IREX Short Term Travel Grants

irex (irex@info.irex.org)
Tue, 17 Jan 1995 18:29:55 -0500

Attached is a description of the IREX Short-Term Travel Grant Program for
Central & Eastern Europe and Eurasia. The next application deadline is
February 1, 1995. After reading the guidelines, please let us know if you
have any questions or would like to receive an application form.=20

Thank you.

The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)
1616 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
E-mail: irex@info.irex.org

***

IREX Short-Term Travel Grant Application Guidelines

The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) offers travel grants
for brief visits (1-2 weeks) which do not require administrative
assistance or logistical support (such as placement or access to archives,
housing, visas, travel, etc.). Please read the following guidelines
carefully, and contact IREX with any questions on eligibility.=20

APPLICANTS must meet all of the following eligibility requirements: =F9 US
citizen or permanent resident; =F9 PhD or equivalent professional/terminal
degree in the project discipline at time of application; those holding a
professional/terminal degree should contact IREX regarding eligibility;

=F9 Projects in humanities or social sciences focused on Central and=20
Eastern Europe or Eurasia*;

=F9 Scholars with projects concerning Mongolia, and scholars who are
employees of US federal government organizations, should contact IREX
before submitting an application, regarding availability of funding.=20

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE DATE TO QUALIFY.

DEADLINES: February 1, 1995; June 1, 1995; October 1, 1995. Applications
received after the deadline will be returned to the sender. Applicants
are encouraged to use priority mail services to ensure that the
application is received by the deadline.=20

PROVISIONS: Grants will normally not exceed $3000. =F9 Transoceanic APEX
airfare on a US flag carrier (consult a travel agent for fares_generally
the grant will pay up to $1450). =20

=F9 Per diem for up to 14 days, not to exceed $100/day to cover in-country
costs for meals, lodging, and local transportation only.=20

=F9 Applicants inviting a foreign colleague to the US may apply for funds t=
o
cover temporary health insurance for the foreign invitee, up to a maximum
of $65.=20

=F9 Conference registration fee to attend a conference, up to a maximum=
=20
of $100.

=F9 Visa application costs, up to a maximum of $50.

=F9 Miscellaneous expenses, up to a maximum of $100 (SUBJECT TO
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING AND EXPENSES APPROPRIATE TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT).=
=20

MAXIMUM STAY: Applicants may stay up to thirty (30) days total (with any
additional per diem expenses covered by the applicant). However, all
travel, whether connected to the research, or for personal reasons, may
not exceed thirty (30) days. Applications with itineraries exceeding 30
days will not be processed. Individuals requiring stays of more than 30
days (and/or administrative support) should apply to the IREX program for
Individual Advanced Research in Central and Eastern Europe or Eurasia.=20

APPLICATION MATERIALS: Applicants must submit an original and four (4)
complete copies of all of the following materials:=20

=F9 The 1994-1995 Short-Term Travel Grant application form;

=F9 A 3-5 page (typed, double-spaced) proposal essay, describing the
activity, methodology, anticipated results, and project significance,
particularly with respect to the American academic, Slavic studies
community; for collaborative activities, describe the nature of the
collaboration and how it evolved;=20

=F9 The applicant's abbreviated curriculum vitae (no longer than 3 pages=
);

=F9 An official letter of invitation for conferences, lecturing,
consultations, or collaborative work;=20

=F9 A biographical sketch or curriculum vitae for a foreign colleague
invited to the US.=20

EXCLUSIONS: The following items will not be considered for the Short-Term
Travel Grant Program:=20

=F9 Itineraries exceeding 30 days;
=F9 Passport application costs;
=F9 Transoceanic travel undertaken on a non-American flag carrier;
=F9 Medical expenses (inoculations; dental insurance; health insurance,=
=20
except for a foreign guest);
=F9 Grantees should check with IREX before submitting items under=20
Miscellaneous Expenses. Expenses will only be accepted in this=20
category if funds have been awarded to the grantee as per the=20
official Terms and Conditions.

DUE TO THE LARGE number of applications and limitations on funding,
projects with multiple participants may not receive full funding for all
participants.=20

NOTE ABOUT SELECTION PROCESS AND NOTIFICATION

SELECTION CRITERIA: The IREX Selection Committee for this program has
identified a number of criteria which they consider when reviewing all
applications: (1) academic merit of the proposed project (including its
relevance for the Slavic studies community); (2) well-documented need for
in-country research and a clearly stated research methodology; (3)
language skills adequate for research on the scholar's topic in the host
country; (4) feasibility of the proposed time frame; (5) demonstration of
serious preparatory work with the general literature available in Western
repositories, basic guides to host-country archives, and current research;
(6) applicant's record of publication; and (7) reasonable budget request.=
=20

NOTIFICATION letters are sent to all applicants approximately eight weeks
after the deadline. No notifications will be made prior to that time, and
decisions cannot be disclosed by telephone. Grant checks become available
approximately one month after receipt by IREX of the signed grant
contract, and no sooner than two months prior to the start of the project.=
=20
All IREX-funded project activity must be completed within one year of the
application deadline. Permission for departure from the proposal must be
secured in advance from IREX.=20

SELECTION COMMITTEE: The IREX Selection Committee for this program is
composed of senior scholars who represent a broad cross-section of US
universities and disciplines. Selection Committee members are familiar
with IREX programs and in many cases have participated in an IREX program
at some point in their academic careers. Members of the Selection
Committee are appointed by the decision of the IREX Program Committee on
the authority of the IREX Board of Directors. New members are chosen based
on recommendations from current Committee members, the IREX Program
Committee, and IREX staff. Disciplinary, geographic, age, and gender
balance are taken into consideration in determining the final composition
of the Selection Committee. IREX staff provides administrative support
only, and does not participate in selection of grantees.=20

ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY THIS PROGRAM:

=F9 Individual scholarly, academic research visits to archives,
libraries, museums, etc., or to conduct interviews;=20

=F9 Presentation at scholarly conferences focused on Central and Eastern
Europe and/or Eurasia;=20

=F9 Invited lectures or consultations;

=F9 Collaborative projects such as joint publications and comparative
surveys;=20

=F9 US scholars may invite 1-2 colleagues from the countries of focus to
the US for collaborative research, publications, surveys, or conference
presentation; the US scholar is considered the applicant.=20

=F9 In general, conferences which are located outside the geographic
regions covered by this program are NOT eligible for funding through the
Short-Term Travel Grant Program. Contact IREX for confirmation of
eligibility.=20

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS will be responsible for obtaining all necessary
travel documents, including visas, whether for themselves or for a foreign
colleague. Applicants should check with the relevant country's embassy
for specific information on necessary visas, or with a university's office
of international programs for the appropriate visa for an incoming
scholar.=20

For further information or to request an application form contact:=20

Short-Term Travel Grant Competition
IREX
1616 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
irex@info.irex.org
Tel: 202-628-8188
Fax: 202-628-8189

* Eligible countries are Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia
Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, East Germany (only
projects that address its communist experience, or which extend into the
period of reunification, and relate to the transition experience of other
countries in the region), Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, the
Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (International
Sanctions apply).=20

Revised 08/94 =20

Application materials valid for 02/95, and 06/95 competitions only.