The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF)

(1956)

The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF), established in 1956 by an agreement between the governments of the United States and Israel, administers the Fulbright educational exchange program in Israel. The information was last updated in 1991. The text of the agreement follows:

The Fulbright Program

The US Government’s Fulbright Program is one of the world’s most prestigious and widely-known academic exchange programs. The main goal of the Fulbright Program, initiated in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright, is to strengthen the basis for peace by strengthening mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the peoples of partner countries around the world.  Student and faculty exchanges at the highest possible level of academic excellence are the principal means employed by the Fulbright Program to achieve this goal.

The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF)

The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF), established by the Governments of the United States and Israel in 1956, is responsible for the administration of Israel’s participation in the Fulbright Program.

In the years since USIEF’s establishment over 1,000 US citizens and over 1,300 Israelis have taken part in a variety of Fulbright exchanges.  US alumni have made their mark primarily in the academic world.  Israeli Fulbright alumni fill leading roles in academia, in government, in medical and social services, and in literature.

In addition to its main mission, administration of the Fulbright Israel exchanges, USIEF carries out a number of complementary activities:

USIEF’s StudyUSA Educational Counseling Center provides accurate, comprehensive, current, and unbiased information on post-secondary educational opportunities in the United States.  The Center’s services cover the entire range of options, from one-year technical courses, English language programs and distance learning, through associate and bachelor’s degree programs, and up to post-graduate programs leading to professional degrees in law and medicine and MA and PhD degrees in all disciplines.

USIEF’s Fulbright-Israel conference program provides a platform for appearances by US Fulbright Fellows and other US guests and by Israeli Fulbright alumni.  The program includes special lectures and symposia on a wide variety of topics.  A major theme within the program is higher education policy and the development of higher education systems.

During the 2005/2006 academic year, a special program of events was carried out to mark the 50th anniversary of the signature of the US-Israeli agreement on the establishment of USIEF and the beginning of US-Israeli Fulbright exchanges.

USIEF’s policies and program of activities are set by USIEF’s Board of Directors.  The Ambassador of the United States to Israel, H.E. Richard H. Jones, is the Honorary Chairman of the Board, while Mr. Dan Vilenski, former Chairman of the Board of Applied Materials Israel, serves as the Board’s Chairman. 

The most up to date application and participation information can be found here

PROGRAMS FOR AMERICANS

Fulbright Distinguished Chair Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) plans to award one Distinguished Chair grant in the humanities and social sciences for a visit to an Israeli institution of higher education to be carried out during the 2008/2009 academic year. 

Awards in the Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program.  Candidates should hold the rank of full professor and have a prominent record of scholarly accomplishment and substantial teaching experience.  Applicants with equivalent status in one of the fine arts or literature may also apply.

The visiting Distinguished Chair Fellow’s program of work may include research, lecturing, or a combination of lecturing and research.  In addition to activities carried out at his/her host institution, it is expected that the Distinguished Chair holder will visit other institutions in order to give special guest lectures and to take part in symposia and conferences.

Visits for one full academic year (10 months) are preferred, but single semester visits are also allowed.

Program grants provide an allowance of $6,000/month.

The selection of the Distinguished Chair Fellowship is based primarily on academic excellence.

Knowledge of Hebrew is helpful but not required, except as necessary for the conduct of proposed research projects.

The Distinguished Chair Fellow must be hosted by an accredited Israeli institution of higher education.  For the complete list of such institutions, click here.

Each candidate should try to arrange his/her institutional affiliations in Israel independently, including development of the program of work for the proposed visit through contacts with possible host institutions.  If assistance is required, USIEF will attempt to help candidates to identify suitable host institutions.

Candidates selected as finalists and invited to submit full application materials must present a letter of invitation from an Israeli host institution by the August 1 application deadline.  Candidates should note that, according to USIEF policy, host institutions are obliged to make a financial contribution towards the funding of the grants awarded to visiting Fellows. The matter of this mandatory contribution should be raised in preliminary discussions with potential hosts, prior to the issuance of a letter of invitation.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for evaluation of applications forwarded to it by the responsible agency in the United States.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding  the allocation of Fellowships.

Grant benefits

• Monthly allowance of $6,000, payable in dollars
• Limited health insurance for the grantee only
• Orientation meeting in Israel and other grantee events during the course of the academic year

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility requirements apply at the time of application.

Evaluation criteria

• Academic excellence (or equivalent professional or artistic excellence) is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had substantial, recent professional experience in Israel.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.
• Hebrew language proficiency is not an evaluation criterion, unless such proficiency is required in order to carry out the proposed plan of work.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Application procedures

The Distinguished Chair Program is administered for the Department of State by the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars (CIES).

Applicants for the 2008/2009 academic year must submit to CIES a letter of interest (about three pages), a curriculum vitae (maximum eight pages) and a program of work(research and/or teaching; maximum four pages) by May 1, 2007.  Following a review carried out during the summer, scholars short-listed for the fellowship will be asked to submit a full application by August 1, 2007.

The official call for 2008/2009 candidates will be published on the CIES website in February-March 2007.  Requests for further information may be directed to Ms. Judy Stavsky, Deputy Director, United States-Israel Educational Foundation.

Fulbright Distinguished Chair Fellowship in the Natural Sciences and Engineering

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) plans to award one Distinguished Chair grant in the natural sciences and engineering for a visit to an Israeli institution of higher education to be carried out during the 2008/2009 academic year. 

Awards in the Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program.  Candidates should hold the rank of full professor and have a prominent record of scholarly accomplishment and substantial teaching experience. 

The visiting Distinguished Chair Fellow’s program of work may include research, lecturing, or a combination of lecturing and research.  In addition to activities carried out at his/her host institution, it is expected that the Distinguished Chair holder will visit other institutions in order to give special guest lectures and to take part in symposia and conferences.

Visits for one full academic year (10 months) are preferred, but single semester visits are also allowed. 

Program grants provide an allowance of $6,000/month.

The selection of the Distinguished Chair Fellowship is based primarily on academic excellence.

Knowledge of Hebrew is helpful but not required, except as necessary for the conduct of proposed research projects.

The Distinguished Chair Fellow must be hosted by an accredited Israeli institution of higher education.  For the complete list of such institutions, click here. 

Each candidate should try to arrange his/her institutional affiliations in Israel independently, including development of the program of work for the proposed visit through contacts with possible host institutions.  If assistance is required, USIEF will attempt to help candidates to identify suitable host institutions.

Candidates selected as finalists and invited to submit full application materials must present a letter of invitation from an Israeli host institution by the August 1 application deadline.  Candidates should note that, according to USIEF policy, host institutions are obliged to make a financial contribution towards the funding of the grants awarded to visiting Fellows. The matter of this mandatory contribution should be raised in preliminary discussions with potential hosts, prior to the issuance of a letter of invitation.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for evaluation of applications forwarded to it by the responsible agency in the United States.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding  the allocation of Fellowships.

Grant benefits

• Monthly allowance of $6,000, payable in dollars
• Limited health insurance for the grantee only
• Orientation meeting in Israel and other grantee events during the course of the academic year

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility requirements apply at the time of application.

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens; permanent resident status is not sufficient.
• Academic staff applicants must have earned a Ph.D. or an equivalent professional degree and must hold the rank of full professor. 
• Individuals who have received two Fulbright “basic fellowships” are not eligible to apply.  Any Fulbright grant providing support for two or more months of activity outside of the United States is considered a basic fellowship; a Fulbright grant providing up to two months of support is considered equivalent to half a basic fellowship. In addition: (1) two years must pass from the date of completion of a previous Fulbright short-term grant to the commencement of a Fulbright-Israel Senior Scholar Fellowship; and (2) five years must pass from the date of completion of a basic fellowship until the commencement of a Senior Scholar Fellowship. Further information regarding the above may be found on the CIES website.
• Candidates must be in good health. All applicants selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be activated.
• Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation criteria  

• Academic excellence (or equivalent professional or artistic excellence) is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had substantial, recent professional experience in Israel.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.
• Hebrew language proficiency is not an evaluation criterion, unless such proficiency is required in order to carry out the proposed plan of work.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Application procedures

The Distinguished Chair Program is administered for the Department of State by the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars (CIES).

Applicants for the 2008/2009 academic year must submit to CIES a letter of interest (about three pages), a curriculum vitae (maximum eight pages) and a program of work(research and/or teaching; maximum four pages) by May 1, 2007.  Following a review carried out during the summer, scholars short-listed for the fellowship will be asked to submit a full application by August 1, 2007.

The official call for 2008/2009 candidates will be published on the CIES website in February-March 2007.  Requests for further information may be directed to Ms. Judy Stavsky, Deputy Director, United States-Israel Educational Foundation.

Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowships

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) plans to award 8-10 grants to members of academic staff and senior, accomplished professionals, artists and writers for visits to Israeli institutions of higher education to be carried out during the 2008/2009 academic year.  The visiting fellows’ programs of work may include research, lecturing, or a combination of lecturing and research.

Visits for one full academic year (10 months) are preferred, but single semester visits are also allowed.  Program grants provide a monthly allowance, scaled to take into account the number of family members accompanying the visiting fellows.

This program is open to all fields of study.

USIEF awards are granted on the basis of academic excellence, the leadership promise of the applicant, and the potential of the proposed visit both to advance scientific knowledge and to enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of the U.S. and Israel. The Foundation wishes to emphasize that, while stressing professional qualifications, it is interested in achieving representation of the various geographic regions and ethnic groups of the United States in the panel of program Fellows.

The Foundation gives preference to applicants who have not had significant prior professional experience in Israel.

Knowledge of Hebrew is helpful but not required, except as necessary for the conduct of proposed research projects.

Senior Scholar Fellows must be hosted by an accredited Israeli institution of higher education.  For the complete list of such institutions, click here.

In addition to its standard Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowships, USIEF offers a number of awards in partnership with Israeli institutions of higher learning.  For further details see the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) website.

Each candidate should try to arrange his/her institutional affiliations in Israel independently, including development of the program of work for the proposed visit through contacts with possible host institutions.  If assistance is required, USIEF will attempt to help candidates to identify suitable host institutions.

It is recommended, but not required, that a letter or letters of invitation be included among the materials submitted to the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) by the August 1 application deadline.  Candidates should take into account that, according to USIEF policy, host institutions are obliged to make a financial contribution towards the funding of the grants awarded to visiting Fellows. The matter of this mandatory contribution should be raised in preliminary discussions with potential hosts, prior to the issuance of a letter of invitation.

A formal hosting commitment must be received by USIEF from an eligible institution no later than January  2008, when the Foundation will make its final decisions regarding the choice of candidates to whom fellowships will be offered.
 
The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications forwarded to it by the responsible agency in the United States.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships.

Additional general information on the Fulbright Senior Scholar Program may be found on the website of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

Grant Benefits

• Monthly allowance, payable in dollars: $3,000/month for unaccompanied grantees $4,000/month for grantees accompanied by one dependent; $5,000/month for grantees accompanied by two dependents; $5,500/month for grantees accompanied by three or more dependents
• Limited health insurance for the grantee only
• Orientation meeting in Israel and other grantee events during the course of the academic year.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility requirements apply at the time of application.

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens; permanent resident status is not sufficient.
• Academic staff applicants must have earned a Ph.D. or an equivalent professional degree and must hold the rank of professor or associate professor in their home institutions. For professionals and artists, recognized professional standing and substantial professional accomplishments are required.
• Individuals who have received two Fulbright “basic fellowships” are not eligible to apply.  Any Fulbright grant providing support for two or more months of activity outside of the United States is considered a basic fellowship; a Fulbright grant providing up to two months of support is considered equivalent to half a basic fellowship. In addition: (1) two years must pass from the date of completion of a previous Fulbright short-term grant to the commencement of a Fulbright-Israel Senior Scholar Fellowship; and (2) five years must pass from the date of completion of a basic fellowship until the commencement of a Senior Scholar Fellowship.  Further information regarding the above may be found on the CIES website.
• Candidates must be in good health. All applicants selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be activated.
• Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation Criteria

In its evaluation of candidates, USIEF applies the following criteria:

• Academic excellence (or equivalent professional or artistic excellence) is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• Leadership qualities are an important evaluation criterion.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had substantial, recent professional experience in Israel.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.
• Hebrew language proficiency is not an evaluation criterion, unless such proficiency is required in order to carry out the proposed plan of work.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Application Procedures

Full details on Senior Scholar Program application procedures and required forms may be found on the website of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.  August 1, 2007 is the final date for submission of applications to the Council for 2008/2009 Fellowships.

Those interested may also contact the CIES staff member responsible for the Middle East region for further information:

Mr. Gary L. Garrison
Telephone: 202-686-4019
Email: ggarrison@cies.iie.org

Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellowships in the Exact Sciences

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) plans to award two grants to post-doctoral scholars who are about to begin a program of research at Israeli institutions of higher education which will commence during the 2008/2009 academic year.  The total length of the proposed program of work in Israel must be at least two academic years (20 months net in Israel). 
 
This program is open to post-doctoral researchers in the exact sciences – physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and related fields.
 
USIEF awards are granted on the basis of academic excellence, the leadership promise of the applicant, and the potential of the proposed visit to both advance knowledge and enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of the U.S. and Israel.
 
The Foundation gives preference to applicants who have not had significant prior professional experience in Israel.
 
Knowledge of Hebrew is helpful but not required, except as necessary for the conduct of proposed research projects.
 
Post-doctoral fellows must be hosted by an accredited Israeli institution of higher education.  For the complete list of accredited institutions, click here.
  
Each candidate should try to arrange his/her institutional affiliations in Israel independently, including development of the program of work for the proposed visit, through contacts with possible host institutions.  If assistance is required, USIEF will attempt to help candidates to identify suitable host institutions.
 
A letter from an Israeli researcher, expressing at least preliminary interest in hosting the candidate, must be included among the materials submitted to the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) by the August 1 application deadline.

Candidates should take into account that, according to USIEF policy, host institutions will be required to provide to the program fellows a grant no smaller than their own usual basic post-doctoral award, in addition to USIEF’s grant.  Thus, candidates should submit applications for post-doctoral stipends to potential host institutions, in parallel to presentation of their candidacy for Fulbright fellowships.

A formal hosting commitment, including the commitment to provide financial support, must be received by USIEF from an eligible institution before a fellowship offered to a candidate can be activated and transfer of grant funds can begin.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications forwarded to it by the responsible agency in the United States.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships. 
 
An announcement inviting American researchers to submit their candidacy to the Fulbright Post-Doctoral Program will be posted soon on the website of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

Grant Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility requirements apply at the time of application.

Evaluation Criteria

In its evaluation of candidates, USIEF applies the following criteria:

Application Procedures

Full details on application procedures and required application forms may be found on the website of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.  August 1, 2007 is the final date for submission of applications to the Council for 2008/2009 Fellowships.
 
Those interested may also contact the CIES staff member responsible for the Middle East region for further information:
 
Mr. Gary L. Garrison
Telephone: 202-686-4019
Email: ggarrison@cies.iie.org 

Fulbright Post-Graduate Student Fellowships

The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) plans to award 8-10 grants to students for post-graduate study and research in 2008/2009 (October 2008-June 2009).

Applications may be presented in all fields of study.

Holders of bachelors or masters degrees may apply for post-graduate student fellowships.  Those still engaged in bachelors degree studies at the time of application are also eligible, if they will complete their studies and receive their degrees prior to the planned commencement date of their fellowships during the course of the following academic years.  Those who have already completed all the requirements for receipt of a doctoral degree at the time of application are not eligible to request post-graduate student fellowships.

USIEF awards are granted on the basis of academic excellence, the leadership promise of the applicant, and the potential of the proposed visit to both advance knowledge and enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and Israel.

Preference will be given to applicants who have had limited or no prior experience in Israel.

Knowledge of Hebrew is helpful but not required, except as necessary for course work or research projects.

Post-Graduate Student Fellows must be hosted by an accredited Israeli institution of higher education.  For the complete list of such institutions, click here.

Each candidate should try to arrange his/her institutional affiliations in Israel independently, including identification of a faculty member willing to serve as Fulbright Program adviser.  If assistance is required, USIEF will attempt to help candidates to identify suitable host institutions.

It is recommended, but not required, that a letter or letters of invitation be included among the materials submitted with the candidate’s other application materials.  A formal hosting commitment, including designation of the faculty member who will serve as the candidate’s Fulbright adviser, must be received by USIEF from an eligible institution no later than January 2008, when the Foundation will make its final decisions regarding the choice of candidates to whom fellowships will be offered.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications forwarded to it by the responsible agency in the United States.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships.

Additional information on the Fulbright Post-Graduate Student Program may be found on the website of the Institute for International Education (IIE).

Grant benefits

• Monthly maintenance allowance: The allowance for the full academic year (nine months) for an unaccompanied grantee is $13,400. Grantees with a single accompanying dependent receive $19,250 for the academic year; those with two accompanying dependents - $21,600; and those with three or more - $23,950
• payment of tuition for course work undertaken at academic institutions and for Hebrew and/or Arabic language instruction
• research allowance ($500), where appropriate
• limited health insurance for the grantee only
• orientation meeting in Israel and other grantee events during the course of the year

Eligibility requirements 

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application; permanent resident status is not sufficient. 
• Holders of bachelor’s or master’s degrees may apply for post-graduate student fellowships. Those still engaged in bachelors degree studies at the time of application are eligible, if they will complete their studies and receive their degrees prior to the planned commencement date of their fellowships during the course of the following academic year.  Those who have already completed all the requirements for receipt of a doctoral degree by the application deadline are not eligible to request post-graduate student fellowships.
• Candidates must be in good health. All applicants selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be activated. 
• Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation criteria

• Academic excellence is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• Leadership qualities are an important evaluation criterion.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not had substantial, recent experience Israel. 
• Hebrew language proficiency is not an evaluation criterion, unless such proficiency is required in order to carry out the proposed plan of work.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Application procedures

At-large applicants (i.e., those not currently enrolled as students) must submit their applications directly to the Institute of International Education (IIE). Those interested should consult the IIE website for full details. The final date for receipt of at-large applications for 2008/2009 by IIE will be in October 2007.

Candidates currently enrolled as students at an institution of higher learning must submit their applications through their college/university. Enrolled students should be aware that the on-campus deadline may be much earlier than the October deadline for transmittal of applications to IIE.  For full details regarding the on-campus application process, students should contact the Fulbright Program Adviser on their campuses.  The names and contact details of campus Fulbright Program Advisers are listed on IIE's website.

Fulbright Middle East, North Africa, South Asia Regional Research Fellowships

Up to 12 awards for research in any academic or professional area in two or more countries of the Middle East, North Africa or Central or South Asia.

Support is provided for research projects of historical or contemporary focus, comparative or regional in scope or where data must be collected in several countries. Fieldwork must be conducted in two or more countries of the region. Projects that involve collaboration with host country colleagues and institutions and that will contribute to cooperation among countries of the region are particularly encouraged. Projects may be undertaken in the following areas of the Middle East, North Africa, Central or South Asia: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Staff:  Assistant Director Gary L. Garrison, 202.686.4019, ggarrison@cies.iie.org or Homa Rafiq, 202.686.4018, hrafiq@cies.iie.org

Benefits

• $1,870 monthly base stipend, according to the standard base stipend formula. Separate base stipend, maintenance and travel amounts apply for Egypt, India, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Obtain details from CIES.
• Monthly maintenance, generally between $1,700 and $3,000, varies by country and number of accompanying dependents.
• Standard travel/relocation.
• Up to $5,000 per child or $10,000 per family for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12 is reimbursed for a full academic year. Amount is adjusted for shorter grant periods. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only.
• Research allowance of $2,000.

Fulbright Senior Specialists Fellowship

The Fulbright Senior Specialists Program provides support for short (2-6 week) visits by US academics or senior professionals in the following fields:

A full listing of the subfields included under each of the above main headings may be found on the website of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES).

The program of work for a senior specialist’s visit may include activities such as lecturing to undergraduate or graduate students; professional consultations and advising; participation in workshops, symposia or conferences; development and/or evaluation of academic curricula or educational materials; etc.  The program does not fund research.

Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.

An annual quota of 10 visit approvals has been allocated to the Fulbright Israel program. USIEF will not recommend to the responsible agency in the United States approval of more than one senior specialist fellow for any given Israeli based event, course, seminar, conference, or symposium.

Grant benefits

The program provides the specialist with round trip airfare (tourist class) and a $200/day honorarium.  In-country hospitality (lodgings, meals, in-country transportation) is provided by the Israeli host institution/s, according to terms agreed in direct contacts between the program fellow and the institution/s concerned.

Application procedures

US specialists interested in visiting Israel must submit their application to the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.  Application instructions and forms may be found on the CIES website.

Regulations have been fixed regarding the maximum number of Fulbright grants which an individual may receive and regarding minimum waiting times between grants.  Individuals considering submission of an application should review these regulations.

Each candidate’s Israeli host institution must submit a request to host his/her visit to the United States-Israel Educational Foundation.  Instructions and forms may be obtained by contacting Ms. Judy Stavsky.

Coming application deadlines and response dates are as follows:

The earliest possible beginning date for approved visits is 3-4 months after the application date.

PROGRAMS FOR ISRAELIS

Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellowships

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) intends to award about 12 grants to post-doctoral scholars who are about to begin a program of research in 2007/2008 at an accredited university or a public or private, non-profit research institute in the United States, which are authorized to issue SEVIS DS2019 forms to enable candidates to obtain J-1 exchange visitor visas.

Program grants provide $20,000 in partial support of the recipient’s first year of activity in the United States.

This program is open to researchers in all fields of study.

The grants are for scholars who will begin their work in the U.S. during the academic year 2007/2008. Grant recipients must depart for the United States no later than April 30, 2008.

Applicants must arrange their own institutional affiliation. An application may be submitted even if the candidate has not completed arrangements with a host institution by the deadline date for submission of applications.  Before payment of their grants, those chosen as program fellows will be required to provide proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow at a recognized research institution in the United States.

Holders of a doctoral degree or its equivalent and doctoral candidates may apply for USIEF post-doctoral fellowships.  A doctoral candidate selected as program fellow will be required to provide proof that he/she has completed all requirements for the doctoral degree prior to payment of the grant.

The most highly-ranked candidates will be invited for an interview in March in Israel. All interviews are held on the same day. In order to be considered for an award, applicants must be available for interview in person on the date fixed by USIEF.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships.

Grant benefits

• $20,000 award
• limited health insurance for grantee only
• pre-departure orientation meeting

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates must be Israeli citizens. Dual American-Israeli citizens or permanent residents of the United States are not eligible to apply.
• Candidates who have received a USIEF Fulbright Student Fellowship are not eligible to begin a visit to the United States as Post-Doctoral Fellows until five years have passed from the conclusion of their stay in the United States as Student Fellows.  See the regulations regarding repeat fellowships in the Fellowships section above.
• Candidates must be resident in Israel at the time of application. Scholars who have already begun their research or teaching activities in the United States or are planning to depart Israel for the United States before July 2007 are not eligible to apply.
• Holders of a tenured position at an academic institution are ineligible.
• Candidates must be in good health. All applicants selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be activated. 
• Medical doctors wishing to combine clinical and research activities in the United States are not eligible to apply for this grant. Doctors wishing to carry out such a program must seek the sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which has been designated by the US Department of State as the sole agency authorized to sponsor alien physicians for internship, residency and specialized clinical training in the United States. Details of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) can be obtained from the USIEF’s student advising center. 
• Prior to activation of grants awarded, candidates selected must give proof of completion of all requirements for receipt of the doctoral degree. 
• Prior to activation of grants awarded, candidates selected must give proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow at a recognized institution in the United States.
• Prior to activation of grants awarded, candidates selected must give proof of having obtained adequate financial support for their stay in the United States.
• Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation criteria

• Academic excellence is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• English language proficiency is an important evaluation criterion. 
• Leadership qualities are an important evaluation criterion. 
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not had a substantial, recent, academic experience in the United States. 
• Preference will be given to candidates who have received their doctorates within two years prior to the presentation of their applications. 
• Preference will be given to candidates under 35 years of age.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Conditions of award

• Funding is for one year only. Grantees must arrange funding for the remainder of their stay in the United States.
• Grantees are responsible for making their own travel arrangements. 
• Grantees must travel on a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsored by the Fulbright program. 
  • Upon the conclusion of the one-year Fulbright funding period, grantees must arrange transfer of their visa sponsorship from the Fulbright program to their American host institutions. 
  • Current visa regulations limit the stay of J-1 scholars to 5 years. Limited extensions of the visa may be granted by the visa sponsor or by the State Department. 
  • It is a condition of the visa that after completion of their Fulbright program including any transfer of visa sponsorship, grantees must return to Israel and reside in the country for two years before being eligible to immigrate to the US, to apply for permanent residence in that country or to request a US work permit. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return home and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright program. 
  • Holders of J-1 visas who have resided in the United States for six months or more are not eligible to apply for re-entry as J-1 research scholars or short-term scholars for twelve months following departure from the United States. 
  • Dependents of grantees will enter the US as holders of J-2 visas. Many conditions applying to the grantees as holders of J-1 visas, such as the two-year home residency requirement, also apply to the holders of J-2 visas.
• Awards cannot be deferred to the following year.

Instructions on the preparation and submission of applications

• All required documents must be submitted in English. 
• Candidates must submit six complete copies of their applications. Each set of materials must include the visiting scholar application form, a passport picture, the applicant’s project statement and his/her curriculum vitae. Each set should be stapled on the left side. Please do not bind applications in folders. 
• The earliest date for submission of applications is December 1, 2006. The final date for submission of applications is January 15, 2007.  The address for submission of applications is: United States-Israel Educational Foundation, POB 26160, Tel Aviv, 61261 or 10th Floor, Migdalor Building, One Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv. Faxed or e-mail copies of applications are not acceptable. 
• Three letters of reference written in English on institutional letterhead paper, together with reference forms, should be sent directly to USIEF by those providing references before the final date for submission of the application. Do not submit more than three references. All of these references should be from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant’s work and with whom s/he has studied in her/his academic field.

  • One reference should be submitted by the applicant’s doctoral degree advisor, and one of the references from a colleague in the applicant’s field outside his/her home institution.
  • Faxed references will be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all references are submitted by the deadline so that his/her application may be properly processed.
• Applicants should submit, if available, documentary evidence of affiliation to an accredited university or affiliation to a public or private, non-profit research institute in the United States. It is not necessary to have a firm affiliation arranged and evidence of financial support at the time of submitting the application. 
• The applicant’s name should be given exactly as it appears on the applicant’s passport with family (last) name underlined.
• Where dates are requested, the name of the month should be given, rather than the numerical figure. 
• Those separated, divorced, or widowed should indicate their family status as “single".
• In references to publications, a distinction should be made between books and articles. For books, the title should be underscored and the publisher and date should be noted. For articles, the title should be given in quotation marks, followed by the name of the journal or collection (underscored) and the publication date. English translations of titles should be provided for material published in Hebrew. 
• A detailed curriculum vitae should be submitted. The c.v., describing academic and other achievements, should include details regarding:
  • education (universities attended and degrees held);
  • positions held; 
  • courses taught; 
  • publications;
  • other professional activities, such as workshops, seminars, consultations;
  • membership, leadership and other activities in professional associations;
  • professional honors, awards and fellowships;
  • community service and leadership.

Advice on the preparation of a successful application

DOs

• The project statement is considered one of the most important indicators of academic excellence in the evaluation of applications for Fulbright post-doctoral grants. Scholars with the most compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, feasible proposals have a better chance to receive awards. Take note of the following points in preparing your statement:
• Emphasize key points in the first paragraph of the proposal. Academic reviewers examine many Fulbright applications, and having to search for the main points of the proposed activity is not helpful. You should use the text of the proposal to support the statements your present in the opening paragraph and later in the summary. 
• Clearly define your objectives and the methodology you will employ. Indicate whether you will use interviews, library research, or laboratory experiments to accomplish your project.
• Place your project in its academic or professional context by referring to leading work by others on the topic.
• Explain the significance of the project for the field and for your own professional development. 
• Explain why a period of work in the United States is necessary for accomplishment of the project. Comment, if applicable, on the adequacy or inadequacy of research facilities and library resources in Israel and on the need to use specific facilities or collections in the United States. 
• Describe arrangements you have made, if any, for institutional affiliation or collaboration with specific researchers. Try to secure a letter of invitation from a US host institution testifying to the merits and feasibility of the proposal. If you have an institutional preference, explain the reasons for your preference.
• Discuss the adequacy of the length of your proposed stay in the US to the completion of your project.
• Discuss how your qualifications and expertise match the project statement. Show how you have prepared yourself to be able to accomplish what you are proposing to do. 
• Discuss the expected results of your participation in the Fulbright program. What is likely to be the impact of your experience abroad? How will the results of your work be diffused in the US and in Israel? How will your project benefit the host institution and scholars in your field both in Israel and in the United States? How will you use what you learned, the experience you have gained and your new understanding of the US upon your return to Israel?
• Treat the application as a unitary whole with all parts reinforcing the case being made in the project statement. There should be a clear, logically ordered flow: the candidate’s capabilities are listed in the application, further documented in the c.v. and confirmed in references. Without being redundant or simplistic, you should make it easier for the reviewers to find the key pieces of information you wish to convey.
• Choose your references carefully. Only those who are well acquainted with your qualifications should be requested to provide references. A pro-forma letter from a well-known scholar, a contact abroad, or a prominent government official will carry less weight than a realistic assessment of the candidate’s abilities from someone who knows him/her and his/her work well. 
• Contact those from whom you are requesting references early, so as to guarantee timely submission of letters of recommendation. An insufficient number of references could weaken your application.

DON’Ts

• Do not exceed the page limit of the application proposal. 
• Since those who read the application may be experts in your field, avoid talking down to them. On the other hand, do not try to impress your reader by using jargon. In the project summary, use straightforward language that can be easily understood by those in other disciplines and specializations.
• Avoid vagueness and lack of precision in explaining the nature of your proposed Fulbright activity and in describing your previous work. A frequent failing in applications is that the proposal is undefined, underdeveloped or too imprecise to give reviewers a clear sense of the endeavor.
• Do not focus exclusively on the benefits which a Fulbright grant will bring you personally. Remember that the program is intended to foster mutual understanding between peoples and nations.

Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Timetable for 2007/2008

Application Form

To download the applicatiorm, click here.

If you experience difficulties downloading the document, please write to us directly at info@fulbright.org.il, specify which document you need, and we will email it to you.

Fulbright-ISEF Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Program overview

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) and ISEF - the International Educational Foundation offer a joint grant to a post-doctoral scholar who is about to begin a program of research at an accredited university, or at a public or private, non-profit research institute in the United States, which are authorized to issue SEVIS DS2019 forms to enable candidates to obtain J-1 exchange visitor visas.

The three main criteria for evaluation of candidates for the Fulbright-ISEF grant are:

• academic excellence; 
• involvement in community service activities and proven leadership capabilities in such activities;
• underprivileged economic background.

The program grant provides $20,000 in partial support of the recipient's first year of activity in the US.

This program is open to researchers in all fields of study.

The grant is for a scholar who will begin work in the U.S. during the academic year 2007/2008. Travel must be commenced no later than April 30, 2008.

Applicants must arrange their own institutional affiliation. An application may be submitted even if the candidate has not completed arrangements with the proposed host institution by the deadline date for submission of applications. The applicant selected as the program fellow will be required to provide proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow at a recognized institution in the United States before payment of the grant.

Holders of a doctoral degree or its equivalent and doctoral candidates may apply for the Fulbright-ISEF post-doctoral fellowship. A doctoral candidate selected as program fellow will be required to provide proof that he/she has completed all requirements for the doctoral degree prior to payment of the grant.

The most highly-ranked candidates will be invited for an interview in March in Israel. All interviews are held on the same day. In order to be considered for an award, applicants must be available for interview in person on the date fixed by USIEF.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships

Grant benefits

• $20,000 award
• limited health insurance for grantee only
• pre-departure orientation meeting 

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates must be Israeli citizens. Dual American-Israeli citizens or permanent residents are not eligible to apply. 
• Candidates who have received a USIEF Fulbright Student Fellowship are not eligible to begin visits to the United States as Post-Doctoral Fellows until five years have passed from the conclusion of their stays in the United States as Student Fellows.  See the regulations regarding repeat fellowships in the Fellowships section above.
• Candidates must be resident in Israel at the time of application. Scholars who have already begun their research or teaching activities in the United States or are planning to depart Israel for the United States before July 2007 are not eligible to apply.
• Holders of tenured positions are ineligible.
• Candidates must be in good health. All applicants selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be activated. 
• Medical doctors wishing to combine clinical and research activities in the United States are not eligible to apply for this grant. Doctors wishing to carry out such a program must seek the sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which has been designated by the US Department of State as the sole agency authorized to sponsor alien physicians for internship, residency and specialized clinical training in the United States. Details of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) can be obtained from the USIEF's student advising center. 
• Prior to activation of the grant, the candidate selected must give proof of completion of all requirements for receipt of the doctoral degree. 
• Prior to activation of the grant, the candidate selected must give proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow at a recognized institution in the United States.
• Prior to activation of the grant, the candidate selected must give proof of having obtained adequate financial support for their stay in the United States.
• Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation criteria

• Academic excellence is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• Involvement in community service activities and proven leadership capabilities in such activities are an important evaluation criterion. 
• Underprivileged economic background is an important evaluation criterion.
• English language proficiency is an important evaluation criterion.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not had a substantial, recent, academic experience in the United States.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have received their doctorates within two years prior to the presentation of their applications.
• Preference will be given to candidates under 35 years of age.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Conditions of award

• Funding is for one year only. The grantee must arrange funding for the remainder of his/her stay in the United States.
• The grantee is responsible for making his/her own travel arrangements.
• The grantee must travel on a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsored by the Fulbright program.
  • Upon the conclusion of the one-year Fulbright funding period, the grantee must arrange transfer of his/her visa sponsorship from the Fulbright program to his/her American host institution.
  • Current visa regulations limit the stay of J-1 scholars to 5 years. Limited extensions of the visa may be granted by the visa sponsor or by the State Department.
  • It is a condition of the visa that after completion of their Fulbright program, including any transfer of visa sponsorship, the grantee must return to Israel and reside in the country for two years before being eligible to immigrate to the US, to apply for permanent residence in that country or to request a US work permit. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return home and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright program.
  • Holders of J-1 visas who have resided in the United States for six months or more are not eligible to apply for re-entry as J-1 research scholars or short-term scholars for twelve months following departure from the United States.
  • Dependents of grantees will enter the US as holders of J-2 visas. Many conditions applying to the grantees as holders of J-1 visas, such as the two-year home residency requirement, also apply to the holders of J-2 visas.
• The award cannot be deferred to the following year.

Instructions on the preparation and submission of applications

• All required documents must be submitted in English.
• Candidates must submit six complete copies of their applications. Each set of materials must include the visiting scholar application form, a passport picture, the applicant's project statement and his/her curriculum vitae. Each set should be stapled on the left side. Please do not bind applications in folders.
• The earliest date for submission of applications is December 1, 2006. The final date for submission of applications is January 15, 2007. The address for submission of applications is: United States-Israel Educational Foundation, POB 26160, Tel Aviv, 61261 or 10th Floor, Migdalor Building, One Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv. Faxed or e-mail copies of applications are not acceptable.
• Three letters of reference written in English on institutional letterhead paper, together with reference forms, should be sent directly to USIEF by those providing references before the final date for submission of the application. Do not submit more than three references. All of these references should be from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant's work and with whom s/he has studied in her/his academic field.

  • One reference should be submitted by the applicant's doctoral degree advisor and one of the references from a colleague in the applicant's field outside his/her institution.
  • Faxed references will be accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all references are submitted by the deadline so that his/her application may be properly processed
• In the application form, applicants are asked to provide information on their involvement in community service organizations/programs. A responsible official of each organization/program reported should be requested to send to USIEF a note, on official letterhead paper, describing and evaluating the applicant's contribution to the organization/program. If possible, the letters should be prepared in English. Where letters are submitted in another language, they must be accompanied by a translation to English.
• Faxed notes will be accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all letters from community service organizations/programs are submitted by the deadline so that his/her application may be properly processed. 
• Applicants should submit, if available, documentary evidence of affiliation to an accredited university or affiliation to a public or private, non-profit research institute in the United States. It is not necessary to have a firm affiliation arranged and evidence of financial support at the time of submitting the application.
• The applicant's name should be given exactly as it appears on the applicant's passport with family (last) name underlined.
• Where dates are requested, the name of the month should be given, rather than the numerical figure.
• Those separated, divorced, or widowed should indicate their family status as "single". 
• In references to publications, a distinction should be made between books and articles. For books, the title should be underscored and the publisher and date should be noted. For articles, the title should be given in quotation marks, followed by the name of the journal or collection (underscored) and the publication date. English translations of titles should be provided for material published in Hebrew.
• A detailed curriculum vitae should be submitted. The c.v., describing academic and other achievements, should include details regarding:
  • education (universities attended and degrees held)
  • positions held
  • courses taught
  • publications
  • other professional activities, such as workshops, seminars, consultations
  • membership, leadership and other activities in professional associations
  • professional honors, awards and fellowships
  • community service and leadership

Advice on the preparation of a successful application

DOs

• The project statement is considered one of the most important indicators of academic excellence in the evaluation of applications for Fulbright post-doctoral grants. Scholars with the most compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, feasible proposals have a better chance to receive awards. Take note of the following points in preparing your statement:
• Emphasize key points in the first paragraph of the proposal. Academic reviewers examine many Fulbright applications, and having to search for the main points of the proposed activity is not helpful. You should use the text of the proposal to support the statements you present in the opening paragraph and later in the summary. 
• Clearly define your objectives and the methodology you will employ. Indicate whether you will use interviews, library research, or laboratory experiments to accomplish your project.
• Place your project in its academic or professional context by referring to leading work by others on the topic.
• Explain the significance of the project for the field and for your own professional development.
• Explain why a period of work in the United States is necessary for accomplishment of the project. Comment, if applicable, on the adequacy or inadequacy of research facilities and library resources in Israel and on the need to use specific facilities or collections in the United States.
• Describe arrangements you have made, if any, for institutional affiliation or collaboration with specific researchers. Try to secure a letter of invitation from a US host institution testifying to the merits and feasibility of the proposal. If you have an institutional preference, but no invitation, explain the reasons for your preference.
• Discuss the adequacy of the length of your proposed stay in the US to the completion of your project.
• Discuss how your qualifications and expertise match the project statement. Show how you have prepared yourself to be able to accomplish what you are proposing to do.
• Discuss the expected results of your participation in the Fulbright program. What is likely to be the impact of your experience abroad? How will the results of your work be diffused in the US and in Israel? How will your project benefit the host institution or scholars in your field both in Israel and in the United States? How will you use what you learned, the experience you have gained and your new understanding of the US upon your return to Israel?
• Treat the application as a unitary whole with all parts reinforcing the case being made in the project statement. There should be a clear, logically ordered flow: the candidate's capabilities are listed in the application, further documented in the c.v. and confirmed in references. Without being redundant or simplistic, you should make it easier for the reviewers to find the key pieces of information you wish to convey.
• Choose your references carefully. Only those who are well acquainted with the applicant's qualifications should be requested to provide references. A pro-forma letter from a well-known scholar, a contact abroad, or a prominent government official will carry less weight than a realistic assessment of the candidate's abilities from someone who knows him/her and his/her work well.
• Contact those from whom you are requesting references early, so as to guarantee timely submission of letters of recommendation. An insufficient number of references could weaken your application.

DON'Ts

• Do not exceed the page limit of the application proposal. 
• Since those who read the application may be experts in your field, avoid talking down to them. On the other hand, do not try to impress your reader by using jargon. In the project summary, use straightforward language that can be easily understood by those in other disciplines and specializations.
• Avoid vagueness and lack of precision in explaining the nature of your proposed Fulbright activity and in describing your previous work. A frequent failing in applications is that the proposal is undefined, underdeveloped or too imprecise to give reviewers a clear sense of the endeavor.
• Do not focus exclusively on the benefits which a Fulbright grant will bring you personally. Remember that the program is intended to foster mutual understanding between peoples and nations.  

Fulbright-ISEF Post-Doctoral Fellowship
 Timetable for 2007/2008

Application form

To download the applicatiorm, click here.

If you experience difficulties downloading the document, please write to us directly at info@fulbright.org.il, specify which document you need, and we will email it to you.

Fulbright-IBM Haifa Research Laboratory Post-Doctoral Fellowship

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) and the IBM Haifa Research Laboratory offer a joint grant to a post-doctoral scholar in computer science planning to conduct research in the United States at an accredited university, a public research institute or private, non-profit research institute, which is authorized to issue SEVIS DS2019 forms to enable candidates to obtain J-1 exchange visitor visas.

This program is open to researchers working in the following subfields:

• Verification technologies
• Computer technology
• Software engineering
• Programming languages
• Distributed computing
• Database systems
• Artificial intelligence
• Storage systems
• Information retrieval

The program grant provides $20,000 in partial support of the recipient's first year of activity in the United States.

The candidate selected as a recipient of the Fulbright-IBM post-doctoral award will be expected to take up a position as a research intern for a period of 8-12 months at the IBM Haifa Research Laboratory prior to beginning her/his post-doctoral fellowship in the United States. The Laboratory will counsel the grant recipient regarding the selection of suitable US institutions to which her/his application for a post-doctoral appointment will be referred. Thus, the grant is for a scholar who will who will travel to the U.S. in the academic year 2008/2009.  Travel must be commenced no later than April 30, 2009.
 
Applicants must arrange their own institutional affiliation. An application may be submitted even if the candidate has not completed arrangements with the proposed host institution by the deadline date for submission of applications.  Before payment of the grant, the candidate selected as the program fellow will be required to provide proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow at a recognized research institution in the United States. 

Holders of a doctoral degree or its equivalent and doctoral candidates may apply for the Fulbright-IBM post-doctoral fellowship. A doctoral candidate selected as program fellow will be required to provide proof that he/she has completed all requirements for the doctoral degree prior to payment of the grant.

The most highly-ranked candidates will be invited for an interview in March in Israel. All interviews are held on the same day. In order to be considered for an award, applicants must be available for interview in person on the date fixed by USIEF.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications. The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships.

Grant benefits

• $20,000 award
• research internship for a period of 8-12 months at the IBM Haifa Research Laboratory prior to beginning post-doctoral fellowship in the United States
• limited health insurance for grantee only
• pre-departure orientation meeting

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates must be planning to undertake a period of post-doctoral research in the United States in one of the subfields enumerated above in the "Overview". 
• Candidates who have received a USIEF Fulbright Student Fellowship are not eligible to begin visits to the United States as Post-Doctoral Fellows until five years have passed from the conclusion of their stays in the United States as Student Fellows.  See the regulations regarding repeat fellowships in the Fellowships section above.
• Candidates must be Israeli citizens. Dual American-Israeli citizens or permanent residents of the United States are not eligible to apply.
• Candidates must be resident in Israel at the time of application. Scholars who have already begun their research or teaching activities in the United States or are planning to depart Israel for the United States before July 2008 are not eligible to apply.
• Holders of tenured positions are ineligible.
• Candidates must be in good health. All applicants selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be activated. 
• Prior to activation of the grant awarded, the selected candidate must give proof of completion of all requirements for receipt of the doctoral degree. 
• Prior to activation of the grant awarded, the selected candidate must give proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow, in one of the fields listed above in the "Overview", at a recognized institution in the United States. 
• Prior to activation of the grant awarded, the selected candidate must give proof of having obtained adequate financial support for his/her stay in the United States. 
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.
• Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation criteria

• Academic excellence is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• English language proficiency is an important evaluation criterion.
• Leadership qualities are an important evaluation criterion.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not had a substantial, recent, academic experience in the United States.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have received their doctorates within two years prior to the presentation of their applications.
• Preference will be given to candidates under 35 years of age.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Conditions of award

• Funding is for one year only. The grantee must arrange funding for the remainder of his/her stay in the United States.
• The grantee is responsible for making his/her own travel arrangements.
• The grantee must travel on a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsored by the Fulbright program.
  • Upon the conclusion of the one-year Fulbright funding period, the grantee must arrange transfer of the visa sponsorship from the Fulbright program to the American host institution.
  • Current visa regulations limit the stay of J-1 scholars to 5 years. Limited extensions of the visa may be granted by the visa sponsor or by the State Department. 
  • It is a condition of the visa that after completion of their Fulbright program including any transfer of visa sponsorship, the grantee must return to Israel and reside in the country for two years before being eligible to immigrate to the US, to apply for permanent residence in that country or to request a US work permit. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return home and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright program.
  • Holders of J-1 visas who have resided in the United States for six months or more are not eligible to apply for re-entry as J-1 research scholars or short-term scholars for twelve months following departure from the United States.
  • Dependents of the grantee will enter the US as holders of J-2 visas. Many conditions applying to the grantee as a holder of a J-1 visa, such as the two-year home residency requirement, also apply to the holders of J-2 visas.
• The award cannot be deferred to the following year.

Instructions on the preparation and submission of applications

• All required documents must be submitted in English.
• Candidates must submit six complete copies of their applications. Each set of materials must include the visiting scholar application form, a passport picture, the applicant's project statement and his/her curriculum vitae. Each set should be stapled on the left side. Please do not bind applications in folders.
• The earliest date for submission of applications is December 1, 2006. The final date for submission of applications is January 15, 2007. The address for submission of applications is: United States-Israel Educational Foundation, POB 26160, Tel Aviv, 61261 or 10th Floor, Migdalor Building, One Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv. Faxed or e-mail copies of applications are not acceptable.
• Three letters of reference written in English on institutional letterhead paper, together with reference forms, should be sent directly to USIEF by those providing references before the final date for submission of the application. Do not submit more than three references. All of these references should be from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant's work and with whom s/he has studied in her/his academic field.

  • One reference should be submitted by the applicant's doctoral degree advisor, and one of the references from a colleague in the applicant's field outside his/her home institution.
  • Faxed references will be accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all references are submitted by the deadline so that his/her application may be properly processed.
• Applicants should submit, if available, documentary evidence of affiliation to an accredited university or affiliation to a public or private, non-profit research institute in the United States . It is not necessary to have a firm affiliation arranged and evidence of financial support at the time of submitting the application. 
• The applicant's name should be given exactly as it appears on the applicant's passport with family (last) name underlined.
• Where dates are requested, the name of the month should be given, rather than the numerical figure.
• Those separated, divorced, or widowed should indicate their family status as "single".
• In references to publications, a distinction should be made between books and articles. For books, the title should be underscored and the publisher and date should be noted. For articles, the title should be given in quotation marks, followed by the name of the journal or collection (underscored) and the publication date. English translations of titles should be provided for material published in Hebrew. 
• A detailed curriculum vitae should be submitted. The c.v., describing academic and other achievements, should include details regarding:
  • education (universities attended and degrees held) 
  • positions held
  • courses taught
  • publications
  • other professional activities, such as workshops, seminars, consultations
  • membership, leadership and other activities in professional associations
  • professional honors, awards and fellowships
  • community service and leadership

Advice on the preparation of a successful application

DOs

• The project statement of proposed activity is considered one of the most important indicators of academic excellence in the evaluation of applications for Fulbright post-doctoral grants. Scholars with the most compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, feasible proposals have a better chance to receive awards. Take note of the following points in preparing your statement:
• Emphasize key points in the first paragraph of the proposal. Academic reviewers examine many Fulbright applications, and having to search for the main points of the proposed activity is not helpful. You should use the text of the proposal to support the statements your present in the opening paragraph and later in the summary.
• Clearly define your objectives and the methodology you will employ. Indicate whether you will use interviews, library research, or laboratory experiments to accomplish your project.
• Place your project in its academic or professional context by referring to leading work by others on the topic.
• Explain the significance of the project for the field and for your own professional development.
• Explain why a period of work in the United States is necessary for accomplishment of the project. Comment, if applicable, on the adequacy or inadequacy of research facilities and library resources in Israel and on the need to use specific facilities or collections in the United States.
• Describe arrangements you have made, if any, for institutional affiliation or collaboration with specific researchers. Try to secure a letter of invitation from a US host institution testifying to the merits and feasibility of the proposal. If you have an institutional preference, explain the reasons for your preference.
• Discuss the adequacy of the length of your proposed stay in the US to the completion of your project.
• Discuss how your qualifications and expertise match the project statement. Show how you have prepared yourself to be able to accomplish what you are proposing to do.
• Discuss the expected results of your participation in the Fulbright program. What is likely to be the impact of your experience abroad? How will the results of your work be diffused in the US and in Israel? How will your project benefit the host institution and scholars in your field both in Israel and in the United States? How will you use what you learned, the experience you have gained and your new understanding of the US upon your return to Israel?
• Treat the application as a unitary whole with all parts reinforcing the case being made in the project statement. There should be a clear, logically ordered flow: the candidate's capabilities are listed in the application, further documented in the c.v. and confirmed in references. Without being redundant or simplistic, you should make it easier for the reviewers to find the key pieces of information you wish to convey.
• Choose your references carefully. Only those who are well acquainted with your qualifications should be requested to provide references. A pro-forma letter from a well-known scholar, a contact abroad, or a prominent government official will carry less weight than a realistic assessment of the candidate's abilities from someone who knows him/her and his/her work well.
• Contact those from whom you are requesting references early, so as to guarantee timely submission of letters of recommendation. An insufficient number of references could weaken your application.

DON'Ts

• Do not exceed the page limit of the application proposal. 
• Since those who read the application may be experts in your field, avoid talking down to them. On the other hand, do not try to impress your reader by using jargon. In the project summary, use straightforward language that can be easily understood by those in other disciplines and specializations.
• Avoid vagueness and lack of precision in explaining the nature of your proposed Fulbright activity and in describing your previous work. A frequent failing in applications is that the proposal is undefined, underdeveloped or too imprecise to give reviewers a clear sense of the endeavor.
• Do not focus exclusively on the benefits which a Fulbright grant will bring you personally. Remember that the program is intended to foster mutual understanding between peoples and nations.

Fulbright-IBM Haifa Research Laboratory Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Timetable for 2007/2008

Application form

To download the applicatiorm, click here.

If you experience difficulties downloading the document, please write to us directly at info@fulbright.org.il, specify which document you need, and we will email it to you.

Fulbright-Maryland/Israel Development Center Post-Doctoral Fellowship

The United States - Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) and the Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC) offer a joint grant to a post-doctoral scholar in the natural sciences who is about to begin a program of research at a research institution in the State of Maryland – a university, a public research institute, or a private, non-profit research institute which is authorized to issue SEVIS DS2019 forms to enable candidates to obtain J-1 exchange visitor visas. 

The program grant provides $20,000 in partial support of the recipient's first year of activity in Maryland.

This program is open only to researchers in the life sciences, the exact sciences, mathematics and engineering.

The grant is for a scholar traveling to the U.S. in the academic year 2007/2008. Travel must be commenced no later than April 30, 2008.

Applicants must arrange their own institutional affiliation. An application may be submitted even if the candidate has not completed arrangements with the proposed host institution by the deadline date for submission of applications.  The applicant selected as the program fellow will be required to provide proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow at a recognized institution in the State of Maryland before payment of the grant.

Holders of a doctoral degree or its equivalent and doctoral candidates may apply for the Fulbright-MIDC post-doctoral fellowship. A doctoral candidate selected as program fellow will be required to provide proof that he/she has completed all requirements for the doctoral degree prior to payment of the grant.

The most highly-ranked candidates will be invited for an interview in March in Israel. All interviews are held on the same day. In order to be considered for an award, applicants must be available for interview in person on the date fixed by USIEF.

The Foundation reserves the exclusive right to determine, within the framework of applicable law and regulations, the qualitative standards for the evaluation of applications.  The Foundation is not under any obligation to provide the reasons for its decisions regarding the allocation of Fellowships.

Grant benefits

• $20,000 award
• limited health insurance for grantee only
• pre-departure orientation meeting

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates must be planning to undertake a period of post-doctoral research in one of the natural sciences at an institution in the State of Maryland.
• Candidates who have received a USIEF Fulbright Student Fellowship are not eligible to begin a visit to the United States as Post-Doctoral Fellows until five years have passed from the conclusion of their stay in the United States as Student Fellows.  See the regulations regarding repeat fellowships in the Fellowships section above.
• Candidates must be Israeli citizens. Dual American-Israeli citizens or permanent residents of the United States are not eligible to apply.
• Candidates must be resident in Israel at the time of application. Scholars who have already begun their research or teaching activities in the United States or are planning to depart Israel for the United States before July 2007 are not eligible to apply.
• Holders of a tenured position at an academic institution are ineligible.
• Candidates must be in good health. All applicants selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be activated.
• Medical doctors wishing to combine clinical and research activities in the United States are not eligible to apply for this grant. Doctors wishing to carry out such a program must seek the sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which has been designated by the US Department of State as the sole agency authorized to sponsor alien physicians for internship, residency and specialized clinical training in the United States. Details of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) can be obtained from the USIEF's student advising center.
• Prior to activation of the grant awarded, the selected candidate must give proof of completion of all requirements for receipt of the doctoral degree.
• Prior to activation of the grant awarded, the selected candidate must give proof of acceptance as a post-doctoral research fellow at a recognized institution in the State of Maryland.
• Prior to activation of the grant awarded, the candidate selected must give proof of having obtained adequate financial support for his/her stay in the United States.
• Prior conviction or current indictment for a felony may result in disqualification.

Evaluation criteria

• Academic excellence is the primary criterion for the evaluation of candidates.
• English language proficiency is an important evaluation criterion.
• Leadership qualities are an important evaluation criterion.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not had a substantial, recent, academic experience in the United States.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have received their doctorates within two years prior to the presentation of their applications.
• Preference will be given to candidates under 35 years of age.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright grants.
• Possession of skills required to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Israel is an important evaluation criterion.

Conditions of award

• Funding is for one year only. The grantee must arrange funding for the remainder of his/her stay in the United States.
• The grantee is responsible for making his/her own travel arrangements.
• The grantee must travel on a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsored by the Fulbright program.
  • Upon the conclusion of the one-year Fulbright funding period, the grantee must arrange transfer of his/her visa sponsorship from the Fulbright program to the American host institution.
  • Current visa regulations limit the stay of J-1 scholars to 5 years. Limited extensions of the visa may be granted by the visa sponsor or by the State Department.
  • It is a condition of the visa that after completion of their Fulbright program including any transfer of visa sponsorship, grantees must return to Israel and reside in the country for two years before being eligible to immigrate to the US, to apply for permanent residence in that country or to request a US work permit. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return home and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright program.
  • Holders of J-1 visas who have resided in the United States for six months or more are not eligible to apply for re-entry as J-1 research scholars or short-term scholars for twelve months following departure from the United States.
  • Dependents of the grantee will enter the US as holders of J-2 visas. Many conditions applying to the grantee as a holder of a J-1 visa, such as the two-year home residency requirement, also apply to the holders of J-2 visas.
• The award cannot be deferred to the following year.

Instructions on the preparation and submission of applications

• All required documents must be submitted in English.
• Candidates must submit six complete copies of their applications. Each set of materials must include the visiting scholar application form, a passport picture, the applicant's project statement and his/her curriculum vitae. Each set should be stapled on the left side. Please do not bind applications in folders.
• The earliest date for submission of applications is December 1, 2006. The final date for submission of applications is January 15, 2007. The address for submission of applications is: United States-Israel Educational Foundation, POB 26160, Tel Aviv, 61261 or 10th Floor, Migdalor Building, One Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv. Faxed or e-mail copies of applications are not acceptable.
• Three letters of reference written in English on institutional letterhead paper, together with reference forms, should be sent directly to USIEF by those providing references before the final date for submission of the application. Do not submit more than three references. All of these references should be from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant's work and with whom s/he has studied in her/his academic field.

  • One reference should be submitted by the applicant's doctoral degree advisor and one of the references from a colleague in the applicant's field outside his/her home institution.
  • Faxed references will be accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all references are submitted by the deadline so that his/her application may be properly processed.
• Applicants should submit, if available, documentary evidence of affiliation to an accredited university or affiliation to a public or private, non-profit research institute in the State of Maryland. It is not necessary to have a firm affiliation arranged and evidence of financial support at the time of submitting the application.
• The applicant's name should be given exactly as it appears on official documents (for example passport) with family (last) name underlined.
• Where dates are requested, the name of the month should be given, rather than the numerical figure.
• Those separated, divorced, or widowed should indicate their family status as "single".
• In references to publications, a distinction should be made between books and articles. For books, the title should be underscored and the publisher and date should be noted. For articles, the title should be given in quotation marks, followed by the name of the journal or collection (underscored) and the publication date. English translations of titles should be provided for material published in Hebrew.
• A detailed curriculum vitae should be submitted. The c.v., describing academic and other achievements, should include details regarding:
  • education (universities attended and degrees held)
  • positions held 
  • courses taught 
  • publications
  • other professional activities, such as workshops, seminars, consultations 
  • membership, leadership and other activities in professional associations
  • professional honors, awards and fellowships 
  • community service and leadership

Advice on the preparation of a successful application

DOs

• The project statement is considered one of the most important indicators of academic excellence in the evaluation of applications for Fulbright post-doctoral grants. Scholars with the most compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, feasible proposals have a better chance to receive awards. Take note of the following points in preparing your statement:
• Emphasize key points in the first paragraph of the proposal. Academic reviewers examine many Fulbright applications, and having to search for the main points of the proposed activity is not helpful. You should use the text of the proposal to support the statements your present in the opening paragraph and later in the summary.
• Clearly define your objectives and the methodology you will employ. Indicate whether you will use interviews, library research, or laboratory experiments to accomplish your project.
• Place your project in its academic or professional context by referring to leading work by others on the topic.
• Explain the significance of the project for the field and for your own professional development.
• Explain why a period of work in the United States is necessary for accomplishment of the project. Comment, if applicable, on the adequacy or inadequacy of research facilities and library resources in Israel and on the need to use specific facilities or collections in the United States.
• Describe arrangements you have made, if any, for institutional affiliation or collaboration with specific researchers. Try to secure a letter of invitation from a host institution in the State of Maryland testifying to the merits and feasibil