Article 1: Validity, Suspension and Termination
1. Validity
The fellowship is valid for one year from the date of approval. A term must be served within the validity period.
2. Extension of project period
If the project could not finish on time for any reason, the extension application must be submitted to the Program Committee prior to the project deadline. Otherwise it will be assumed that the project has been completed and the remaining funds will be taken back. The project can be extended maximum up to 3 months.
3. Termination
3. 1 If the planned research project cannot be implemented for any reason, the scholar and his/her MEL partner must notify the Program Committee immediately to terminate the project.
3.2 The project will automatically be terminated if the scholar has not arrived at MEL prior to the stated project deadline.
Article 2: Support Tiers
1. Living allowance
1.1 Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Allowance (including "Zhengzhong" Distinguished Visiting Fellowship) is RMB 50,000 Yuan/month;
1.2 Senior Visiting Fellowship Allowance is RMB 30,000 Yuan/month;
1.3 Young Scientist Visiting Fellowship Allowance is RMB 15,000 Yuan/month.
The scholar may receive up to 6 months of living allowance. The allowances listed above are given in gross amounts (tax should be deducted), and is ONLY applicable to the period of time when the scholar is physically at MEL.
2. Travel expenses: One round-trip economy class international or domestic air ticket. Reimburse the maximum of RMB 20,000 CNY.
3. Accommodations
3.1 Hotels: Xiamen University’s accommodation per diem amounts: Professor ≤ RMB 600 Yuan/day; Associate Professor and other Scientist ≤ RMB 500 Yuan/day. Maximum up to RMB 6,000 Yuan/month for any scholar. Accommodation costs lower than the above listed per diems can be covered by the fellowship/research fund. Any accommodation costs exceeding the above listed per diems will not be covered by MEL; the scholar will be responsible for the exceeding part.
3.2 Off-campus apartments: Same as above reimbursement policy.
4. Research Funds
Young Visiting Scholar can apply for a maximum of RMB 20,000 Yuan in research funds.
(Notes: All support will be split between MEL and the applicant’s collaborative partner at MEL. Thereof 3:1 for Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Allowance (including "Zhengzhong" Distinguished Visiting Fellowship) and 1:1 for Senior Visiting Fellowship Allowance and Young Scientist Visiting Fellowship Allowance. The support tiers are implemented since its release and is only applicable to projects approved since 2024.)
Article 3: Reimbursement and Research Fund Uses
1. Scholar shall work at MEL a minimum of 3 successive days in order to be eligible for the living allowance claim.
2. Scholar shall handle expense reimbursements or via the MEL partner following the procedures: Collecting receipts and other required materials signed by the scholar => Materials checked by program coordinator (ensure arrival and departure time, working time, completeness of receipts and tickets and accuracy of the expense amount) =>Review by the MEL Int'l Affair Secretary => Send the documents for reimbursement through financial department.
3. Use of the research funds (for Young Scientist Fellowship only)
3.1 The use of research funds shall be in strict accordance with the budget and comply with the financial regulations of Xiamen University.
3.2 Research funds can only be used within Xiamen University.
3.3 Expenses related to the project, such as travel, materials, small equipment, sample measuring, field survey, and layout fee of papers can be covered with this fund. This fund does not support the scholar for meetings/conferences/symposia.
3.4 Travel expenses refer to expenses other than the initial round trip (arrival/departure) for Young Visiting Scholars.
3.5 Experimental materials and small equipment should be bought or retrofitted while the scholar is in Xiamen, otherwise they must be approved by the Fellowship Committee in advance.
3.6 Sample measuring expenses refers to the expenses related to using MEL's public equipment.
3.7 This fund can cover the layout fee of papers only if acknowledgment is given to MEL in the paper.
3.8 At the end of the project, all remaining funds, experimental materials and small equipment should not be taken away or used for other purposes and must be returned to MEL.
Article 4: Logistics
1. Travel: The scholar should contact the MEL partner to make a visit plan and reserve flight tickets by himself or herself. MEL partner can provide assist if needed.
2. Visa: The program coordinator and MEL partner will assist the scholar with the visa application if needed.
3. Accommodation: MEL partner will help to book the hotel, the off-campus aparment will be rented by the schoolar with assistance from the partner in accordance with the relevant regulations.
4. Office and Lab Space: MEL partner contact the Int'l Affair Secretary who will provide office space upon its use, and the MEL partner will help arrange lab space.
5. XMU e-card: The partner assists the scholar to apply for an e-card for on-campus acess to his/her lab and office and allow him/her to dine in the campus canteens.
6. Academic Lectures and Exchanges: The scholar contacts Int'l Affair Secretary for the academic lectures and academic exchanges.
7. Matters not mentioned herein can be discussed with the MEL partner and MEL administrative office.
Article 5: Responsibilities of scholar
1. The scholar and his/her MEL partner shall work together on the research plan.
2. A scientific seminar for Xiamen University faculty and students held during the project period, and a report of conclusions (on-line form) should be completed by the scholar and his/her partner within 30 days upon the end of the project.
Article 6: Insurance
All scholars and accompanying parties (parents, spouses, and/or children) are strongly recommended to purchase sickness and accident insurance for the duration of their stay in China themselves. Minimum coverage should provide medical benefits, a low deductible per accident or illness, expenses associated with medical evacuation to their home country, and repatriation of remains.
Article 7: Research Outcomes
1. Research outcomes and patents supported by the fellowship shall belong to MEL and the scholar's affiliated institution.
2. Papers, monographs and research reports supported by the fellowship must acknowledge the support of the Visiting Fellowship Program of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (Xiamen University).
Article 8: Others
These rules are revised and implemented in March 2024; the MEL Visiting Fellowship Committee has the final interpretation.
State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (Xiamen University)
March 2024
