The Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange

CIRRIE MSI Exchange Program:
General Information and FAQ

Objectives:

One of CIRRIE's objectives is to encourage collaboration between rehabilitation researchers in the United States and those in other countries. Planning and conducting research, lecturing, technical assistance, and conference presentations and attendance are some of the forms of collaboration for which the MSI exchange grants may be used.

The CIRRIE MSI Exchange Grant Program supports international collaboration in two ways:

  • U.S. minority serving institutions of higher education may apply for financial support (i.e., airfare, lodging, and meals) for international rehabilitation/disability researchers visiting U.S. institutions for collaborative activities.
  • Rehabilitation/disability researchers (including faculty and graduate students) affiliated with U.S. minority serving institutions of higher education may apply for financial support (i.e., airfare, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses) for travel to other countries to engage in collaborative research activities, or international conferences in the U.S.

Note: Priority is given to applications submitted to bring international researchers to the U.S.

Travelers are expected to remain in the host country a minimum of four (4) days and a maximum of ten (10) days, during which time they will engage in collaborative activities. Travelers participating in conferences are expected to stay for the duration of the conference, as well as engage in collaborative activities before and/or after the conference.

The traveler's activities must be related to disability and rehabilitation research. The areas of disability and rehabilitation research are defined in the long range plan of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Eligibility:

  1. U.S. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) of Higher Education:

    CIRRIE exchange grants are available for U.S. minority serving institutions of higher education that wish to invite researchers from other countries to the U.S. for collaborative activities related to rehabilitation/disability research. U.S. Department of Education designations for Minority Serving Institutions of Higher Education: Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Minority Postsecondary Institution (see a list of accredited Minority Serving Institutions).

  2. U.S. MSI-Based Travelers

    CIRRIE exchange grants are available for U.S. MSI-based researchers (including faculty and graduate students) in rehabilitation programs for travel to other countries to engage in collaborative activities related to rehabilitation/disability research.

Financial Contribution:

CIRRIE support is for travelers' airfare, lodging, meals, and conference registration, if applicable. Honoraria, if any, are the responsibility of the hosting organization. Though not required, CIRRIE welcomes applications for travelers to participate in collaborative efforts with more than one host in the host country, and will cover additional airfare for this purpose.

Application:

Applications are to be submitted by the U.S. traveler from an MSI or, by the MSI hosting institution on behalf of experts from other countries.

FAQ

  • Q Is it all right to contact CIRRIE before applying for a exchange grant?
  • A Yes. As a matter of fact, we encourage dialogue prior to completing the application. You may email or call us to discuss your proposed exchange grant application.
  • Q Can I apply for grants for more than one person?
  • A Normally, CIRRIE funds one person per project/event. However, on some occasions we may be able to provide funding for two travelers. Again, we encourage you to contact CIRRIE for more information.
  • Q I am a member of a minority group and a rehabilitation researcher. Am I eligible for the MSI Exchange Grant?
  • A Only if you are a rehabilitation researcher (or faculty or graduate student) at an MSI of Higher Education.
  • Q I am not a member of a minority group. However, I am a rehabilitation researcher at an MSI of higher education. Am I eligible for the MSI Exchange Grant?
  • A Yes.
  • Q I am a student at an MSI in a rehabilitation-related program. Am I eligible for the MSI Exchange Grant?
  • A Yes, if you are a doctoral or masters graduate student. However, this program does not include funding for study abroad programs.
  • Q Can an MSI invite a graduate student to the U.S. under this exchange grant program?
  • A No. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the capacity of researchers in the U.S. Therefore, the persons invited to the U.S. should be recognized rehabilitation/disability experts.
  • Q I am a rehabilitation/disability researcher at a minority serving institution in Florida. I would like to collaborate with colleagues from Europe at an international conference in Washington, D.C. Am I eligible for this exchange grant program?
  • A Yes. This exchange grant program is for international collaboration. The collaborative activities may take place outside the U.S., or, in the context of an international conference in the U.S.
  • Q When are applications due?
  • A Applications may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed as they are received. Awards will be made on an ongoing basis. Applications should be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the date of intended travel.
  • Q Are there any restrictions on the duration of travel?
  • A The traveler must be in the host country for a minimum of 4 days. There is a 10-day maximum length of stay. Other travel restrictions are described in the Exchange Program Restrictions.
  • Q Can I remain in the host country for longer than 10 days if my expenses after 10 days are covered by other sources?
  • A Yes. If a traveler, or the traveler's home institution, or the host institution wishes to cover an additional period of time, CIRRIE welcomes such an arrangement. CIRRIE's 10-day limit on expenses is dictated solely by the limitations of its funding.
  • Q We want to invite someone to speak at a major conference, but the conference only lasts 2 days. Why must visits be for a minimum of 4 days?
  • A Although conference presentations are a valuable form of international collaboration, for the purposes of the CIRRIE exchange grant program, they should be coupled with other forms of collaboration before and/or after the conference.
  • Q How are expenses paid for grant recipients?
  • A International and U.S. travelers each receive a letter from CIRRIE that explains how to make travel arrangements with our designated travel agent and the process for reimbursement for other travel-related expenses (i.e., lodging, meals and incidental expenses, conference registration, taxi fare).
  • Q What is the difference between the CIRRIE MSI Exchange Grant and the other Exchange Grant described on this website?
  • A For this exchange grant, only U.S. minority serving institutions of higher education are eligible to host international researchers. U.S. travelers to other countries must be researchers (including faculty and graduate students) affiliated with U.S. minority serving institutions of higher education. The other exchange grant is open only to OSERS's grantees, as U.S. hosts, and to U.S. rehabilitation researchers as U.S. travelers. There are other differences described on the applications and on the travel restriction pages.
  • Q Who do I contact for more information?
  • A CIRRIE
    Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange
    State University of New York at Buffalo
    515 Kimball Tower
    Buffalo, New York 14214-3079 U.S.A.
    Fax: (716) 829-3217
Last revised: 7/14/08