Pulse Research Fellowship

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.

Apply for the 2025 Pulse Research Fellowship

Apply for the 2025 Pulse Research Mentorship

Timeline

Application opens: 3 December 2024
Application closes: 23 December 2024 (11:59 UTC)
Notification: 6 January 2025
Deadlines for detailed applications (shortlisted candidates only): 31 January 2025
Final notification: 14 February 2025
Start date: 3 March 2025 (First cohort) or 2 June 2025 (2nd cohort)

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. 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.
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 PhD with a good record of publications. Ability to commit between 4-8 hours per week to the mentorship program.

Check out our Fellowship Alumni

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 Committee

The selection committee will comprise a mix of Internet Society Pulse staff and alumni from the previous Pulse Research Fellowship programs.

Questions

If you have questions about the program or the application process, please email [email protected].