Junior Fellowship

Research Abroad

ASEF Professors

Meet Previous Fellows

How to Apply

FAQ

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 ASEF JUNIOR FELLOWSHIPS ARE OPEN

About ASEF Junior Fellows Program

The American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF) Junior Fellows program is a three-year program. The purpose of the fellowship program is to strengthen research and study exchange between Slovenia and other countries to give talented Slovenian students the ability to realize their potential to the fullest.

In the first year of the program, students do a 10-week research visit at a university or a research institution in the area of their field of study/expertise. Additionally, Junior Fellows engage in activities organized by ASEF, including the tutorial program, research projects and collaborations with other Fellows, leadership, and career development workshops, and attend regular public lectures and other events organized by ASEF. Further, Junior Fellows are expected to contribute to ASEF and serve the Slovenian community under the guidance and mentorship of ASEF.

In the first year…

Junior Fellows will work with Slovenian professors at the world’s top universities on a research project and interact with other members of the professor’s research group as well as other students at the university. At the same time, the student will also interact with the Slovenians and Slovenian communities abroad. Junior Fellows will also regularly attend the tutorial program and all events (lectures, workshops, etc.) organized by ASEF.

Meet our mentors

“The ASEF fellowship has opened doors for new opportunities in my academic career: I returned to Stanford as a postdoctoral researcher in Computer Science, and eventually it led me to a position at Harvard University with the prospect of becoming a professor.”

Dr. Marinka Žitnik, ASEF fellow in 2014

“The ASEF exchange gave me an insight into the work of research institutions abroad and enough experience to continue my postgraduate studies at Oxford University.”

Vid Kocijan, ASEF fellow in 2016

In the second year…

Junior Fellows will attend all events organized by ASEF, serve the Slovenian community, participate in ASEF promotional activities, help advertise ASEF Fellowship programs, and act as peer mentors to incoming fellows by helping them learn about the culture of their host country and institution. Junior Fellows are highly encouraged to engage in activities, including research projects and collaborations with other Junior Fellows, professors, and research groups in the ASEF network, leadership and career development workshops, communication training, and coaching.

Furthermore, Fellows are encouraged to continue their research work with their host professor and form collaborations with other Junior Fellows. Additional funds will be available to Fellows to cover the expenses of such collaborations, such as presenting research at international conferences.

As part of the 2-year fellowship program, each ASEF Fellow also becomes part of the ASEF Tutorial Program, in which fellows work in small groups led by an individual tutor in the fellow’s field of study.

ASEF Tutorial Program

Eligibility

Applications are open to students at an accredited institution of higher education. Applications are open to Slovenian students as well as other students of Slovenian heritage (for example, living in Italy, Austria, Argentina, USA, Canada, Australia, …).
A typical applicant is a senior undergraduate, masters, or PhD student.

Costs

The ASEF Junior Fellows program provides fellows with comprehensive support, allowing them to focus on their research at the world’s top universities. ASEF will work with the Junior Fellow to obtain funding so that all expenses of research visit (airfare, food, lodging, etc.) in the first year will be covered.

Participating Institutions

The list of professors and research groups that are members of the ASEF network can be accessed here. Each of the professors has open positions to accept one or two students into their research group. We strongly encourage applicants to read about professors and study their research and publications.

Selection Criteria

Applicants are selected based on exceptional ability, originality, and resourcefulness, and should be of the highest caliber of intellectual achievement. Applicants will perform an interview with previous and current ASEF Fellows, and ASEF Professors will review the research plan, mission statement, and recommendation letters presented in each application. Finally, ASEF Scientific Advisory Committee will also give weight to the many intangibles involved, including interpretation of the Foundation’s objectives. Applicants will perform an interview with previous and current ASEF Fellows, and ASEF Professors will review the research plan, mission statement, and recommendation letters presented in each application. Those selected receive two-year fellowships.

How to Apply

Aplication should include:

Application form (filled during the online submission of application)

Curriculum Vitae with a focus on your research

Transcripts of your courses

Research Statement

Research Statement (no longer than 2 pages)

The Research Statement is your chance to personalize your application. When composing the Statement it is important to address the impact that your visit will have on your academic, professional, and personal goals. You should also address the impact that receiving ASEF Junior Fellowship would have on your achievement of these goals. Some key points to keep in mind are:

Motivation: Why do you wish to do research abroad, and what factors led you to this decision? What do you hope to gain from, and what do you anticipate will be the impact of your experience abroad? What initially inspired you to do research in this particular area/research group?

Previous work/research experience: List and describe your project/research work for courses, participation in research projects, lab work at your department, your independent research, relevant summer internship experience, etc. The goal here is that you describe your experience that makes you the best possible candidate for the professor’s research lab that will allow you to have a fruitful and productive research visit.

General project/area you would like to work on: A general proposal for a project or an idea for your thesis/dissertation that you want to work on during your visit and how it relates to the research of the professor you are applying to. Describe the project or the idea and argue why you find it interesting. Include a list of scientific references related to your field of research.

Mission Statement

Mission Statement (1 page)

Your Mission Statement is a key component of your application. It should provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of your current and proposed contributions to the ASEF Society of Fellows. These contributions should reflect ASEF’s core values: academic excellence, character formation, and dedication to service. What to Include:

Current Contributions: Highlight any past or ongoing activities where you have demonstrated a commitment to societal growth and progress. Examples include volunteering for non-profit organizations, participating in outreach activities, leading academic or engineering clubs, organizing summer schools, or tutoring young students. Focus on how these experiences align with ASEF’s mission.

Future Contributions: Describe how you plan to contribute to ASEF as a Junior Fellow. Consider initiatives such as: 1) Organizing events in collaboration with ASEF, including public lectures, art exhibitions, music events, literary events, or round-table discussions on topics related to society, science, research, and technology. 2) Leading a reading or study group within ASEF that focuses on your field of study or research. 3) Engaging in community service activities like fundraising or crowdfunding for causes that align with ASEF’s mission and values.

Two reference letters

Reference letter

The letters should clearly describe the applicant’s contribution to the research projects that they participated in. The letters should be written by the supervisors/advisors/teachers of past research projects, summer internships, or diploma/MSc thesis. Letters of reference should be submitted by the reference letter writer at the reference submission.

All submitted documents must be written in English

Submit your application

Info brochure

If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact ASEF at info@asef.net

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important dates?

Call for applications opens on September 16th, 2024.

The closing date is November 3rd, 2024.

Applicants can expect the results of their selection/non-selection for participation in the fellowship program by December 22nd, 2024.

When will the research visit take place?

The research visits must be completed in the first year of the fellowship program.

The exact time of the research visit is flexible and will be discussed with the particular research group and the professor. Generally, most visits tend to take place during the summer (June to September) with some exceptions.

Importantly, visits must end in calendar year 2025.

What if I will not be able to go abroad for the 10-week research visit on the agreed date due to COVID-19 travel restrictions?

In case of complications, ASEF will work with Junior Fellows individually to try to make the 10-week research visit possible.

How will the expenses of the research visit be covered?

ASEF will work with Junior Fellows to identify funding sources to help cover all expenses of the research visit: airfare, housing, and living expenses. Whenever possible, students will stay with a Slovenian family and then work with the professor at a university.

What are the Junior Fellow’s responsibilities and obligations to ASEF?

Junior Fellows are appointed to the ASEF Society of Fellows for two years. During that time they are expected to regularly attend the tutorial, public lectures, and other events organized by ASEF. Further, fellows participate in ASEF promotional activities, help advertise ASEF Fellowship programs, and act as peer mentors to incoming fellows by helping them learn about the culture of their host country. Junior Fellows are highly encouraged to engage in activities, including research projects and collaborations with other Junior Fellows, professors and research groups in the ASEF network, leadership and career development workshops, communication training, and coaching.

Are Slovenian students who study abroad full-time or will participate in an Erasmus+ exchange eligible to apply?

Yes, also Slovenian students studying abroad are eligible to apply. Participation in the Erasmus+ exchange program or other programs of study visits or internships abroad does not affect eligibility for the ASEF Junior Fellows program. ASEF will work with Junior Fellows individually to find a solution if they will not be able to attend all the events organized by ASEF because of staying abroad.

Are full-time employed students (e.g. PhD students with the status of young researchers) eligible to apply?

Yes, also employed students are eligible to apply.

Do students need health insurance?

Students need health insurance. In some cases, your host/professor/university will provide health insurance, or in other cases, you will be responsible for it. Please check with your ASEF professor.

What are the core values of ASEF?

The core values of ASEF are academic excellence, character formation, and dedicated service. ASEF is committed to these core values, which guide us in carrying out our mission and realizing our vision.

How can you support the fellowship program?

The fellowship program operates with the support of kind donations from generous individuals.

We invite you to read more about the possibility of donating at the following link.