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Visiting Fellows
The Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia and its affiliated centers offer numerous opportunities for scholars from Europe and Eurasia to visit the University of Michigan for short- and long-term research and fellowship programs. Please follow the links below for information about visiting scholar programs as well as current and past fellows at CES, CREES, and WCEE.
Weiser Professional Development Program Fellows
Call for Applications from Faculty in Selected Countries of Europe and Eurasia
The 2012 competition is now closed. Applications for the 2013 competition will be available in May 2012.
The Ronald and Eileen Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia at the University of Michigan invites applications for Weiser Professional Development Awards from faculty and artists at institutions of higher education in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kaliningrad (Russia), Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.
Applicants are invited to propose projects in any field of research or teaching with a faculty partner at the University of Michigan. Candidates must have excellent oral and written English language skills.
The 2012 awards support short-term (3-4 week) research visits to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and include round-trip airfare, housing, health insurance, and a modest per diem. Up to 10 awards will be granted for travel to Ann Arbor between February and April 2012 or September and December 2012.
Selection of 2012 awardees will be made through a competitive review of proposals at the University of Michigan. These awards are made possible thanks to a gift from Ambassador Ronald Weiser, U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia from 2001-04, and his wife, Eileen Lappin Weiser.
Applicants must submit:
- A completed application form (2013 application will be available in May 2012)
- Your CV
- A copy of your doctoral diploma or highest professional degree
- A copy of your passport photo page
- A two-page personal statement describing: a) the research or collaborative project you plan to pursue at the University of Michigan, b) your reason for applying for this opportunity, and c) how this opportunity will benefit your home institution
- An invitation from the University of Michigan school, department, and/or faculty partner with whom the research will be conducted; email invitation is acceptable. (For more information about U-M departments and programs, consult www.umich.edu.)
- One letter of recommendation from the rector or dean of your institution.
- If you have taken the TOEFL exam in the last three years, attach a copy of your score report.
Please contact the appropriate source listed below for additional information:
Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Russia (Kaliningrad District), Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine:
Email: weiser@fulbright.edu.pl
Web: www.fulbright.edu.pl
Applicants from the Slovak Republic:
Email: office@fulbright.gov.sk
Web: www.fulbright.sk
University of Michigan:
Email: weiseraward@umich.edu
Web: www.ii.umich.edu/wcee
Weiser Professional Development Program: FAQs
Who can apply?
Faculty and artists teaching at institutions of higher education in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kaliningrad (Russia), Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine may apply. Applicants should be actively engaged in teaching and must have a current appointment to which they intend to return. Junior and mid-level academics are especially encouraged to apply. All applicants must have either their doctoral diploma or highest professional degree at the time of application.
What disciplines and/or fields of research are eligible for funding consideration?
Applicants should be teaching in a discipline offered at the University of Michigan. (Past recipients have included artists, engineers, medical doctors, historians, psychologists, and others.)
Is English fluency an important consideration?
Applicants should have a good command of speaking, reading, and writing in English. Applicants who have taken the TOEFL in the last three years should attach a copy of their score report. Personal statements, CVs, and letters of recommendation will also be evaluated for indications of English fluency. If questions about fluency arise during the evaluation process, a phone interview may be required.
What is the average length of these research visits?
The typical research visit is 3-4 weeks in length. While shorter stays are possible, they are not recommended, as there is often not enough time for fellows to benefit fully from all of the resources available to them at the University. Applicants whose schedule does not allow for at least 3 weeks to visit may wish to postpone their application until a more convenient time.
Do I have to submit a letter of invitation from a U-M school, department, and/or faculty partner at the time of application?
Yes. Applicants should visit the University of Michigan web site to locate U-M faculty teaching and conducting research on topics related to your own current research interests (www.umich.edu). Determine whether your research would be enhanced by a visit to the University of Michigan. Then contact the U-M professor(s) that work on the topics that best match your interests. Most departments and schools at U-M list their faculties' email addresses, and we encourage you to use email to inquire about the possibility of an invitation. In your email message, describe the reason for your proposed visit and the funding source which you are applying for to support this visit. You should also inquire about the best dates for a visit of 3-4 weeks in length. If you do not hear back within two weeks of your initial inquiry it is appropriate to send a second inquiry.
When will applicants receive a decision on their application?
Applicants will typically receive a decision letter by email 4-6 weeks after the application deadline.
Do I have to get a J-1 visa?
Yes. This is the most appropriate type of visa for short-term scholars. Applying for the correct type of visa will greatly improve your chances of receiving it, and will also make it easier to obtain one in the future. More information about the J-1 visa is available on the University of Michigan International Center website.
