The Internet Society Pulse Research Fellowship is a six-month program that supports researchers in conducting data-driven analysis or developing tools that contribute to an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet. The fellowship has been running for three years, and we are introducing a mentor scheme in 2025.
Program Objectives
- Support the development of original, top-tier Internet measurement research.
- Foster a community of researchers, data specialists, and network engineering experts alongside policymakers and journalists to help strengthen and grow the Internet.
- Strengthen partnerships among global organizations working on data-driven research to understand Internet trends.
- Develop new techniques or implement existing methodologies to improve data gathering, analysis, and visualization on the Pulse platform.
- Explore interdisciplinary research topics related to making the Internet resilient, robust, and open.
- Publish in top-tier conferences such as ACM IMC, CoNEXT, SIGMETRICS, or SIGCOMM.
Research Topics
The research topic should reflect one or more of Internet Society Pulse’s focus areas: Enabling Technologies, Internet Shutdowns, Internet Resilience, Market Concentration, and Keeping Traffic Local. Candidates are encouraged to select one of the proposed topics below, but the application is open to all relevant projects.
Estimating the network and economic benefits of peering Measuring DNS resilience Quantifying local Internet traffic Real-time service blocking detection Impact of power outages on Internet resilience Predicting Internet shutdowns Concentration and consolidation of the Internet Internet and climate change Internet policy mapping Data storytelling and visualization of Internet open datasets
Who can Apply
Mentors and Fellows will work on one Internet Society Pulse focus areas: Enabling Technologies, Internet Shutdowns, Internet Resilience, Market Concentration, and Keeping Traffic Local.
Research Fellowship
The Pulse Research Fellowship is open to students or researchers based anywhere in the world who are interested in using state-of-the-art and/or novel Internet measurement techniques to research a specific area that contributes to upholding an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet.
- Must be early-career researchers (graduate students, postdocs, junior faculty, and others conducting research outside of an academic institution within 10 years of graduation).
- Must be affiliated with an academic or research institution.
- Have not been a previous Pulse Research Fellow.
Research Mentorship
This year we are inviting seasoned Internet measurement researchers as “mentors” to help guide the fellows during the six-month program.
- Expertise in Internet Measurements, Internet Policy and/or other related field (economics, social science, etc.)
- Prior mentorship experience.
- Can come from different sectors such as industry, non-profit organizations, research, or academic institutions.
- Mentors should have a Ph.D with a good record of publications.
Duration: The fellowship and mentorship lasts approximately six months and will comprise two cohorts, one starting in February 2025 and the second in June 2025.
Location: The selected candidate/mentor can work remotely from anywhere in the world.
Stipend: The Internet Society will pay the following compensation directly to the fellow/mentor or contribute to their institution’s finances.
Fellow: USD 17,000 (including USD 2,000 equipment/travel support) Mentor: USD 10,000 (including USD 2,000 equipment/travel support)
Selection Criteria: Applicants will be selected according to their;
- Proposal’s relevance to the Pulse focus areas.
- Knowledge of Internet measurements, policy, or data analysis/visualization, and experience necessary to accomplish the proposed research goals.
- Ability to commit at least 25 hours per week to the fellowship.
- Letter of support from supervisors.
The selection committee will comprise a mix of Internet Society Pulse staff and alumni from the previous Pulse Research Fellowship programs.
Application Deadline – 23rd December, 2024
