Student and Early Career Information

This page summarizes funding opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral student researchers to participate in international research and education activities.

Individual postdoctoral and graduate student researchers may apply directly for a number of OISE programs. In addition, postdoctoral and graduate and undergraduate student researchers may be supported as participants in collaborative research projects, joint workshops, and other activities supported by NSF.

Note that OISE support for undergraduate student, graduate student and postdoctoral researchers is targeted at individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

For Postdoctoral researchers:

• International Research Fellowship Program (IRFP) This program offers 9 to 24 month research fellowships at foreign host institutions. Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree no more than three years before the date of application, or expect to receive the doctoral degree by the award date. Guidelines and application materials are available in the IRFP Funding Opportunity page. Country-specific questions should be addressed to relevant INT staff. IRFP general questions may be directed to Susan Parris;
• The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) offers a range of fellowship programs to support research visits to Japan of two weeks to two years by senior and junior researchers, postdoctoral researchers and senior doctoral students. Applications are submitted through the potential Japanese host researcher directly to JSPS. Information about the JSPS fellowships may be found both at the NSF Tokyo website and through the JSPS website;
• The Department of Energy and NSF support a limited number of Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI) modeled on the NATO Advanced Studies Institutes. Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes are short courses of two to four weeks duration at the advanced graduate and postgraduate level. PASIs aim to disseminate advanced scientific knowledge and stimulate training and cooperation among researchers of the Americas in the basic sciences and engineering fields. Currently, only institutes in any physical, mathematical, biological science discipline and/or engineering may be supported. Guidelines for the competition can be found in PASI Funding Opportunity page. Students should contact senior researchers with PASI funding, rather than applying directly to NSF. For details on current Institutes, contact Harold Stolberg or Eduardo Feller.

For Graduate Student researchers:

• East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI). The East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) provide U.S. graduate students in science and engineering with first-hand experience in Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese research environments, an introduction to the science and science policy infrastructure of the respective locations, and language training during an eight week summer program. International airfare, living expenses in the host location, and a summer stipend of $3,000 are provided. Consult the East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI) Funding Opportunity page and the NSF Tokyo Office Summer Programs web pages for current information. Students working in relevant disciplines should also consider the EAP-supported Natural Hazards Mitigation in Japan (NHMJ) supplement to the Summer Programs. Questions should be directed to Anthony Teolis.
• Doctoral Dissertation enhancement projects (DDEP) - Dissertation enhancement projects support dissertation research conducted by graduate students at a foreign site. Students are expected to work in close cooperation with a host country institution and investigator. The applicant is responsible for making all necessary arrangements with the host country institution and scientist. The doctoral faculty advisor, on behalf of the student, submits the dissertation enhancement proposal. For more information and application details, consult Developing Global Scientists and Engineers (NSF 04-036).
• The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) offers a range of fellowship programs to support research visits to Japan of two weeks to two years by senior and junior researchers, postdoctoral researchers and senior doctoral students. Applications are submitted through the potential Japanese host researcher directly to JSPS. Information about the JSPS fellowships may be found both at the NSF Tokyo website and through the JSPS website.
• The Department of Energy and NSF support a limited number of Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI) modeled on the NATO Advanced Studies Institutes. Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes are short courses of two to four weeks duration at the advanced graduate and postgraduate level. PASIs aim to disseminate advanced scientific knowledge and stimulate training and cooperation among researchers of the Americas in the basic sciences and engineering fields. Currently, only institutes in any physical, mathematical, biological science discipline and/or engineering may be supported. Guidelines for the competition can be found in Program Announcement NSF 03-506. Students should contact senior researchers with PASI funding, rather than applying directly to NSF. For details on current Institutes, contact Harold Stolberg or Eduardo Feller.

For Undergraduate researchers:

• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) NSF 04-584 is an NSF-wide activity which can support international REU sites or add international dimensions to domestic activities. Students apply to the institution hosting the site, not directly to NSF. Consult the program solicitation for details;
• Developing Global Scientists and Engineers (NSF 04-036) supports proposals to provide international research experiences for small groups of undergraduates and/or graduate students. Students apply to the institution hosting the activity, not directly to NSF. Consult the program solicitation for details;

To identify OISE staff assignments for specific countries, see Staff by Country page.

General questions about OISE may be directed to OISEwebmaster@nsf.gov.