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Research Visits to ICSI

A Brief History of ICSI's International Visitor Program

International cooperation is a key component in ICSI research. ICSI is comprised of research scientists from all over the world working together with faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and support staff on a large assortment of projects.

ICSI was inaugurated in 1988, and has had active international visitor programs with several countries since then. Its current international sponsors include Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Finland. German support of the Institute is provided by a government-industry consortium and organized by a sponsoring association the Förderverein. Spanish support of the Institute is provided by the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (MEC), the Spanish Education and Science Ministry (see here for their current call for project proposals). Swiss support is now organized by the Interactive Multimodal Information Management Research Network (IM2). In a new program, Finnish support is provided by the National Technology Agency of Finland (TEKES) .

In addition to these programs, ICSI often hosts visiting researchers from all over the world who are affiliated with specific research projects at ICSI. Previous visitors have come from Europe and Asia, as well as from universities and research institutes within the United States.

Information for International Visitors coming to ICSI

This is a brief summary of the process international visitors must go through in order to come to ICSI. US Immigration Laws have changed in recent years, so even if you have visited the US in the past, this information could be important to you. The process starts with the application for the DS-2019 (needed for all J-1 visas). Also, please be sure to read ICSI's Housing Information and Questionnaire, which you should receive from ICSI once you have been selected for a research visit.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has established the J-1 visiting scholars visa program for research visitors. US Consulates request that scholars traveling to the US for research stays apply for a J-1 visa, and all accompanying family members are required to have their own J-1 visa. This process typically takes a minimum of four months.

ICSI will look for suitable housing for you. Available housing in Berkeley is in very short supply, and rentals can be taken in a matter of hours so please check your email daily for messages and respond immediately.

All J-1 visa holders, including their family members, are required to have health insurance during their stay in the US.

If you wish to have access to the UC Berkeley libraries, borrowing privileges are free to visiting postdoctoral researchers, who have received their PhDs within the past five years. If you do not qualify as a postdoctoral researcher, please inquire about library privileges after your arrival at ICSI.

By default, all visitors are supplied with a workstation running Red Hat Linux. Intel-based PCs running Windows 2000 are also available. Please let us know if you would prefer a Linux workstation, a PC or if you have any other specific hardware or software requirements. If you have any questions, please send email to:
help [Graphic] icsi.berkeley.edu

For more information on visiting Berkeley, the UC Berkeley Services for Interational Students and Scholars has set up a Practial Information page that is very informative.

Applying to be a Visitor at ICSI

ICSI Postdoc Program

This program is intended for researchers who have recently completed their doctorate or who have at least three years of experience in computer science research, and are eligible under a sponsored program (see below). Postdocs will work with the Institute staff and/or UCB faculty on current projects. Postdoctoral positions will normally be for the academic year (September to August). The financial support provided by ICSI includes a monthly fellowship and limited funds for travel and relocation expenses. Postdocs from Germany are not allowed to receive additional salary during their stay at ICSI.

Postdocs from outside the U.S. require a J-1 (exchange visitor) visa for themselves and for each member of their family who will be coming to the U.S. with them. Due to recent changes, it can take a minimum of 4 months to obtain a visa so early planning is essential. ICSI will help with visa, travel, housing and other arrangements.

Selection will be based on overall qualifications and compatibility with ICSI research plans.

For further information about ICSI please refer to the included OVERVIEW and AREAS OF RESEARCH. The ICSI Areas of Research contains a more detailed description of ongoing projects at the Institute.

To apply for a postdoctoral fellowship, please contact the appropriate person, listed below:

In Spain:

Spaniards interested in applying for this program may click here for a Spanish language version of the application.

Pedro Lizcano
Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (MEC)
Paseo de la Castellana, 160
28071 Madrid, SPAIN
Phone: +34 91 337 4545
FAX: +34 91 337 4212
E-mail: icsi [Graphic] min.es

Maria Eugenia Quintana
ICSI
1947 Center Street, Suite 600
Berkeley, CA 94704-1198
Phone: (510) 666-2992
FAX: (510) 666-2956
E-mail: mariaeu [Graphic] ICSI.berkeley.EDU

In Germany:

The ICSI program for German postdocs is administered by the Deutsche Akademische Auschtauschdienst (DAAD). Germans interested in applying for this program may click here for a German language version of the application.

Further questions should be directed to:

Maria Eugenia Quintana
ICSI
1947 Center Street, Suite 600
Berkeley, CA 94704-1198
Phone: (510) 666 2992
Fax: (510) 666-2956
E-mail: mariaeu [Graphic] ICSI.berkeley.EDU

In Finland:

Ilpo Reitmaa
National Technology Agency of Finland (TEKES)
Kyllikinportti2, Lansi-Pasilla
P.O. Box 69
FIN-00101, Helsinki, Finland
Phone: +358 10 521 51
FAX: +358 10 521 5906
E-mail: Ilpo.Reitmaa [Graphic] tekes.fi

Riku Makela
TEKES
111 West Saint John Street, Suite 500
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 971-7303
FAX: (408) 971-7277
E-mail: Riku.Makela [Graphic] tekes.fi

In Switzerland:

Prof. Herve Bourland
Director, Interactive Multimodal Information Management Research Network (IM2)
P.O. Box 592
CH-1920 Martigny, Switzerland
Phone: +41 27 721 77 11
FAX: +41 27 721 77 12
E-mail: bourlard [Graphic] idiap.ch

Prof. Nelson Morgan, ICSI
1947 Center Street, Suite 600
Berkeley, CA 94704-1198
Phone: (510) 666-2900
FAX: (510) 666-2956
E-mail: morgan [Graphic] ICSI.berkeley.EDU

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