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2026 U.S.-Africa Frontiers Fellowships Application

Thank you for your interest in applying for a 2026 U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Fellowship. Please see below for eligibility and application details:

Eligibility
Applicants are eligible if they:
  • Participated in the 2026 U.S. Africa Frontiers Symposium
  • Have received approval from their home institution and a host institution of another 2026 U.S.-Africa Frontiers symposium participant
Teams of applicants must come from different countries. The host or home institutions do not have to be in the United States.


Terms of the 2026 Fellowships
  • All exchanges must be completed before December 31, 2026.
  • Selected recipients will receive a grant of up to $2500 for living expenses for up to 4 weeks. In addition, they will receive up to $2500 for travel to and from the destination of their exchange.
    • Each successful application will receive a maximum of $5000. If you are applying for a bidirectional exchange, you have two options:
      • Complete one application, and receive $5000 total ($2500 for living expenses and $2500 for airfare) to split between both visits; or
      • Complete two separate applications, and receive $5000 for each visit ($2500 for living expenses and $2500 for airfare for each visit). The two applications would be reviewed separately, and the success of one application does not guarantee the success of the other.
  • The grant can be processed either through a reimbursement following the fellowship, or through a disbursement prior to the fellowship.
    • If the disbursement option is chosen, the recipient’s home institution must agree to support the exchange by receiving and disbursing grant funds.
  • The recipient’s host institution will be responsible for assisting the recipient in finding housing and by providing other on-the-ground assistance, including support for research.
  • The recipients are obliged to submit a short report (max. 3 pages) to the U.S. National Academies within 6 weeks of termination of the working visit. Instances of successful long-term cooperation resulting from these grants also have to be announced to the U.S. National Academies.


Selection Criteria
Applications are reviewed by a panel of experts forming a selection committee. Criteria for selection include but are not limited to:

  • Demonstrated ability to achieve proposed goal
  • Potential for continued interaction after the proposed activities
  • Cost-effectiveness of proposed budget
  • Support of applicants’ institutions
Deadline
In order to apply for the 2026 U.S.-Africa Frontiers Fellowships, the below application form must be completed in English and submitted by the deadline of March 1, 2026.
1. Host Fellow Information
This question requires a valid date format of MM/DD/YYYY.
calendar
Host Gender *This question is required.
2. Visiting Fellow Information
This question requires a valid date format of MM/DD/YYYY.
calendar
Visitor Gender *This question is required.
3. Host Institution Information
Host Institution State (if U.S.) *This question is required.
4. Fellowship Information *This question is required.
Letters of Support

We require both the host and home institution to write letters of support, certifying that they are aware of and supportive of the fellowship collaboration. Maximum 2 pages each.

Host Institution:
Letter from the host institution must state the host researcher’s intention for collaboration, and must specify the type and level of support and/or resources that will be provided to you to successfully carry out your planned research. The letter must be written on official institutional letterhead and signed by an official at the host institution who is authorized to commit the institution to be involved in the project.

Visitor's Institution:
Letter of support (written on official institutional letterhead) from an official at the visitor's institution of employment that states the institution’s willingness to support the participation of its staff in the proposed project (including time off for an exchange). If grant money is being provided via disbursement, the visitor's institution must certify that they will accept grant funding from the NAS, and disburse the funding in a timely manner to the recipient as a single payment without transaction fees or overhead.
 
5. Upload Host Institution Letter of Support (PDF) *This question is required.
6. Upload Visitor's Institution Letter of Support (PDF) *This question is required.
CVs

Each CV should be a maximum of 3 pages. They should include the name of graduate degree institution, most relevant research and work experience, publications, presentations, etc.
 
7. Upload Host Fellow's CV (PDF) *This question is required.
8. Upload Visiting Fellow's CV (PDF) *This question is required.
Statement of Interest/Proposed Research
Maximum 2 pages

Please address the following in your statement:
  • Specific activities to be undertaken by the collaborators including aims and objectives (possibly with indications of planned visits of cooperating partners to conferences or lectures at the partner institute)
  • Intended outcomes of this exchange in terms of your research and professional development
9. Upload Statement of Interest/Proposed Research (PDF) *This question is required.
10. Budgetary Allocation