2022-2023 Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships are designed for Indian scholars who are registered for a Ph.D. at an Indian institution. These fellowships are for six to nine months.

Applications are invited in the following fields only:
Agricultural Sciences; Anthropology; Bioengineering; Chemistry; Computer Science (including, but not limited to, cyber security, digital economy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics); Economics; Education Policy and Planning; Energy Studies; Geography (including GIS and Geology); History; Language and Literature; Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications); Mathematical Sciences; Neuroscience; Performing Arts; Physics; Political Science (including, but not limited to, International Security and Strategic Studies); Public Health; Public Policy; Sociology; Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on smart cities and waste management); Visual Arts; and Women’s and Gender Studies.

Affiliation
The applicant will be affiliated to one U.S. host institution for his/her 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 applicant has secured a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, s/he must include it as a part of the online application.

Grant Benefits
The fellowships provide J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government guidelines, round-trip economy class air travel, applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees, if any. Selected scholars will have opportunities to audit non-degree courses, conduct research and gain practical work experience in suitable settings in the U.S. No allowances are provided for dependents. The grant is not sufficient to support family members.

Eligibility Requirements
In addition to the General Prerequisites:
the applicant should have done adequate research in the relevant field, especially in the identification of resources in India and the U.S. Applicant must be registered for Ph.D. at an Indian institution on or before November 2, 2020. On the online application form, one of the recommendation letters must be from the Ph.D. supervisor that comments on applicants’ research, need for the fellowship, and must indicate the Ph.D. registration date and topic;
this grant is intended for Ph.D. students to conduct research essential to their dissertations/thesis. Therefore, the expected Ph.D. thesis submission date should atleast be three months after the Fulbright-Nehru grant end date. For example, if May 2023 is the grant end date, the applicant cannot submit his/her thesis before August 2023. Please indicate the Ph.D. registration date and the expected Ph.D. thesis submission date in the Applicant Annexure. The applicant can download the Applicant Annexure from the USIEF website;
if the applicant is employed, s/he must follow the instructions carefully regarding employer’s endorsement. If applicable, please obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the FNDR Employer’s Endorsement Form. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. The applicant can download the FNDR Employer’s Endorsement Form from the USIEF website; and
the applicant must upload a copy of original published/presented paper or extracts from the Masters’/M.Phil. thesis on the online application form (not exceeding 20 pages).
Note: These fellowships are for pre-doctoral level research. Applicants with Ph.D. degrees or those at the final stage of Ph.D. thesis submission will not be considered.

How to Apply

1. Applications must be submitted online at: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2022
2. Please carefully review the FNDR Applicant Instructions before starting your online application.
3. Please refer to FNDR Applicant Checklist before submitting the application.
4. In addition, you must complete and upload the following documents on your online application:
   FNDR Applicant Annexure
   FNDR Employer’s Endorsement Form

Application Deadline: July 15, 2021, 23:59:59 hrs (IST)

Timeline and Placement Process
July 15, 2021 Application due date for 2022-2023 awards
Early August 2021 Field-specific experts review applications to short-list candidates
Early September 2021 USIEF informs the applicants about the review outcome
Late September 2021 National interviews of short-listed candidates
End September 2021 USIEF notifies principal and alternate nominees. Nominees take TOEFL.
November 2021 USIEF forwards applications of recommended candidates to the U.S. for J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) approval and placement
March/April 2022 USIEF notifies finalists
August/September 2022 Program begins

For any queries contact: dr@usief.org.in