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 two 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 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.
• The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) is an international funding program that supports postdoctoral fellowships for advanced training in laboratories abroad. (U.S. participation is funded through NSF.) HFSP supports research on "complex mechanisms of living organisms" that ranges from from biomolecular studies to elucidation of mechanisms underlying higher cognitive functions. HFSP funds basic research on fundamental problems in the life sciences. The fellowship program emphasizes support for applicants who propose original study that contains innovative elements exposing the fellow to new theory and technology. HFSP support facilitates two important career steps. The first is the mandatory change in host country for HFSP Long-Term and Cross-Disciplinary Fellows. The second is on return to the home country, former fellows can apply for a Career Development Award, a critical step for establishing an independent laboratory. In addition to career advancement, HFSP Short-Term Fellowships support creation and expansion of professional networks. This short term support enables young investigators to expand their professional networks abroad by supporting research training of up to 3 months. Information on the different fellowship programs and annual competition for postdoctoral fellowships is found in the guideline section of the HFSP website.
• The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), located in Schloss Laxenburg near Vienna, Austria, provides full funding for two postdoctoral researchers each year. Scholars conduct their own research within an IIASA research program or special projects on topics closely related to IIASA's agenda. IIASA is an international institution, supported by the U.S. and 18 other governments, engaged in scientific research aimed at providing policy insight on issues of regional and global importance. Applications, filled out online and submitted directly to IIASA, are due in February.

For Graduate Student researchers:

• 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, New Zealand, Singapore, 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 $5,000 are provided. Consult the East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI) Funding Opportunity page and the EAPSI web site for current information. Questions should be directed to the EAPSI Helpdesk.
• 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 the Developing Global Scientists and Engineers (IRES & DDEP) funding opportunity page.
• 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 basic sciences and engineering fields. Currently, only institutes in physical, mathematical, biological science discipline and/or engineering may be supported. Guidelines can be found on the PASI funding oportunity page. Students should contact senior researchers with PASI funding, rather than applying directly to NSF. For details on current Institutes, contact Harold Stolberg.
• The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), located in Schloss Laxenburg near Vienna, Austria, hosts graduate students, primarily doctoral, from around the world in its Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP). Students work closely with IIASA’s senior scientists on projects within the Institute’s 3 theme areas: Energy and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, and Population and Society. Students enrolled at U.S. universities are eligible for fellowships to cover transportation and living expenses through an NSF grant to the National Academy of Sciences, which serves as the U.S. National Member Organization (NMO). Applications, filled out online and submitted directly to IIASA, are due in mid-January. For more information, contact the YSSP office or the US NMO.

For Undergraduate researchers:

• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) 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 web page for details;
• International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) 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 Developing Global Scientists and Engineers (IRES & DDEP) web page 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.