Science Experience Abroad (SEA)

Overview | Summer-Study-Abroad | International Research Fellowships | Internships and Community Engagement | Semester Abroad | Planning Ahead | Scholars | Publications

International Research Fellowships

Advanced science students who have had prior research experience at Emory should check out research fellowships in international labs. These fellowships provide a wonderful way to learn about a new country and scientific culture, while giving you an opportunity to develop professional and personal relationships with faculty and students. Participating countries include France, England, South Africa, among others.

Interested students are advised to consult their research advisor early in the application process. Fall semester is usually the appropriate time to apply for a summer fellowship in the next calendar year. Before applying, students need to have at least one semester of research at Emory. Students planning on visiting non-English-speaking countries should demonstrate adequate preparation in the language or a willingness to begin learning the language in the intervening time.

There are three funding opportunities at the moment.

1. International Research Experience in the Sciences (IRES)

These fellowships are offered to students and can be performed in any international research lab. Dean Ram maintains a list of international researchers – the International Research Network. Students are advised to browse this list and ask their advisors to recommend an international researcher. Some of these researchers and institutions have longstanding relations with Emory; others host summer or semester programs. Faculty can also choose a collaborator from the International Research Network database.
Your research advisor will discuss possible projects and write a letter of recommendation that confirms your ability to perform high quality research in the international lab. Advisors will also comment on how well the proposed project fits in your intellectual development and career goals, as well as the advisors’ research agenda.

Students should fill out an IRES application form (PDF) and turn in the application package by October 26, 2007 by 4:00 pm in 300 White Hall.

Eligibility: Students need to demonstrate at least one semester of research at Emory. The application must be approved and signed by their faculty advisor.

2. Howard Hughes International Scholars Fellowships

Howard Hughes International Scholars Fellowships cover a wide range of subjects, with many of them focused on biological and medical fields, making the program well suited to students in biological fields. Students can browse the list of Howard Hughes International Scholars Fellowships and apply for funding. Students will be nominated to the Howard Hughes Foundation by Dr. Pat Marsteller, director of the Emory Center for Science Education. For further information, students should contact Dean Ram, Dean Brzinski or Dr. Marsteller.
Eligibility: Prior research experience and language proficiency is required.

3. Other External Fellowships

Several organizations offer funding for students to perform research in foreign countries. Students need to apply for these opportunities. Our office can help in the process.

(a) Emory’s Center for International Programs Abroad (CIPA)
Emory’s Center for International Programs Abroad (CIPA) administers other scholarship programs that can help fund science students interested in studying and/or researching abroad. For example, CIPA can provide more information on the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship of the National Security Education Program (NSEP). More information on scholarships can be found on the External Resources page of the CIPA website.

(b) German Academic Exchange (DAAD)
The German Academic Exchange (DAAD) sponsors Research Assistantships in Science and Engineering (RISE), funding undergraduates to work as research assistants with doctoral students in Germany. A knowledge of German is not required, though it can be helpful.
Students can register online and access the project descriptions (internship offers) that have been submitted by German PhD students. Application starts December 5th – the final application deadline is February 1, 2007 (receipt date). Students will be notified by the beginning of March 2007 whether their application has been successful. In the application, students need to identify three projects from the database online, and write three separate cover letters for each project addressing their preparation and interest in each area. The fellowship pays a stipend of $615 Euros, health insurance and accident and personal/private liability insurance. The host institution will assist students in finding reasonably priced housing for the duration of the internship. The scholarship will not cover international travel costs.

(c) Louis Pasteur Institute in Paris provides fellowships for students to work in Biomedical areas for 10 weeks in summer.  Knowledge of French is not required.
See: http://www.pasteurfoundation.org/zuccaire.html
Deadline: Friday, December 15, 2006.

(d) The Weizmann Institute in Israel funds undergraduate researchers during summer.  The website has information about faculty and their projects.  The new application forms will be available in November 2006.  Deadline for application is December 31, 2006.
See: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/perl/acadaff.mperl

4. The National Security Education Program (NSEP)

David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships offer a unique opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad. NSEP awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests.
See: http://www.iie.org/programs/nsep/undergraduate/preferences.htm.
Also note the priority areas of study include the sciences.  So someone studying Turkish in Bogazici University along with Science would be highly eligible to receive this award. Contact Dean Ram.