Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research – India

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship fields include, but are not limited to: clean energy technologies and energy transition; climate and health; climate finance; climate justice and equity; climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation; climate-smart agriculture; climatology; critical and emerging technology (including applied AI for climate/agriculture, harnessing high-performance computing/quantum computing for climate mitigation, and biotech); critical minerals supply chains; disaster resilience; green mobility, green buildings and construction; oceanography; renewable energy; sustainability.

These fellowships are designed for Indian faculty and researchers who are in the early stages of their research careers in India. Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships will provide opportunities to talented faculty and researchers to strengthen their research capacities. Postdoctoral fellows will have access to some of the finest resources in their areas of interest and will help build long-term collaborative relationships with U.S. faculty and institutions. These fellowships are for eight to 24 months.

Grant Benefits

• These 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 between India and the U.S., a modest settling-in allowance, and a professional allowance.
• Subject to availability of funds, 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 per cent of the grant period.

Affiliation

• The selected candidate will be affiliated to one U.S. host institution.
• 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 the applicant has secured a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, it should be included as a part of the online application. The letter of invitation should indicate the duration of visit, preferably with dates.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant:
  • must be a responsible Indian citizen who can contribute to a full and fair picture of the culture and civilization of India, and thereby help to promote understanding and friendship between the peoples of the United States of America and India;
  • must not be residing in U.S. during the recruitment and placement cycle (February 2024-July 2025);
  • Indian citizens with active permanent resident status in foreign countries are not eligible to apply;
  • must have a high level of academic/professional achievement;
  • must demonstrate proficiency in the English language to undertake the proposed project/program and adjust to life in the U.S.;
  • must inform USIEF well in advance if the applicant needs to travel abroad (e.g., conference, fellowship etc.) during the application cycle Feb 2024 – July 2025;
  • must be eligible for leave, if employed;
  • must not be applying for or holding permanent residence (green card) in the United States; and
  • must give an undertaking to return to India on the completion of the fellowship.
• Applicants must have a Ph.D. or D.M. degree within the past four years. They must have obtained a Ph.D. or D.M. degree between July 15, 2020 and July 14, 2024. The applicants are required to upload their Ph.D. or D.M. degree certificate/provisional on the online application;
• Applicants must have a publication in reputed journals. They must upload a recent significant publication (copy of paper/article) on the online application (not exceeding 30 pages); and
• If applicant is employed, please follow the instructions carefully regarding employer’s endorsement. If applicable, obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the Letter of Support/Employer’s Endorsement from Home Institution. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. Candidates working under government-funded projects are also required to get endorsement from their affiliating institutions in India.
• Note: Preference will be given to candidates who have not had extensive recent U.S. experience.

For more information, visit USIEF.