Completed applications must be received by SDSU-Georgia no later than December 14, 2022. All the documents must be submitted as one pdf file through www.sig.sdsu.edu.ge

Proposals submitted in multiple files will not be accepted. Georgian apostille certification (provided by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia) of the official transcripts is considered mandatory.

Each application must contain all the elements described below. All proposals should be typed single-spaced; in a font size ≥ 10 points; with margins of 2.5 cm on the sides, top, and bottom. All pages including forms should be numbered consecutively in the bottom right corner. Proposals cannot exceed 20 pages. All documents for the application should be in English (if in Georgian, should be translated and apostilled.).

1. Letter of Intent (Form A):The letter of intent should include basic information about the applicant and should clearly describe and justify the importance and feasibility of the proposed project. What is the specific research to be carried out and why is the proposed research important? The Research Rationale should describe a scientific problem to be addressed by the grant. The text should provide a clear justification for the importance of the research and a description of any future collaboration with the applicant after his or her return to Georgia. The proposed mentor(s) at SDSU should be listed and justified.

2. Diplomas and Official Transcript (a complete representation of a student's academic records (Bachelor, MA, Ph.D.) from university (apostille required).

3. A confirmation of the communication with the potential mentor. To obtain such, a Georgian student needs to get in touch with an SDSU professor through email.The Principal Investigator of the Project, Dr. Walter Oechel must be copied (in Cc) on correspondence. But before that, the applicant shall get familiar with research ongoing at San Diego State University and select one that has common interests and points of contact with his/her project. Detailed information on the ongoing research was provided by the program directors during the Mini Course III, which took place January 27-29, 2020. Seminar recordings are available on the project websitewww.sig.sdsu.edu.ge. After being short-listed, the candidate must provide an official confirmation letter from the SDSU mentor expressing his /her readiness to work and supervise a Georgian student during his/her stay in the U.S.

4. Curriculum Vitae (preferably up to 5 pages). Include the full name, date, and place of birth, contact address, information on the applicant’s education, prior and current employment, research experience, participation in conferences, honors received, and research interests.

5. Publications, if such exist (maximum 2 pages).A statement indicating the applicant’s total number of publications and full citations for up to 15 publications most relevant to the proposed research topic.

6. Information on Prior Professional Visits Abroad (if applicable).Include information on doctoral or postdoctoral training abroad and attendance of international conferences, including papers presented at international meetings.

7. Two Signed Letters of Reference.The students will have letters of recommendation.

sent directly to the SDSU-Georgia office. One letter must come from the applicant’s supervisor; the other letter should come from a person with whom the applicant has worked in his/her major field, such as a thesis advisor, professor, or employer.

• Mastery of fundamental knowledge in the applicant’s field.
• Potential within his/her field.

8. Project Narrative:The Project Narrative should clearly describe and justify the importance and feasibility of the proposed project.

a) Research Rationale (up to 2 pages). What is the specific research to be carried out and why is the proposed research important? The Research Rationale should describe a scientific problem to be addressed by the grant. The text should provide a clear justification for the importance of the research.

b) Research Plan (up to 5 pages, including tables and figures). How will the proposed research be carried out? Clearly describe the methods and approach to be used in carrying out the proposed research. Indicate clearly how each project objective will be accomplished. Also indicate the plans for publishing the results in international peer-reviewed journals.

c) Research Milestones/Timeline (1 page).At the conclusion of the Research Plan, provide a one-page project timeline that clearly indicates the significant steps in carrying out the proposed research during one year of support from the grant. Include goals to be accomplished on the visit to the U.S. and goals to be accomplished upon return to Georgia.

d) References Cited (up to 1 page).Provide a list of references cited in the project narrative.

Changes after Submission All proposals must be complete when submitted. Any proposal not containing all required elements as indicated in this Program Announcement may be ruled ineligible. No modifications may be made to any proposal or requested by the applicant once it has been received.