The Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships aim to provide Indian faculty, researchers, and professionals residing in India the opportunity to teach, conduct research, or carry out a combination of lecturing and research at a U.S. institution. Depending on the U.S. host institution, it is likely that the grantee may contribute towards developing curriculum and conducting workshops and seminars. These fellowships are for four to nine months. If you are applying for a Flex Award, the minimum length of the total grant is four months and the maximum is six months.
Applications are invited in the following fields only: Agricultural Sciences; Bioengineering; Climate Change Sciences; Computer Science (with emphasis on cyber security and digital economy); Economics; Education Policy and Planning; Energy Studies; International Law ( limited to environmental law, immigration law and labour law); International Security and Strategic Studies; Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications); Neurosciences; Public Health; Study of India (limited to anthropology, history, sociology, and visual and performing arts); Study of the United States (limited to anthropology, history, sociology, and visual and performing arts); Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on waste management and smart cities); and Women’s and Gender Studies.
Research
Applicants must demonstrate the relevance of
the proposed research to India and/or the U.S., its benefit to the applicant’s institution, the feasibility of accomplishing the research goal within the stipulated period, and the need to carry out the research in the U.S.Lecturing
Indian academics and professionals contribute to the internationalization of the curriculum at their U.S. host institutions and the understanding of recent developments not just in India but globally. The recipient will be affiliated as a visiting scholar at a U.S. institution, and will teach courses individually or team-teach.
Lecturing applications are especially welcome.
Research and Lecturing
Applicants will carry out a combination of teaching and research activities at the U.S. host institution. Please specify the percentage of the grant for each activity and define this in your project statement. For instance, if you plan to spend 60% of your grant duration for research and 40% for teaching, your project statement should demonstrate this allocation. Teaching could include courses (individually or team-taught) or a series of seminars at the U.S. institution.
Flex Awards
Flex Awards are designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the U.S. and for those who find it difficult to leave their home institutions during the academic year. This option allows grants to be conducted over short segments, preferably during the fall and/or spring semesters. Interested applicants should clearly indicate plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline.
Flex grant parameters:
- Minimum length of the total grant is four months and the maximum is six months;
- The grant must have two segments. Minimum length for any grant segment is one month and the maximum is three months;
- Applicants may propose one-month segment only once;
- Grant segments may be spread over two consecutive years;
- Grants may begin any time from August 2018. Grants must begin by March 31, 2019;
- Grant activities must be completed by August 31, 2020; and
- Only offered for research grants.
No more than 25% of the total Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Awards will be considered for the Flex option. USIEF will consider up to six Flex Grants. A maximum of two round-trip economy class air tickets for the grantee only will be provided (one ticket per trip).
In addition to their research activities, Flex scholars agree to undertake activities recommended by USIEF, including: engaging with the host institution academic community, participating in seminars, giving public talks, and mentoring students. Applications that propose grant periods during the host institution’s academic year are preferred. Scholars who wish to visit the host institution outside of the academic year will need to demonstrate clearly how they will engage with the host institution community.
Affiliation
You will be affiliated to one U.S. host institution for your grant. USIEF strongly recommends all applicants to identify institutions with which they wish to be affiliated and to correspond, in advance, with potential host institutions. If you have secured a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, please include it as a part of your online application.
Grant Benefits
The fellowships provide a round-trip economy class air ticket (two round-trip economy class air tickets for Flex), a monthly stipend, Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines, a modest settling-in allowance, and a professional allowance. Subject to availability of funds, in case of grantees on eight or nine month grants, a dependent allowance and international travel may be provided for one accompanying eligible dependent provided the dependent is with the grantee in the U.S. for at least 80% of the grant period. Flex grantees are not eligible for dependent benefits.
Eligibility Requirements
In addition to the General Prerequisites:
- Faculty/researchers should have a Ph.D. degree or equivalent published work with at least five years of relevant teaching/research experience;
- Professionals outside academe should have a Master’s degree or equivalent published work with recognized professional standing and at least five years relevant experience;
- You should upload a recent significant publication (copy of paper/article) in your online application; and
- If employed, at the time of submitting the application, please follow the instructions carefully regarding employer’s endorsement. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. Please obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the FNAPE Employer’s Endorsement Form.
How to Apply
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- Please carefully review the FNAPE Applicant Instructions before starting your online application
- Please refer to FNAPE Applicant Checklist before submitting the application.
- In addition, you must complete and upload the following documents on your online applicaiton:
- FNAPE Applicant Annexure
- FNAPE Employer’s Endorsement Form
- FNAPE Reference Report FormApplications must be submitted online at: https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/scholars/30/
Application Due Date: July 17, 2017, 23:59:59 hrs (IST)
Timeline and Placement Process
| July 17, 2017 | Application due date for 2017-2018 awards |
| August 2017 | Field-specific experts review applications to short-list candidates |
| End-October 2017 | National interviews of short-listed candidates in Delhi |
| November 2017 | USIEF notifies principal and alternate nominees that they are recommended. Nominees take TOEFL |
| December 2017 |
USIEF forwards applications of recommended candidates to the U.S. for J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) approval and placement |
| March-April 2018 | USIEF notifies finalists |
| May-June 2018 | Pre-Departure Orientation |
| August-September 2018 | Program begins |
IMPORTANT:
- You can apply for only ONE Fulbright-Nehru fellowship category during a competition cycle.
- Plagiarism in the application will lead to disqualification.
- Unless otherwise specified, Fulbright-Nehru applications are to be submitted online.
- Applications received after the deadline will NOT be considered.
- Extensions and transfers of visa sponsorship will not be permitted.
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