Westin Research Privacy & AI Governance Fellow

The IAPP Westin Fellowship Program was created in 2013 to encourage and enable research and scholarship in the field of privacy. As the IAPP has grown, so has our mission, which is to define, promote and improve the professions of privacy, AI governance and digital responsibility globally.

Applicants from disciplines related to privacy law, AI governance, cybersecurity law, and digital law and policy are encouraged to apply. Previous research, coursework or experience in these fields is preferred. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or be eligible for work authorization in the U.S. for the duration of the fellowship.

The one-year fellowship generally begins and ends in August.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• During the fellowship, most of the fellow’s time will be devoted to contributing substantively to the production of the research team, in collaboration with the publications team, researching and writing in the areas of privacy, AI governance and digital law and policy.
• The fellow will also present IAPP research at appropriate forums (virtually and/or in-person).
• The fellow will contribute to the development and maintenance of resources in the IAPP Resource center, tracking, analyzing and mapping various legislative developments and key issues.
• All work produced is expected to be of very high quality, appropriate for publication through professional or academic channels, as well as useful to practicing privacy professionals.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

• A strong academic record and completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year program are minimum requirements; a graduate degree in law or related fields is preferred.
• Fellows may work at the IAPP’s office in New Hampshire during the term of their fellowship. Applicants requesting to work remotely will be considered on a case by case basis.
• Successful applicants will have a strong academic background in a relevant field(s) with strong interest in domains covering privacy, AI and cybersecurity, proven communication skills and interest in pursuing a long-term career path in the field of privacy, AI governance, and/or broader digital governance.

SELECTION PROCESS

Completed applications are being accepted through 4pm EST on 16 November 2026. Applications will be reviewed as received by the Research Director, Principal Researcher for Privacy Law and Policy and Research Operations Manager. The IAPP will perform initial screenings and conduct interviews with selected candidates. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. We hope to extend offers in December 2026 for the August 2027 – August 2028 term.

Compensation is $55,000 per year (depending on credentials) plus a generous employee benefits package.

HOW TO APPLY

To start the application process, please submit your resume and the additional required application materials using the link below. Required supporting documentation:

• Personal statement
• Two letters of reference sent to [email protected] 
• Brief writing sample
• Transcript
• CV

Please note: Submissions will not be reviewed unless all supporting documentation has been submitted.

About the IAPP 

The IAPP is a policy neutral, not-for-profit association founded in 2000 with a mission to define, promote and improve the professions of privacy, AI governance and digital responsibility globally. More information about the IAPP is available at iapp.org. 

Want to be part of our dynamic and rapidly growing organization? View more information about all of our open positions on our website: https://iapp.org/about/iapp-careers.