including Senior Fellows and Board of Regents. Fellows are encouraged to be in the office every day to take advantage of the opportunity to network with some of the Nation’s leaders in science and technology, as well as utilize available resources. Full-time works means that this fellowship is your first priority. Fellows should not be enrolled in courses during their fellowship but should defer from college for the one year they are with PIPS. Fellows are encouraged to return to school after completion of the fellowship to complete their degree.
To apply, please submit the following to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We accept applications for review beginning early January through May 1, 2013.
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APPLICATION Crest-Fellowship PDF 71kb
Applications consist of:
a) A written application due by midnight, May 1, 2013.
b) Two letters of recommendation.
c) A short video on their complex topic and their approach to a solution, upon request.
d) An online or in-person interview.
Notification of advancement to further rounds in the selection process will occur on a rolling basis and the announcement of selected applicants will begin in June.
We look forward to reviewing your entry to the competition and are here to answer questions that you may have by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How should my recommender's submit the Letters of Recommendation?
Recommendations should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the name of the applicant and "Letter of Recommendation" in the subject line.
2. What is recommended for the essay?
The essay question in the application is intended to be a proposal for the work you plan to accomplish within a year at the Potomac Institute. While there is no length requirement or cutoff, applicants should be very specific in their plan of action. The essay should describe persons they wish to talk to that will help them accomplish their goals, a timeline addressing when their intermediate goals will be met, as well as the measurement of success for their project.
3. How do I submit my essay?
The essay should be submitted via email with the applicant name in the subject line. Please submit one email for the application with two attachments: the application form and the essay.
 CReST Fellowship.pdf | 997 Kb |