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 Application Submission

The Deadline for the 2012-2013 application cycle has now passed.  Deadlines are posted in the fall.  Sign up for updates below.

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ALL application materials, including ALL Required Attachments, should be submitted via e-mail whenever possible and must be in one of the following formats:

• DOC (preferred)
• XML
• PDF
• DOCX

The application must be replicated as it appears within this website, follow file format instructions, as well as style guidelines.

- Margins (1" all around)

- Font size (12 point, Times prefered)

- Removing ALL instructional text within brackets; Portrait page orientation

- Parts I-IV should be saved as one continous document.  Please DO NOT save each part as a separate file.

- Follow naming conventions - LastName, First Name 13-14 IAF Application (or Letter of Reference, Language Evaluation, Affiliation, etc.).  Please ensure you pass these requirements on to organizations and individuals that will be sending documents on your behalf.

Letters of affiliation, language proficiency reports, transcripts, university certification, and letters of reference should be e-mailed by the individual university or organizational representative or reference writer to iaffellowships@iie.org.  Please note that e-mail is the preferred method of submittion for all Required Attachments.  Please be sure the applicant’s full name is referenced in the subject line of all e-mails.  Applicants are encouraged to request confirmation of delivery and receipt in their e-mail options and to have other parties e-mailing materials do the same.  If it is not possible to e-mail a required document (university certification, transcripts, recommendations, language profeciency reports) they may be sent directly to the fellowship office by the writer or sent by applicants to the office.  Materials sent by the applicant must be in sealed envelopes with the letter writer's signature across the flap of the envelope.   Please be sure the applicant's name is referenced in all documents and that the document is mailed to the address as it appears below.  Applicants are responsible for verifying documents arrive by the deadline.  Please add iaffellowships@iie.org to your safe list.

Letters confirming receipt of applications are sent to the e-mail address on the application and/or to the current mailing address, as appropriate, about six weeks after the deadline. We are unable to provide any other information during the selection process.  All applicants can expect notification on their status by May 1 of the year of application.

All communications and questions should be directed to:

Institute of International Education

Sr. Program Manager; IAF Fellowship Program

1400 K Street, NW - 7th Floor

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: +1 202 326.7796
Fax: +1 202 326.7696
Email Address: iaffellowships@iie.org

Part I: Application Statement

[INSTRUCTIONS: This document should be formatted using 1" margins and in a 12 point font (Times is preferred), and submitted in one of the formats indicated in the Submission Guidelines. Carefully follow the instructions in brackets indicating the information to be provided. With the exception of text in brackets [ ], please replicate all text in this outline. Text in brackets that contains instructional information should be deleted prior to submission.  ]

A. Applicant’s Personal Information

B. Applicant’s Contact Information

 [Note: The applicant is responsible for updating contact information. All Fellowship correspondence is sent to the Current Address and/or Current E-Mail Address unless other arrangements are made.]

C. Applicant's Certification
I certify that all information I have provided in each of the enclosed documents is correct to the best of my knowledge. If I am awarded an IAF Fellowship, I will submit to the IAF, within six months of completing the grant period, a report on my research (1,250 to 2,500 words in length) and, when completed, a copy of my Ph.D. dissertation.

 [Typed]                                                                                                        

Applicant’s signature                                         Date

Part II: Fellowship Curriculum Vitae

[INSTRUCTIONS: With the exception of instructions in brackets [ ], please replicate all text in the “Fellowship Curriculum Vitae” and provide the information requested.]

A. Personal information

B. Education

C. Field experience
[List any experience abroad (work, travel or extended residence) which might be relevant to your proposal. Insert more rows if necessary.]

D.  Language capability
[Each applicant also must submit a separate Foreign Language Proficiency Report completed by a university language specialist for any language(s) relevant to the proposed research.  See Part V: Required Attachments.]

Language #1: [Language. Please replicate for each language.]
[Option 1: If you are a native speaker, complete the following statement and, if applicable, proceed to E. Honors and Publications.]

I am a native speaker of [language], the lang­uage of the proposed field research.

                   [Typed]                                                                                                        

Applicant’s signature                                         Date

[Option 2: If you are a non-native speaker, complete the following statement, be sure to enclose the corresponding language evaluation, and proceed to E. Honors and Publications.]

1. I have studied or spoken the language of the field research project:

2. I rate my language proficiency as follows

E. Honors and publications [Scholarships, assistantships, publications, awards or other recognition relevant to the proposed activity in reverse chronological order. Do not forward copies.]

F. Work and volunteer experience [List significant employment and volunteer experience in reverse chronological order. Do not include odd/occasional jobs unrelated to your future career or this proposal. Copy and paste as necessary.]

G. Career plans
I plan to pursue the following career goals:

Part III: Personal Statement 

[INSTRUCTIONS: The Personal Statement should address in 250 words or fewer, double-spaced:

• Your personal history
• Special interests and abilities
• Career plans
• Your interest in grassroots development in Latin America or the Caribbean]

Part IV: Field Research Prospectus

[INSTRUCTIONS: The Field Research Prospectus is a comprehensive summary of the proposed field research for the dissertation which explains its significance and its relevance to issues relating to poverty and grassroots development. It should be typed, single- or double-spaced as specified below, as one continuous document consisting of five sections, each preceded by the appropriate heading. It should be prepared by replicating all text below, with exception of that in brackets [ ] which provides instructions or indicates requested information. Carefully follow the bracketed instructions and replace bracketed sections below with information as directed. Do not exceed the limits specified and do not use footnotes.  This is the final part of the SINGLE DOCUMENT applicants submit using 1" margins, in a 12 point font.]

Section 1 - General Title [The following title should appear single-spaced at the top of the first page:]
A PROPOSAL FOR A FIELD RESEARCH STUDY LEADING TO THE COMPLETION OF A DISSERTATION FOR A PH.D. DEGREE.

Section 2 - Field Research Study Title and Applicant Information [should appear in a single-spaced format immediately below Section 1. This section should provide the following information:]

Section 3 - Basic Information [single-space the information:]
1. The Applicant’s dissertation committee:

2.  The Applicant’s References (Please see Part V: Required Attachments for guidelines for references.):

3. Expected date for completion of all degree requirements except the dissertation: [mm/yy].

4. Length, period and explanation of the field research period outside the United States. [Please note that we are looking for how many months of support you are seeking from the IAF program.  If the total field work is more than 12 months, please indicate as such under Rationale as you explain the period of support you are seeking from the IAF.  Grants will not be awarded for research lasting less than 4 months.]

5. Field Research Affiliate: [Indicate the development or applied research institution with which you expect to establish a substantive affiliation for each Latin American or Caribbean country where you will conduct field research under this grant.]

Section 4 - Plan [The “Plan” must not exceed 1,500 words; should be double-spaced; should provide information which combines general theory and specific detail; and should address the following topics:] 

1. Summarize the problem to be investigated and explain its relationship to practical grassroots development efforts promoting benefits to poor and disadvantaged groups.
2. Clearly detail the project's direct link to grassroots development.
3. Provide a compelling reason for conducting the proposed field research in a Latin American or Caribbean country in order to complete the dissertation and indicate how much time is required for completion. If field work has already begun, indicate progress to date, and describe the plan for completing the project.
4. Discuss the specific research questions and, if applicable, hypotheses to be examined.
5. Explain the theoretical framework for the field research and dissertation. Define the body of literature or field of study to which the dissertation will contribute. Describe “gaps” in knowledge which will be addressed by the dissertation.
6. Specifically describe the methodology used to acquire data. If multiple methods are used, explain which methods apply to which aspects of the research study. For quantitative methods, define key variables (or clusters of variables), sampling methods, and the relationship between the study's methods and widely-accepted standards in the applicant's discipline. For qualitative methods, describe specific methodologies, techniques, participant sampling criteria, and the relationship between the study's methods and widely-accepted standards in the applicant's discipline. If the applicant has past experience with field work, indicate its applicability.
7. Demonstrate a substantive collaboration with an affiliated development or applied research institution during the field research period in the Latin American or Caribbean country. Identify the local organization, explain the rationale for its selection, and describe its role in the project. (This should take just a few sentences.)

Section 5 - Bibliography [Title a new separate page “Bibliography”. List the primary sources to be cited in the dissertation and any references cited in this Field Research Prospectus. This bibliography should be limited to two pages, single-spaced.]

Part V: Required Attachments 

PLEASE ENSURE ALL ATTACHMENTS ARE SAVED IN THE PROPER FILE FORMAT AND THAT THE CONTENT IS NOT IN THE BODY OF THE E-MAIL.  THE APPLICANT'S FIRST AND LAST NAME SHOULD APPEAR IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE E-MAIL.

University Certification

The applicant should contact the appropriate university office to certify the Fellowship application. Fellowship applications have recently been certified by the department chairperson or other designated university officials.

The document should:

• Name the applicant and certify that the applicant, if successful, plans to use the IAF Fellowship to conduct field research toward completion of the dissertation required by the university for the Ph.D.
• Clearly state the name, title and office of the university official authorized to draft this certification as well as his/her address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address.
• Be signed and dated by the authorized university official.
• Be submitted via e-mail ( iaffellowships@iie.org ) as a .doc or .pdf file by the university representative authorized to sign (referencing the Applicant’s Name in the subject line) or included in a sealed envelope with any other required attachments forwarded by the applicant.

Letter(s) of affiliation

Letter of affiliation from the host organization(s). This must include the complete contact information for the individual writing the letter, should be on letterhead, and may be in Spanish, English, French, or Portuguese (as appropriate). One letter should be submitted from each host organization.

• Letters should be submitted via e-mail (iaffellowships@iie.org) as a .doc or .pdf file by the collaborator (referencing the Applicant’s Name in the subject line) or included in a sealed envelope with any other required attachments forwarded by the applicant.

IRB Approval or Exemption

Approval or declaration of exemption of the research design by university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) or an official document that confirms that the IRB has the research design under consideration.  If the IRB process has not yet begun, a statement indicating the Applicant’s proposed timeline for the process and their understanding that IRB approval must be provided before beginning IAF-funded research if the application is selected for a grant should be included.

• IRB statements are to be submitted via e-mail (iaffellowships@iie.org) as a .doc or .pdf file by the appropriate office (referencing the Applicant’s Name in the subject line) or included with any other required attachments being forwarded by the applicant.

Transcripts

• Transcripts of all graduate course work must be submitted. Do not send undergraduate transcripts. Web transcripts are not acceptable. Student copies issued by the registrar’s office (subject to verification) or official copies (which include the most recent grading period) are acceptable.
• Transcripts are to be submitted via e-mail (iaffellowships@iie.org) as a .doc or .pdf file by the registrar’s office (referencing the Applicant’s Name in the subject line) or included with other required attachments forwarded by the applicant.

Three Academic References

• Three letters of reference are required from professors whose personal knowledge permits them to provide a full assessment of the applicant’s proposed field research study, academic qualifications and personal abilities. One reference is required from the chair of the applicant’s dissertation committee or student's advisor. The two additional references should preferably be from other members of the applicant’s dissertation committee. The applicant should provide each individual reference with a copy of the “Field Research Prospectus” (Part IV) and with the guidance in the remainder of Part V.
• Requested Information: The academic reference should comment on the applicant's ability to complete the proposed field research project and to conduct independent scholarly research. The reference should specifically provide the following:

·        An assessment of the applicant’s proposed field research: Each reference writer is requested to evaluate the potential contribution of the proposed field research study to grassroots development approaches that promote significant benefits to the poor in Latin American and Caribbean. The document should address how the proposed research will advance practical development theory and approaches.

·        An evaluation of the applicant’s academic qualifications: These include the applicant’s ability to conduct independent scholarly research in the region, to successfully complete the proposed dissertation project, and to contribute to the academic and development professions as well as to literature on social change.

·        An assessment of the applicant’s integrity, interpersonal skills, adaptability to other cultures and countries, and the applicant’s foreign language competency as related to the proposed research on site.

• The reference writer may prepare a letter or use any standard form. If using a form, the writer may provide commentary on one attached page. The entire reference should not exceed two pages, single-spaced, and should be e-mailed to the IAF Fellowship Program at iaffellowships@iie.org .  Letters of reference should be in .doc or .pdf format.  Letters of reference being sent directly by the reference writer via e-mail should reference the Applicant’s Name in the subject line.  Letters of Reference forwarded by applicants should be in sealed envelopes with the reference writer's signature across the flap.  Please ensure the letter includes the writer's full contact information.

NOTE : No member of the IAF Academic Review Committee in the current competition of the IAF Field Research Fellowship Program at the Doctoral Level is permitted to write a reference for any applicant in the current competition. If the chair or a member of the applicant’s dissertation committee serves on the committee, he or she shall assist the applicant in obtaining an alternate reference from another professor, which should state that the IAF committee member, although on the applicant’s dissertation committee, cannot submit a reference because of IAF policy on potential conflicts of interest.

Foreign Language Proficiency Report

Fellowship applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) of the site selected for their field research. A comprehensive report on the language proficiency of non-native speakers is required. It must be completed pursuant to a thorough examination, including an oral examination, by a specialist in the language tested, preferably on the faculty of the applicant’s university. Applicants located outside the United States at the time of application may obtain a report from a recognized specialist in the relevant language(s) in a university abroad. (Native speakers of the language(s) of the site for the field research are exempt from this requirement.)

• Each applicant should provide the foreign language specialist with the Language Proficiency Report and the scheduled initiation date of the applicant’s field research period. Submit only one report per language.
• Completed reports are to be submitted via e-mail (iaffellowships@iie.org) as a .doc or .pdf file by the evaluator (referencing the Applicant’s Name in the subject line or included with other required attachments forwarded by the applicant.  If sent by the Applicant, this report should be in a signed, sealed envelope.

Language Proficiency Report

[To the foreign language specialist: Each applicant for the IAF Grassroots Development Fellowship must be professionally evaluated with respect to proficiency in the language(s) of the site(s) of the applicant’s proposed field research. Please save this to your computer and complete it with the information requested. Print and sign the form before either 1) e-mailing it directly to the program office at iaffellowships@iie.org in either .doc or .pdf format.  Please include the applicant's full name in the subject line, or 2) mailing it directly to the program office: Institute of International Education, Attn: IAF Fellowship Program, 1400 K St., NW, Suite #650; Washington, DC 20005, or 3) returning it to the student in a sealed envelope with your signature across the flap so they may forward it directly to the program.]