Whitaker Foundation establishes international fellowship programs as final gesture

Whitaker Foundation establishes international fellowship programs as final gesture

The Whitaker Foundation has invested more than $720 million in biomedical engineering education and research. In its swan song, the Whitaker Foundation has teamed up with the Institute of International Education (IIE) to launch an international fellows and scholars program for American biomedical engineers early in their careers.

IIE will run the program under a $20 million award from the foundation, the last and largest grant the foundation will make before spending out and closing its doors in June 2006. The goal of the program, which the grant will fund for fifteen years, is to give biomedical engineers an international outlook.

There will be one competition each year for fellowships and scholarships. Whitaker Fellows will have a bachelor's or master's degree (but not a doctorate) in biomedical engineering or bioengineering when they begin their fellowship. Whitaker Scholars will have a doctorate in biomedical engineering or closely related field and will use the award to conduct postdoctoral work. The awards will include a stipend to cover anticipated living expenses, travel, health insurance, and tuition, if applicable. The first deadline for applications will be January 30, 2006.

Any overseas institution may host a fellow or scholar if it offers an outstanding professional experience in biomedical engineering. Grant applicants may select the institution, but this selection will be reviewed as par of the application.

Each award is for a one-year term, with an estimated twenty to thirty fellows and ten to fifteen scholars expected each year once the program reaches a steady state. Overseas experiences are expected to vary from studying at a university, to conducting research at an institute, to working as an intern at a policy-making organization. The experience must lead to a substantial enhancement of the student's professional experience in biomedical engineering.

For program details and application guidelines.

Source: IIE Press Release