Fulbright Kalam Climate Fellowship for Doctoral Research 2025-26

Fulbright Kalam Climate Fellowship for Doctoral Research 2025-26 is an opportunity offered by the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF) for Ph.D. students in India pursuing climate change research. The program aims to foster mutual understanding and collaboration in this field by enabling an exchange of knowledge and expertise between Indian and American researchers. Selected doctoral researchers will receive a monthly stipend, J-1 visa support, accident and sickness insurance, round-trip airfare, and potential research allowances.

Source: United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF)

The fellowship is being offered by the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF).

To be eligible, an applicant must:-

• be a responsible Indian citizen
• be registered for a Ph.D. at an Indian institution on or before 1st November 2023
• demonstrate a commitment to promoting cultural understanding and friendship between India and the United States
• not be residing in the U.S. during the recruitment and placement cycle (February 2024-July 2025)
• have a high level of academic/professional achievement
• demonstrate proficiency in the English language to undertake the proposed project/program and adjust to life in the U.S.
• have conducted adequate research in the relevant field, especially in the identification of resources in India 
• possess a high academic background

Note:- 

• Applicants shall be eligible for leave if employed.
• Applicants must not be applying for or holding permanent residence (green card) in the United States.
• Applicants must give an undertaking to return to India on the completion of the fellowship.
• Applicants with Ph.D. degrees or those at the final stage of Ph.D. thesis submission will not be considered.

The following benefits will be received by the selected fellows:- 

• 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

Note:- The grant does not include a dependants' allowance. This means the grant is intended to cover the fellow's expenses and may not be sufficient to support additional family members.

Eligible candidates can apply for the fellowship by following the steps mentioned below:-

Step 1: Click on the 'Apply Now' button.
Step 2: Click on the 'Register' button on the right-hand side of the dashboard and fill in the required details to 'Register.' (Note:- If already registered, log in using the registered email ID.) 
Step 3: Navigate to the 'How to Apply' section and click on the first link.
Step 4: For first-time users, click on the 'Create an Account' link, whereas registered users click on the 'Login' button.
Step 5: Enter an email address, first/last name, date of birth and click on the 'Continue' tab to 'Register'.
Step 6: Enter the pin received through email to activate the account and create a password to complete the process.
Step 7: After successfully creating the account, fill in the required information step-by-step and upload the necessary documents in the required format. 
Step 8: Fill in the grant and additional information and submit the form.

Note:- The name must be entered exactly the way it appears or will appear on the applicant's passport.

• A copy of the original published/presented paper or extracts from the Master’s/M.Phil. thesis (not exceeding 20 pages)
• A letter of invitation from a U.S. institution mentioning the duration of the visit, preferably with dates
• Scanned copies of marksheets or transcripts and diploma/degree certificates from bachelor’s degree onwards
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume detailing academic and professional Information
• Writing sample (not exceeding 20 pages)
• Applicant’s personal statement
• A scanned copy of the passport
• A scanned copy of Ph.D. registration certificate outlining information including Ph.D. thesis, the name of the applicant’s Ph.D. supervisor and the Ph.D. registration date
• Test score reports, e.g., TOEFL (if available)
• Study plan mentioning study/research objectives

Candidates will be selected based on the fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.

• Application Deadline: 15th July 2024 
• Review applications to shortlist candidates: September 2024
• National interviews of shortlisted candidates: Mid-November 2024
• USIEF notifies finalists: March/April 2025
• Beginning of the program: August/September 2025

• Candidates cannot apply for both Fulbright-Nehru and Fulbright-Kalam grants in the same academic year. Plagiarism in the application will result in disqualification.
• Fulbright-Nehru applications are to be submitted online unless otherwise specified.
• Late applications will not be considered. 
• Extensions and transfers of visa sponsorships are not permitted.
• Public health conditions, consular services availability, travel restrictions, U.S. institutional operations, and policies may affect your ability to travel and participate in Fulbright programs. 
• On the online application form, one letter of recommendation should be from the applicant's PhD supervisor. This letter should comment on the applicant's research, and the need for the fellowship, and indicate the Ph.D. registration date and topic.
• USIEF strongly recommends all applicants identify institutions with which they wish to be affiliated and correspond with potential host institutions in advance.
• If the applicant has secured a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, they should include it as part of the online application.
• The Fulbright-Kalam grant is specifically for Ph.D. students to conduct research essential to their dissertations. Therefore, the expected PhD thesis submission date should be at least three months after the grant end date. For example, if the grant ends in May 2026, applicants cannot submit their thesis before August 2026. Applicants should indicate their Ph.D. registration date and expected PhD thesis submission date in the Applicant Annexure, downloadable from the USIEF website.
• If employed, applicants must carefully follow the instructions regarding employer endorsement. If applicable, they should obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority using the 'Employer's Endorsement Form.' This form requires the employer to confirm granting leave for the duration of the fellowship.