Components of the online application are as follows:

• Profile Information

• Educational and Employment History

• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)

• Resume (PDF)

• Transcripts/Academic Records - Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts

• Recommendation

Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.

If you have questions, send an email to orisedod@orise.orau.gov. Please list the reference code of this opportunity in the subject line of the email.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

The United States Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) global mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for Department of Defense personnel missing from past conflicts to their families and the nation. DPAA’s Europe-Mediterranean Directorate is at the forefront of accounting efforts for more than 22,000 Americans missing from World War II in 37 countries across Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa.

The DPAA Europe-Mediterranean Directorate consists of historians, analysts, archaeologists, and planners, who together conduct historical research, field investigations, and archaeological recovery missions all in support of providing answers to families of service personnel whose remains were not recovered following World War II. Our area of responsibility extents to missing service personnel throughout the Europe and the Mediterranean theaters. In addition to WWII-era missing, our Directorate also maintains responsibility for service personnel missing during the Cold War in these same areas. Our research relies heavily on primary archival records and aerial imagery housed at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in College Park, Maryland, relating to U.S. military operations, casualties and burial of remains during and after World War II.

The selected Fellow will participate in ongoing projects, including:

o Performing primary research at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Library of Congress, and Military Service Branch History offices in the Washington, DC area.

o Reviewing, describing, and translating select historical records into English, from languages including German, French, or Italian, as well as other European languages.

o Working with photographic and scanned textual records, producing holistic finding aids, tagging and annotating relevant records.

o Assisting in research to develop DPAA responses to Congressional and family member inquiries.

o Fostering communication with historical researchers in Europe in order to locate additional archival records and potential locations of WWII and Cold War era casualties.

Appointment Length

This ORISE appointment is 12 months. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participant Benefits

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by DPAA. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location.  Other benefits may include the following:

• Health Insurance Supplement. Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE.

• Relocation Allowance

• Training and Travel Allowance

Nature of Appointment

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency.  Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

While participants will not enter into an employment relationship with DOD or any other agency, this opportunity will require a suitability investigation/background investigation. Any offer made is considered tentative pending favorable outcome of the investigation.

ORISE Fellowship selectees should have received a PhD degree in History or related discipline (e.g., Geography, American Studies, Science and Technology Studies, or other transdisciplinary / interdisciplinary degrees), within five years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected on or about the starting date.

Participants will be selected based on academic records, demonstrated expertise in archival research, strong writing skills, applied research interests, and compatibility of language and research expertise with DPAA research programs and projects. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong foundation and demonstrated proficiency in the ability to research, collect, catalogue, and analyze relevant historical data from primary, secondary, and other sources.

Participants must possess superior oral and written communication skills. Additional skills and experience with ArcGIS and databases will be considered beneficial. The program is open to qualified U.S. citizens, eligible to obtain a security clearance up to Top Secret level.        

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (2 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (16 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (10 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (2 )
  • Physics (16 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (27 )