§3508 Fellowships

Summary

The President can give up to twenty fellowships each year to people who show exceptional skill in fields the Institute picks, like science, technology, economics, or social studies. Each fellowship can last up to two years and can be renewed for up to two more years. The awards must cover many different disciplines and backgrounds and follow rules the President sets with advice from the Council. Up to ten awards a year can go to non-U.S. citizens. People who get them are called Institute Fellows. The President can assign Fellows to work in the United States or abroad to help the Institute’s goals. Pay is set by the President but cannot exceed the highest rate under the General Schedule in section 5332 of title 5. The President can also provide travel, housing when assigned outside one’s home country, subsistence or per diem, and health or accident insurance for Fellows and their dependents while doing authorized work. Fellows are generally not considered U.S. government employees, except they are treated as employees for workers’ compensation under chapter 81 of title 5 and for tort claims under chapter 171 of title 28. U.S. citizen Fellows are treated as Government employees for the purposes of sections 202, 203, 205, 207, 208, and 209 of title 18. Non‑U.S. participants and their dependents may be admitted to the United States as nonimmigrants under section 1101(a)(15) of title 8, under rules made by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.