RCSI, in partnership with the Fulbright Commission, has announced two four-year scholarships for US candidates to complete their PhDs at the RCSI campus in Dublin.

The scholarships will provide for full coverage of PhD costs and travel support.

This initiative builds on RCSI’s existing partnership with the Fulbright Commission, which has enabled junior and senior academics from RCSI and US institutions to spend time sharing expertise across the two countries.

“At RCSI, we have benefited greatly through scholarly exchange of junior and senior academics with the US through Fulbright,” said Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

“Their philosophy fits seamlessly with our international focus. We also have many undergraduate medical students from the US – and support many of our graduates to develop early medical careers in the US. So it was an obvious next step to formalise the same scientific and cultural exchange opportunities at the postgraduate doctoral level.

“We are proud to work with Fulbright on this initiative. These scholarships signal our commitment to advancing early research careers - and through Fulbright we foster transAtlantic connections that can advance international citizenship and continue to benefit both countries, and ultimately research for health, over a career,”Prof. McGee added.

The programme aims to encourage innovative research projects in one of RCSI’s areas of research strength, including but not limited to:

• Cancer
• Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
• Population Health and Health Services
• Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Science and Practice
• Vascular Biology

The Fulbright Commission in Ireland annually awards grants for Irish citizens to study, research or lecture in the US and for Americans to do the same in Ireland. Since its formation over 2,000 postgraduate students, scholars and professionals have participated in the program between the US and Ireland.

The 2020-2021 Fulbright Awards for US citizens are now open for application with a Student Award deadline of 8 October 2019.

RCSI is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2019) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. RCSI has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.

Further information is available on the Fulbright website.