Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (2027-2028)
USIEF (United States-India Educational Foundation)
Application deadline
15 Jul 2026
Calculating…
Overview
The Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is offered by USIEF (the United States-India Educational Foundation), the Fulbright Commission in India. It is meant for early-career Indian faculty members and researchers who have recently finished a Ph.D. and want to do research at a university or research institution in the United States.
For the 2027-2028 cycle, you needed a Ph.D. or D.M. degree obtained between July 15, 2022 and July 14, 2026, and at least one publication in a reputed journal. Applications were invited only in six priority areas: critical minerals and supply chains, defence and security, energy security, science and research collaboration, space cooperation, and technology and innovation. Employees of the Government of India and of state governments cannot apply, but researchers from CSIR, ICAR, DRDO, ISRO, ICMR, DBT, DST labs, BARC, IISc, IITs and other centrally funded institutions can.
The fellowship runs for eight to 24 months. It gives J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, round-trip economy class air travel, a modest settling-in allowance, a professional allowance and accident and sickness cover. USIEF does not publish the exact amounts.
You apply online at apply.iie.org, uploading your degree certificate, a publication, a CV, a project statement and an employer's letter of support. The last date for the 2027-2028 cycle was July 15, 2026, so this round is closed. Watch the USIEF page for the next cycle.
At a glance
| Who can apply | PhD |
|---|---|
| Streams | Critical Minerals and Supply Chains, Geology, Materials Science, Mining Engineering, Defense and Security, Cybersecurity, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Energy Security, Energy Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Energy Innovation and Technology Commercialization, Science and Research Collaboration, Bioengineering, Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductor Engineering, Space Cooperation, Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Space Systems Engineering, Satellite Communications, Technology and Innovation, Data Science, Quantum Computing, Electrical and Electronics Engineering |
| Category | All |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | All India |
| Benefit / amount | Monthly stipend, round-trip economy class air travel, a settling-in allowance, a professional allowance, J-1 visa support and accident & sickness coverage. USIEF does not publish the rupee/dollar value of these benefits on the official page. |
| Duration | Eight to 24 months |
| Renewable | No |
| Last date | 15 Jul 2026 |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Ph.D. or D.M. degree certificate / provisional certificate
- One recent significant publication (copy of paper or article, not exceeding 30 pages)
- FNPostdoc Applicant Annexure
- FNPostdoc Letter of Support from Home Institution (employer endorsement, if employed)
- Curriculum vitae / resume (not more than 6 pages)
- Project statement (not more than 5 single-spaced pages / 3,500 words)
- Letter of invitation from the U.S. host institution, if already received
- Up to three letters of reference submitted online by referees
- Passport bio page (if you hold a valid passport)
How you're selected
USIEF staff first screen every application for eligibility and completeness. Complete applications go to subject-expert screening and review committees, which judge academic credentials and professional ability, the merit of the project, communication skills and the applicant's ability to act as a cultural ambassador. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed (virtually) by a National Selection Committee, and the recommended names are sent to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) in the U.S. for final approval and placement. USIEF states that reasons for non-selection are not given and that committee decisions are final.
FAQs
Who can apply? Indian citizens who are early-career faculty or researchers and hold a Ph.D. or D.M. degree. For the 2027-2028 cycle the degree had to be obtained between July 15, 2022 and July 14, 2026. You must also have a publication in a reputed journal. You must not be living in the U.S. during the recruitment and placement cycle, and you must not hold or be applying for a U.S. green card. Central and state government employees are not eligible, though researchers from CSIR, ICAR, DRDO, ISRO, ICMR, DBT, DST labs, BARC, IISc and IITs are.
How much money do I get? USIEF does not publish a figure. The official page says the fellowship provides J-1 visa support, a monthly stipend, accident and sickness cover, round-trip economy class air travel, a modest settling-in allowance and a professional allowance. A dependent allowance and travel for one eligible dependent may be given if funds allow.
How long is the fellowship? Eight to 24 months. You choose the length in your application, and USIEF says the duration cannot be changed later.
What was the last date? July 15, 2026, 23:59:59 hrs (IST) for the 2027-2028 cycle. That date has passed, so this round is closed. For the next cycle, check the official USIEF notification.
How do I apply? Online only, at https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2027. You upload your Ph.D./D.M. certificate, one recent publication (up to 30 pages), a CV of up to 6 pages, a project statement of up to 5 pages, the FNPostdoc Applicant Annexure, and a Letter of Support from your employer if you are working. Up to three referees submit reference letters online. Incomplete applications are rejected.
Can I extend or renew it? No. USIEF states that extensions and transfer of visa sponsorship will not be permitted. You can also apply for only one Fulbright-Nehru fellowship category in a competition cycle.