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EFF Terms and Conditions

Before applying, make sure you read the terms and conditions you and your institutions will need to agree upon:

Selection Criteria

Applicants for the Enrico Fermi Fellowship will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

Quality of the candidate

  • Academic excellence and relevant competencies.
  • Research track record and evidence of original scientific contributions.
  • Preparation and alignment with the proposed project.
  • Quality and complementarity of the proposed research groups.

Quality of the project

  • Coherence and plausibility of the proposed project.
  • Clarity of the theory–experiment cross-training and its added value.
  • Feasibility and soundness of the proposed methodology.
  • Fit of the project within the scientific context of the involved research group(s).
  • Relevance and originality of the research topic.
  • Scientific depth and potential to address major conceptual questions.

Funding Information

The awarded funds will be used only to fund the specific projects selected as part of the EFF program, not for coursework or other unrelated responsibilities. The selected candidates will be entirely dedicated to research.

The awarded funds will be transferred to the hosting institution. Under no circumstances will the funds be transferred to the student directly. 

Budget Constraints

Each application must include a formal budget that specifies how the funds will be used and ensures that funds support only the proposed research. In particular, no more than 10% of that budget can go towards travel and lodging.

The funds allocated to the supervisors cannot be used for Capital Expenditures. In general, Capital Expenditures include items with an individual value equal to or greater than 5,000 USD (or foreign currency equivalent), which have a “useful life” of more than one year. Multiple equipment items purchased separately but used only in aggregate to perform a business function (e.g., individual components of what is effectively a single lab instrument) are also considered Capital Expenditure.

Expenses Report

Awardees will report on their activities and expenses annually and provide a detailed final report at the close of the fellowship. Also the supervisors research funds will be included in the reports.

Overheads

The hosting institution can claim a maximum of 10% of the fellowship as overhead to cover administrative costs. The details on how these overhead funds will be used by the hosting institution must be declared in the institution statement and can be used to pay expenses of the following kind (the list is indicative):

  • Rent, utilities (including phone and internet), maintenance, insurance (e.g., general liability, cybersecurity, and media liability), and other general facilities costs.
  • Clerical, administrative, legal, technical, information technology, and accounting services.
  • General use office equipment, lab instruments, or equipment not 100% dedicated to the grant or project.
  • Printers, mail services, and miscellaneous office supplies.

Acknowledgement

If you are awarded an EFF any Acknowledgment in any publication shall include the following:

“<Name> acknowledges support by grant #63132 from the John Templeton Foundation, as recipient of an Enrico Fermi Fellowship awarded through the Center for SpaceTime and the Quantum. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the respective funding body.”