SUBHANKAR MISHRA ଶୁଭଂକର ମିଶ୍ର

Reader-F, School of Computer Sciences, NISER
ପାଠକ-ଏଫ, ସଂଗଣକ ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ, ନିଷେର

Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships

• Application Process
  • Eligibility
    • Check the eligibility criteria on the website.
  • Selecting University/Host
    • This does not have implication on your selection process directly.
    • Important thing is you select the host and university based on your research interest. This is important as you need to defend the same through your research proposal and in the interview.
  • Selecting Period
    • Given, your university or institute rules you should select your period. While applying for the application, you need an endorsement letter from your institute head that you will be allowed to take leave. Make sure this application is completed with proper procedure.
    • Arriving in Spring (i.e. January) you might have to take leave for the Semester Jan to April and then follow it up with summer May to July to have a period of 7 months for Fulbright research period.
  • Research proposal
    • This is rather important and shows your preparation and enthusiasm towards the research that you are planning to do.
    • You have to remember that the application is due in the June for the next year. So there is a gap of at least 1 to 1.5 years between your research proposal and actual time of research. So you should plan the research accordingly.
  • Interview
    • Interview will be by a panel of 5 or more Senior professors with at least one or two experts in your particular specification.
    • All the major questions will be technical and on your subject. It is important that you come prepared for the interview based on what you have done, your expertise in the said field and your research proposal.
    • There will be one-two questions about why the institute and the host is the important in accomplishing the research goals.
  • Travel
    • VISA
      • It is extremely rare care that your VISA will be denied. It is important that you follow the instructions of Fulbright team on this.
      • It is advisable that you stay and collect your passport physically from the embassy in 2-3 days following your interview.
      • Your relative may pick up your passport as well. That can be arranged when the embassy
    • Flights
      • Fulbright team will help you in this process.
      • It is important that you keep enough layover or transit time in between flights. Flight delays happen, it is better to have longer transit time, than missing your flights.
      • COVID 19 – I am not sure how long will this last and if you aren’t from your departure city in India it is important to understand the testing rules. My suggestions
        • Assuming the flight is on Day 2am (or beyond)
        • Book the RTPCR test (Rapid PCR tests might not be allowed) in your city and make sure you did it at the agency that can give you report by evening max
        • Keep the flight from your town to India departure after evening so that you can carry your report and leave for US.
        • Because in the case, that you arrive in Delhi and it is not your place and you get tested positive in Delhi, you will be moved to a hospital in Delhi and you will not be able to board a flight back to your town/home as well. Terrible situation.
      • Keep Fulbright team in correspondence for all these.
  • Accommodation
    • You have to do this on your own and US is tricky when it comes to this. So start connecting with your host in US or many other volunteer organisation by Indians in your host university as early as possible to find the best possible housing for yourself.