The United States-India Educational Foundation administers this fellowship for early-career faculty and researchers to conduct research at one U.S. host institution. Awards last eight to 24 months and support work in specified science, engineering, security, energy, space, and technology fields.
The program is intended to strengthen research capacity and long-term collaboration with U.S. faculty and institutions. The 2027–2028 cycle closed on July 15, 2026.
Benefits & funding
- J-1 visa support.
- A monthly stipend and Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges coverage under U.S. Government guidelines.
- Round-trip economy-class air travel, a modest settling-in allowance, and a professional allowance.
- Subject to available funds, an allowance and international travel for one eligible accompanying dependent who stays in the United States for at least 80 per cent of the grant period.
Eligibility
- Citizenship requirement: India. Applicants must not reside in the United States during the February 2026–July 2027 recruitment and placement cycle, hold active permanent residence in another country, or apply for or hold U.S. permanent residence.
- Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or D.M. awarded from July 15, 2022 through July 14, 2026 and upload the degree or provisional certificate.
- Applicants must have a publication in a reputed journal and upload one recent significant publication of no more than 30 pages.
- Proposals must fall within the listed fields covering critical minerals and supply chains, defense and security, energy security, science and research collaboration, space cooperation, or technology and innovation.
- Applicants must demonstrate strong academic or professional achievement, sufficient English proficiency, and an undertaking to return to India after the fellowship. No age limit or preference is stated.
- An employed applicant must be eligible for leave and provide the required institutional support. Candidates on government-funded projects also need endorsement from their affiliating institution.
- Employees of the Government of India or an Indian State Government are ineligible. Researchers, scientists, and academics at CSIR, ICAR, ICGEB, DRDO, ISRO, ICMR, DBT institutions, DST laboratories, BARC, IISc, IITs, and other centrally funded government institutions and universities remain eligible.
- Only one Fulbright-Nehru fellowship category may be selected in a competition cycle.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
India
Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1For the 2027–2028 cycle, applicants created or used an IIE application account and selected India, academic year 2027–2028, and this fellowship.
- 2They completed the online form and prepared a detailed project statement, bibliography, curriculum vitae, three reference letters, degree documentation, a recent significant publication, and the applicant annexure. Employed applicants also provided the home-institution support form.
- 3They identified up to two preferred U.S. host institutions. Prior contact and an invitation were recommended but not mandatory; an invitation already secured had to be uploaded.
- 4They reviewed the complete application and submitted it online by July 15, 2026 at 23:59:59 IST. Future applicants should use the instructions and dates issued for the next cycle.
Program timeline
Earliest date on which a submitted application could be considered.
February 18, 2026
Application deadline.
July 15, 2026 at 23:59:59 IST
Application review.
October 2026
Applicants informed of the review outcome.
November 2026
Shortlisted-candidate interviews.
End of November 2026
Semi-finalists notified.
Early December 2026
Recommended applications forwarded for FFSB approval and placement.
December 2026
Finalists notified of FFSB approval.
April 2027
Pre-departure orientation.
May or June 2027
Program begins.
August or September 2027