Call for Applications for 2023-2024: Thomas Edison Innovation Law and Policy Fellowships

The Center for Intellectual Property x Innovation Policy (C-IP²) at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School invites applications for a non-resident fellowship program. The program is designed to develop rigorous scholarship on intellectual property (IP), creativity, and innovation law and policy.

Submission Deadline: Wednesday, November 23, 2022 (5:00 PM EST)

Submit Applications to: [email protected]

Submit Questions to: [email protected]

The Thomas Edison Innovation Law and Policy Fellowship promotes excellent academic research about IP and related rights in the innovative and creative communities. The program consists of a series of three (3) invitation-only meetings over the course of a year. (Fellows are required to attend all three roundtables, and attendance is a material condition of a Fellowship). Over the course of these meetings, Edison Fellows work under the guidance of Distinguished Commentators and with each other, to turn paper ideas into polished manuscripts publishable in law reviews or other academic journals. The Fellowship is designed primarily for tenure-track professors and for lawyers and Ph.D. graduates interested in academic positions focusing on research in IP, creativity, and innovation. C-IP² also considers applications from recently tenured academics and from practitioners interested in writing about IP, creativity, or innovation policy.

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS: C-IP² will provide lodging and meals at all in-person events. Fellows must arrange their own transportation, which will be reimbursed following the meeting and details specified in advance. However, Fellows that do not have U.S. citizenship cannot be reimbursed but may utilize C-IP²’s travel agent, at no cost to them. Fellows will receive an honorarium of three thousand ($3,000) dollars upon completion of the Fellowship requirements, as set out below.

1. SUBMISSION OF PAPER PROPOSALS – SUBMISSION DEADLINE OF C.O.B. 5:00 P.M. EST, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022: Proposals should include a statement of the issue to be addressed, the proposed methodology, and the feasibility for completion by January 2024. Proposals should be no longer than five (5) pages. C-IP² will notify those chosen to present their proposals at the initial March roundtable by C.O.B. 5:00 P.M. EST on Friday, December 9, 2022.
2. PRESENTATION OF PAPER PROPOSAL AT RESEARCH ROUNDTABLE AT A RESORT LOCATION (TBA) ON THE WEST COAST (MARCH 9-10, 2023): Fellows will present their proposals at a research roundtable held on March 9-10, 2023. Each proposal will be reviewed by distinguished commentators and fellows to provide constructive feedback at the roundtable.
3. PRESENTATION OF FIRST DRAFT AT RESEARCH ROUNDTABLE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY ANTONIN SCALIA LAW SCHOOL (SEPTEMBER 7-8, 2023): Each Fellow is required to submit a First Draft of his or her paper by August 13, 2023. Each First Draft will be reviewed by Distinguished Commentators and Fellows to provide constructive feedback at the roundtable.
4. PRESENTATION OF SECOND DRAFT AT A RESEARCH ROUNDTABLE – LOCATION TBA (JANUARY 18-19, 2024): Each Fellow is required to submit a Second Draft of his or her paper by December 14, 2023. These drafts should be substantially revised from those presented at the September research roundtable. Ideally, Second Drafts will be essentially ready for journal submission. At a minimum, Second Drafts must state a clear thesis and argument, identify an important contribution to relevant scholarship, and demonstrate substantial progress at incorporating feedback received on First Drafts.
5. COMPLETION OF FINAL DRAFT AND SUBMISSION TO AN ACADEMIC JOURNAL (FEBRUARY-MARCH 2024): Following presentation of their second draft, Fellows are expected to make final revisions to their papers and submit them for publication in a suitable academic journal. Upon completion of this requirement, Fellows will receive the honorarium.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To apply to be a C-IP² Edison Fellow, please email your application to [email protected]. All proposals are treated confidentially. Applications should include a research proposal, a copy of your CV and/or resume which includes your current mailing address, citizenship status, and anything else you think will be helpful. Please submit the entire application as a single PDF file, titled: “Last Name, First Name – Edison Application – date.”

IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING APPLICATION:

• On your application, please include your citizenship status (confirmation of current U.S. citizenship or current visa status). Please note that there is a difference in the honorarium payment process and travel processing for Fellows without U.S. citizenship; this will vary based on the individual’s visa status.
• All interested applicants must check with their university or employer before applying to ensure that the individual is cleared to participate in the program and so that their university or employer understands the program’s requirements.
• Accepted applicants will be required to sign an agreement confirming they understand the program requirements and payment details.

FURTHER INFORMATION: For more information regarding this program or other initiatives of C-IP², please visit https://cip2.gmu.edu/, or reach out to C-IP² Managing Director, Joshua Kresh.