Welcome to the Global Initiatives updates for faculty, researchers, and staff.  The newsletter presents opportunities for globally engaged research and teaching as well as celebrates the global engagement of our campus community and the partnerships we build and strengthen.  If you have global opportunities, highlights, or events to share that are relevant to faculty, researchers and staff, please email global@ucsd.edu by the 30th of each month. 

UC Alianza MX Small Grants for Conferences and Travel

UC researchers with PI status may apply for this small $5000 grant from UC Alianza MX that provides funding to present at conferences in Mexico or to host a conference, workshop or performance related to Mexico at a UC campus.  The call is issued twice a year with deadlines in June and December.
Sponsor: UC Alianza MX
Submission Deadline: June 13, 2025 for projects between September 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026

A*STAR graduate student research attachment

This program facilitates collaboration between Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore and international universities through faculty collaboration that provides PhD students from overseas universities the opportunity to spend a minimum of one to a maximum of two years at A*STAR Research Institutes under the joint supervision of A*STAR researchers and faculty members of their home universities.
Sponsor: A*STAR, Singapore
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025 and November 30, 2025

Fritz Thyssen Foundation: support for conference organization

The Fritz Thyssen Foundation based in Germany supports academic conferences organized by scholars at universities and research institutions in Germany or abroad.  The funding is intended to promote scientific exchange in the Foundation’s funding areas. Funding is typically granted for events that are international in scope, involve early-career researchers, and are connected with a German institution or with German collaborators.

Sponsor: Fritz Thyssen Foundation
Submission Deadlines: February 28, 2025; June 30, 2025 and October 31, 2025

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers over 400 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world. The 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Competition is now open. UC San Diego has a dedicated contact for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program who can help you navigate through the various awards and the award process.

UC San Diego contact: Max Reinke, mreinke@ucsd.edu

Deadline: September 15, 2025

FAQ Sheets for Federal Updates

UC San Diego has drafted responses to some of the most frequently asked questions related to federal updates as a way to keep the UC San Diego community informed in an evolving landscape.  For our community on the Health Sciences campus, there is also a new federal updates website accessed through a Health Sciences log-in.

International Scholar FAQ Sheets for International Travel

UC San Diego’s International Services & Engagement Office (ISEO) provides a dedicated FAQ page to address common questions from international scholars about international travel. This resource aims to keep the scholar community informed on current travel requirements, visa updates, and reentry guidance. The page is updated regularly to reflect evolving policies that may impact international travel to and from the U.S.

Miroslav Krstic honored as a new fellow of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)

Miroslav Krstic was honored as part of the new cohort of Fellow-Ambassadors for the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). In a program that was set up in 2023 in the academic tradition of eminent visiting professors, prestigious researchers were invited to become Fellow-Ambassadors on the recommendation of the ten CNRS Institutes. Krstic and the other Fellows have committed to spending at least one month per year for three years in one or more laboratories in France as a way to galvanize French research and to serve as examples and mentors for young French scholars and Ph.D. students.

Shaping the Future: 2025 Convene and Influence Grants

UC San Diego’s 2025 Strategic Convene and Influence Awards support initiatives aimed at fostering investigatory-led collaborations that advance areas identified in the university's strategic research themes. The grants support faculty-led convenings that span disciplines, institutions, and communities, reaffirming UC San Diego’s commitment to inclusive, socially engaged scholarship as well as demonstrating the importance of globally engaged networks and collaborations.

UC San Diego research explores food as a catalyst for social change

Scholars from UC San Diego’s School of Social Sciences are fostering interdisciplinary efforts to highlight how food can serve globally as a powerful tool for growing community, driving policy, and igniting change. Faculty and students from a wide range of social science fields are engaging in projects both in California and internationally that explore the relationships between food, identity, and social action. This includes examining the historical roots of food systems, addressing inequities in access, and curating multicultural culinary experiences to spark dialogue. 

 iWorkshop: Intro to Permanent Residency

This workshop, offered by UC San Diego’s International Services & Engagement Office (ISEO), offers a comprehensive introduction to employment-based immigration, providing an overview of the main pathways to permanent residence.

When: Monday, May 19, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Where: Zoom link once you register

Contact: iprograms@ucsd.edu for more detailed information

Global Research Agenda for Service-Learning and Community Engagement

Colleagues in the San Diego region who participate in community engagement scholarship, pedagogy, or program facilitation are invited to join a full-day, in-person working session focused on the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE)’s Global Research Agenda. Participants will contribute to the future of SLCE through collaboration with peers and help finalize the research findings that will guide the future direction of SLCE.

When: Friday, May 30, 2025, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Where: San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego

Contact: Register to confirm your interest in participating or contact Rochelle Smarr at rsmarr@ucsd.edu for more information.

Pivot-Research Professional Funding Opportunity database office hours

The Research Development (RD) team will hold Pivot Office Hours to assist campus affiliates learning to use the database. Experienced members of the RD team will be available to answer questions, provide advice and troubleshoot challenges.

When: 10:00am on the second Thursday of May, June, July, and August.

Where: via Zoom

Contact: Register here for one or multiple office hours.

Wednesday Coffee and Crafts

All faculty and staff are invited to join the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) for an informal social gathering that gives attendees a chance to meet people, make friends, and practice English with local volunteers and fellow international community members.

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2025; May 28, 2025 and June 4, 2025 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: La Jolla Community Room at La Jolla Village Square

Contact: iprograms@ucsd.edu for more detailed information

Global Initiatives welcomes delegations of senior leadership and key faculty from partner institutions, government entities and industry. Many of these visits center around potential collaborative partnerships, exchange programs, and co-sponsored research projects. Delegation visits are a great way to get your work seen and establish strong relationships with other universities. When we reach out for a meeting, we hope you’ll heed the invite!

University of Bologna, Italy

On April 25th, the University of Bologna met with faculty from Structural Engineering and visited the NHERI Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table, Powell Lab, and NDE  SHM Lab. They also had engaging discussions with faculty from European Studies, Literature, and Urban Planning.

Nanyang Technological University of Singapore

On May 5th, the Vice President of Research at Nanyang Technological University of Singapore visited campus. Professor Kuipers met with Chancellor Khosla; Samuel Ward, Vice Dean of Research for the School of Medicine; and Corinne Peek-Asa, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Additional meetings focused on cyber-security, including a discussion with HDSI and the Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity. 

Ministry of Digital Technologies, Republic of Uzbekistan

On May 2nd, the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan came to campus to discuss the newly formed Cyber University of Uzbekistan. The delegation enjoyed a tour of the Design and Innovation Building and The Basement, then discussed potential partnerships with the Center for Health Innovation, the School of Global Policy and Strategy, and HDSI.

University of New South Wales, Australia

On May 9, Vice Chancellor and President, Attila Brungs, and Alison Butt, Director of the Office of Research Strategy, from UNSW in Sydney, spent a full day on campus to discuss and explore multiple high-impact collaborations. The delegates met with faculty and leaders across UC San Diego, including Chancellor Khosla, School of Global Policy and Strategy, the Intertribal Resource Center, Structural Engineering, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Deep Decarbonization Initiative. 

April/May partnerships

The Global partnership database contains the latest information on UC San Diego’s formalized international partnerships.