INDIA-U.S. PHYSICS STUDENT VISITATION PROGRAM; Last Date: 31-03-09

INDIA-U.S. PHYSICS STUDENT VISITATION PROGRAM

Proposal Guidelines

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and the American Physical Society (APS) are pleased to announce the launch of the India-U.S. Physics Student Visitation Program. Details of the program, along with proposal guidelines are laid out below.
INDIA-U.S. PHYSICS STUDENT VISITATION PROGRAM

A. Overview

The United States already enjoys hosting many graduate students from India, with these students gaining a greater understanding of U.S. culture, people, as well as academics. On the other hand, while India is rapidly growing both economically and scientifically, far fewer U.S. students will gain similar first-hand experience with Indian science, culture, and people. Given this current disparity, the APS-IUSSTF program might support more graduate student travel to India by U.S. citizens, while still enabling some Indian student travel to the United States.
A call for proposals will be issued bi-annually. The students will develop a “proposal for travel funds” in partnership with an Indian or U.S. host—presumably a professor with whom their visit would be coordinated. The students may apply for travel funds to pursue a breadth of opportunities in physics, such as: 1) to attend a short-course, or summer institute; 2) visit with a professor in his/her field of study; 3) work temporarily in a lab; or 4) any other opportunity that the student/professor feels is worthy of travel support. A review committee comprised of APS and IUSSTF-appointed representatives will review each proposal for its merits.

B. Program Characteristics

1. “Visitations” may include travel to:
attend a short-course, or summer institute;
visit with a professor in his/her field of study;
work temporarily in a lab; or
any other opportunity that the student/professor feels is worthy of travel support.

2. Proposals must be submitted by students in coordination with a professor from the “host” institution.

Recipients will be selected by a joint APS-IUSSTF Review Committee, with deadlines for proposals twice each year, on October 31, 2008, for the Spring cycle and March 31, 2009, for the Fall cycle.
Up to ten awardees will be selected each year.
Awards will be in the amount of $3,000; larger sums can be awarded upon demonstration of need. Please note any special financial requirements in the application.
Awards will be used for travel, materials, and expenses associated with the visitation as agreed upon by the APS and the IUSSTF, in consultation with the host institution.
APS will administer the disbursal of funds.

C. Proposal Guidelines & Procedures

1. Applicants must submit:
a. A joint proposal from the graduate student, his/her advisor, and the hosting professor/advisor at the host institution The proposal must include

i. Overview & Objectives (1 page)
ii. Schedule of activities for the duration of the visit
iii. Budget for requested funds
iv. Anticipated outcomes of the visit
v. A current curriculum vitae for the student and the hosting professor

b. A letter of endorsement for the proposal from a representative (i.e., Chair, Dean, Department Head) of the Physics Department from the host institution;
c. The deadline for receipt of applications will be October 31, 2008, for Spring awards, and March 31, 2009, for Fall awards.

Applications should be sent via email to Michele Irwin, APS Office of International Affairs, at irwin@aps.org.
After the application review committee selects awardees, the APS Director of International Affairs will inform all applicants of the committee’s decisions.
APS will manage disbursement of funds. Applicants will submit receipts to APS. If requested, APS would consider advancing the student the airfare. The remainder of the funds will be reimbursed to the awardees upon the successful completion of the visit.
The travel grant may be considered taxable income by the IRS. Awardees must provide IRS Form W-9 or W-8.
All visits must be completed within 1 year of the award date.
Awardees will submit a final report, to be submitted electronically, within 60 days of their return.
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D. Award Priorities

The program recognizes that many graduate students will use their physics education in careers other than scientific research. Consequently, the awards will be based on criterion beyond scientific merit. Strong consideration will be given to applicants whose proposals demonstrate how this cultural and scientific exchange opportunity will impact future career directions, especially in building leadership skills. In keeping with the desire to create new linkages between U.S. and Indian institutions, the program will favor candidates who have had no prior experience in the other country.