2009-2010 FULBRIGHT-NEHRU ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (FNELP)

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) invites applications from interested mid-level Indian environment professionals in public/private sector or non-governmental organizations for the Fulbright-Nehru Environmental Leadership Program (FNELP) fellowships. The program will combine short-term practical training/internship with opportunities for networking with American counterpart organizations. Selected fellows will be placed at US environmental public/private or non-governmental organizations, academic institutions or research centers and environment related government agencies. Fellows will be expected to explore future linkages between Indian and American organizations with common agendas. Selected fellows will come into grant status during August 2009-May 2010. Application deadline for Indian candidates is February 15, 2009.

Key areas of the FNELP initiative would include, but not be limited to:

• Environmental Information/Systems Reporting: industry government NGO partnerships and exchange, environmental journalism and television, public participation in perceptions of the environment and environmental benchmarking.
• Environmental Education: syllabus and curriculum development, instructional media including computers and internet, public advocacy and community based campaigning, environmental awareness, information and action, environmental documentation, website and database management.
• Environmental Policy, Regulations and Law: economic incentives for environmental conservation, energy taxes, the design of environmental regulation and enforcement, environmental economics, environmental aid, environmental law, rights and institutions, stakeholder involvement in environmental policy making, the role of local government, ecosystem governance.
• Environmental Sciences and Toxicology: biochemical mechanism of toxicity, toxicant effect on ecosystems, effects of toxics on biotic and abiotic environment, immunotoxicology, test method and guidelines for environmental variables, failure investigation and industrial problem solving.
• Environmental Management: environment impact assessment, audits and monitoring, environmental modelling, technology assessment and development, environment management systems, life cycle assessment, pollution prevention, technology transfer and issues of global importance.

Grant Benefits

These fellowships provide round-trip economy air travel from India to the US, a monthly stipend, a professional allowance, a modest settling-in-allowance, and limited health insurance. No allowance or travel is provided for dependents and the stipend provided under the grant is not sufficient to support family members.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicant should preferably have a master's or a professional degree of at least four years duration;
• Applicant should have at least five years of professional experience in the respective field;
• Applicant should preferably be 50 years of age or under;
• Be a responsible Indian citizen who can contribute to a full and fair picture of the culture and civilization of India, and thereby help to promote understanding and friendship between the peoples of the United States of America and India;
• Applicant should have a high level of academic/professional achievement;
• Applicant should demonstrate proficiency in the English language which is commensurate with the project that s/he wishes to pursue and is adequate to adjust to life in the US. The applicant may be required to take the test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL);
• Be present in India at the time of submitting the application and for the interview (if required);
• Be eligible for leave, if employed;
• Be in good health;
• Applicant should not be applying for or holding permanent residence (green card) in the United States; and
• Applicants should not have been in the US during the past three years on a teaching, research, study or professional assignment for a continuous period of three months or more, at the time of submitting the application.

Special attention will be given to applicants who demonstrate involvement in cooperative efforts between academia, research institutions, government, industry and non-governmental organizations to make practical contributions to environmental policies and programs.

How to Apply