Fulbright Visiting Scholar (Post-Doctoral) Program

Deadline for application: June 30, 2023

Between four and five one-semester grants (depending on availability of funding) are available in the Visiting Scholar category. The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program is a non-degree post-doctoral award program for junior and senior researchers, university lecturers and experts from academic and research institutions in Slovenia. This program brings scholars to the United States for advanced research and/or university lecturing. All applicants must currently be affiliated with one of the Slovenian academic or research institutions. In addition, all qualified applicants are expected to have the capacity and commitment to take full advantage of a program of research or lecturing at a U.S. university, and be willing to share their experience and knowledge upon their return to Slovenia. The Fulbright experience should be of value not only to the scholar, but also to the scholar’s home institution/university – its students and faculty – as well as to the U.S. host institution. Fulbright scholars serve as cultural ambassadors and should be prepared to speak about their country, culture, and research to academic and community groups in the United States.

Eligibility Requirements

· Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of Slovenia.

· Applicants must hold a PhD in their academic field of study.

· Applicants must be proficient in oral and written English.

· Applicants must be eligible for a J-1 visa, which requires the grantee to return to the Republic of Slovenia for a minimum of two years at the end of the grant period. · Applicants must receive a satisfactory medical clearance and be fully vaccinated with a CDC- accepted vaccination.

· Researchers in medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing and other fields whose research proposals include clinical contact with patients are not eligible for Fulbright grants. Candidates with medical degrees are not allowed to pursue medical residencies or internships in the United States as Fulbright Fellows.

Dependents: The Fulbright Visiting (Post-Doctoral) program does provide small allowance for accompanying dependents.

How to apply:

Completed applications must include:

Online application at https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024, which includes the following:

Detailed statement of proposed activity for research/lecturing in the United States
Letter from employer confirming employment in Slovenia (in English or Slovenian)
Detailed Curriculum Vitae (Resume)
Three (3) Letters of Reference
Bibliography (research proposal) and/or Course Syllabi (lecturing proposal)
Letter or e-mail of invitation from U.S. Institution
Copy of passport

Please scan all the above mentioned documents and upload to your online application.

Preparing the Project Statement

The project statement is the most important aspect of preparing the Fulbright application. It is important to write compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, feasible proposals. Sometimes applicants with outstanding professional achievements assume that a brief, general project statement will be sufficient. However, in order to ensure a more complete application, your proposed project, as well as the strategy for completing it, should be thoroughly explained.

Factors to Address in the Project Statement

Clearly define your objectives and the methodology you will employ. Indicate whether you will use interviews, library or archival research, or laboratory experiments to accomplish your project.
Place your project in academic or professional context by referring to leading works by others on the topic if that information is available.
Explain the significance of the project for the field and your own professional development.
Explain why residence 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 your own country and on the need to use specific collections in the United States.
Describe arrangements you have made, for affiliation or collaboration. Secure a letter of invitation from a U.S. host institution testifying to the merits and feasibility of the proposal. Discuss how your project can be completed within the time period you have available.
Indicate how you will disseminate the results of your research both in the United States and upon return to Slovenia.

Letters of Reference

Three references must be submitted electronically in the online application. Please ensure that the references are submitted promptly and in English. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that references are submitted by the deadline. References should be from persons qualified to evaluate your professional work and proposal. Persons related to you either by blood or marriage, or by personal friends should not write letters of reference. At least one of the references should be from a specialist outside your university.

Arrangements for Affiliation with a Host Institution

One of the most important requirements of the Fulbright Program is a formal affiliation at a U.S. university or research institution. In many cases, applicants are in touch with colleagues at U.S. institutions and have made preliminary plans for their own placements. However, if you are unable to make these preliminary contacts, you are encouraged to identify two or three institutions that have appropriate facilities for the kind of research you wish to undertake and faculty specialized in your research interests. When determining which institutions to include on your preferred list, do not limit yourself to only the most well-known U.S. universities. Many U.S. universities may not have an international reputation, but they often have appropriate facilities to conduct research. If program officers find that the preferred institutions listed by the scholars and students are not suitable for the work proposed or no strong professional reasons are given for wanting a particular institution, the program officer will request placement at another institution. Through the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Embassy, students and scholars are notified of the arrangements made for their affiliation and recommended starting dates.

Ineligible Persons: Persons holding permanent residence in the United States; persons who are citizens of both Slovenia and the United States; persons currently studying in the United States.

Preference is given to candidates without recent experience in the United States. Recipients of Fulbright Scholarships within the past 5 years will not be considered.

Fulbright grantees enter the United States on an Exchange Visitor (J-1) Visa under the Department of State Program, which requires them to return to their home country for a minimum of two years at the end of the grant period.

Eligible candidates will be interviewed by end of September, and the final selection and placement will be made in late Spring of 2023 after funding for the Fulbright Program by the U.S. Congress is approved.

Note on funding: All Scholar (Post-Doctorate) grants and up to two Student (Visiting Research) grants are funded by the U.S. Department of State. In addition, Embassy’s local government Fulbright partner organization, Javni štipendijski, razvojni, invalidski in preživninski sklad Republike Slovenije completely funds up to four additional Student Visiting research grants, depending on U.S. affiliation costs and funding availability. Javni sklad also covers round-trip, economy class airline tickets for selected Fulbright Fellowship recipients.

For additional information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Staff at: LjubljanaExchanges@state.gov