The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) is receiving applications from Indian researchers for Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.
The Fulbright–Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are aimed at early-career faculty members and researchers in India who wish to strengthen their research profile through advanced work in the United States. These fellowships are for eight to 24 months.
Interested researchers can submit their applications online by July 15, 2026.
The applicant will be affiliated with one U.S. host institution.
Fields of Study
1. Critical Minerals and Supply Chains
- Geology
- Materials Science
- Mining Engineering
2. Defense and Security
- Cybersecurity
- Aerospace Engineering
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems
3. Energy Security
- Energy Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Energy Innovation and Technology Commercialization
4. Science and Research Collaboration
- Bioengineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Semiconductor Engineering
5. Space Cooperation
- Astrophysics
- Planetary Science
- Space Systems Engineering
- Satellite Communications
6. Technology and Innovation
- Data Science
- Quantum Computing
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Fellowship Benefits
The fellowship provides:
- J-1 visa support
- Monthly stipend
- Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (as per U.S. Government guidelines)
- Round-trip economy class airfare
- Modest settling-in allowance
- Professional allowance
Eligibility
Applicant must have obtained a Ph.D. degree between July 15, 2022 and July 14, 2026.
The applicant must have a publication in a reputed journal.
Important Dates
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | July 15, 2026 |
| Review of Applications | October 2026 |
| Review Outcome Intimation | November 2026 |
| Interviews | End November 2026 |
| Semi-finalist Notification | Early December 2026 |
| Forwarding to U.S. for Approval | December 2026 |
| Final Approval by J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board | April 2027 |
| Pre-Departure Orientation | May / June 2027 |
| Program Begins | August / September 2027 |