Application Information
Key Dates
The IBK 2025 application is closed. Please check back in September 2025 to apply for 2026.
2025 Applications: Recommendation Letters Deadline: Monday, December 2nd, 2024, 9am EST
Applicants Informed of Fellowship Decisions target date: February 2025
Fellowship Start Date: Sept 1, 2025
Application Criteria
- Female with Saudi Arabian citizenship
- Ph.D. earned within 6 years of program start date or will receive Ph.D. by/before program start date (September 1, 2019 - September 1, 2025)
- Have at least two accepted publications in peer reviewed journals (no first author requirement)
- Excellent command of English language
- Demonstrated ability to conduct research
- Provide two letters of reference from people able to describe your research outcomes and ability - these letters must be emailed to IBK by the individuals who write them
- Identify three MIT faculty in your research area of interest
For more information about applying, please visit our FAQ section below.
If you have additional questions, please contact us. Thank you for your interest in the Fellowship!
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the acceptance timeline?
A: Below is our typical acceptance timeline.
- October-November: Applications accepted
- December - January: Applications are reviewed by KACST and MIT
- Late January: Video interviews are carried out by MIT for top candidates
- February: All applicants are informed of their status whether accepted or not
- March - April: Accepted fellows matched with faculty
- May-August: Appointment & visa process
- September 1st: start date
Q2: Will I get to speak with the professors whose labs I'm interested in joining?
A: Yes, we ask that you do research to find three professors whose labs you might be interested in joining. We can't guarantee which lab you will join, but once you are accepted we will coordinate between you and the professor to help make a connection. If the professor has availability to consider you, then we will set up a phone call for you so you and the professor can agree if it is a good match for both of you.
Q3: Where can I find a list of MIT professors I may want to work with?
A: A good first step to find MIT faculty you may want to work with is to do a web search for your research area and "MIT." Another way to find faculty is by academic department or by special MIT Centers, Labs and Programs the faculty member may be associated with.
This link will take you to a list of MIT academic departments.
This link will take you to MIT Centers, Labs and Programs. Click on the one of interest, and then find the PEOPLE tab for faculty associated with each Center, Lab and Program.
Follow this link to browse global on campus projects and programs in which MIT researchers are working.
Q4: I don't have to upload the recommendation letters myself, instead the person who will recommend me should send it?
A: Yes. Two letters of recommendation are required. For applications to MIT programs it is typical for the person recommending to send the letter directly to the program. This way we know that they are serious about recommending you. The person sending the recommendation should be someone who can write in detail about your work as a researcher. This is an important aspect of a strong application. The recommender should upload their letter of recommendation via the link emailed to them. You can go back to your application to see if letters have been uploaded.
NOTE: Do not clear your browser cache while waiting to receive recommendation letters. The form relies on cookies to remember who you are/which application their recommendations should be attached to. Please contact ibk@mit.edu if you have any difficulties.
Q5: What are the points that can strengthen an application?
A: This year we’ve updated the application to help make this clearer. The most important parts of the application are:
- your two peer reviewed journals (and any additional journal articles you’ve published),
- your research plan for your time at MIT if you’re accepted,
- and two letters of recommendation from advisers or others very familiar with the research you’ve been working on up until now.
Being able to identify three MIT professors you’d be interested in working with is also important. You can learn about professors who might be a good match by googling different search terms relevant to your research and including “MIT” and/or the name of the department relevant to your research.
This link will take you to a list of MIT academic departments.
This link will take you to MIT Centers, Labs and Programs. Click on the one of interest, and then find the PEOPLE tab for faculty associated with each Center, Lab and Program.
Follow this link to browse global on campus projects and programs in which MIT researchers are working.
Q6: Do I have to be a first author on a journal publication to be accepted as a fellow?
A: No, being a first author is not a requirement. However, the most competitive candidates are typically recently published First Authors in Q1 journals.
Q7: Do I need to contact MIT professors whose research is a good match for my research interests?
A: No, we will contact the professors for you after you have been accepted. MIT professors get many emails every day so having us contact them is an advantage.
Q8: What if I am interested in one research group, but they don't have availability for an applicant?
A: This is why we ask you to find three different MIT professors who might be a good match for you. If the first professor we talk to doesn’t have availability in their lab, we will go to the next person on the list until we find a good match.
Q9: Will I get to talk with the PI before deciding to work with them?
A: Yes, we will arrange a video call between you and the PI.
Q10: In the application there is a section about public service, could you clarify more?
A: This section is not required, but if you have done some volunteer work or worked for the government and you would like to highlight what you’ve done, we will consider it as part of the application. Since we take the top 5 applicants, anything you add may help you compared to similar applicants.
Q11: Can you accept someone who has only one publication?
A: No, we only accept people who have two publications in peer reviewed journals. If you do not meet this criterion, we recommend you try to publish another paper and apply again next year or the year after since we know we have funding for this program until 2028.
Q12: How many candidates are accepted each year?
A: We typically accept 5 fellows each year.