ARTICLE 1: Validity, Suspension and Termination
1.1 Validity
1.11 The project is valid for one year from the date of approval.
1.12 Validity period refers to the implementation period if the implementation period exceeds one year.
1.2 Suspension
If the project must to be suspended for any reason, the suspension 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 (only applies to the scientific research fund).
1.3 Termination
1.31 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.
1.32 The project will automatically terminate if the scholar has not arrived at MEL prior to the stated project deadline.
Article 2: Support Tiers
2.1 Living allowance
2.11 Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Allowance (including "Zhengzhong" Distinguished Visiting Fellowship) is 40,000 Yuan/month;
2.12 Senior Visiting Fellowship Allowance is 20,000 Yuan/month;
2.13 Young Scientist Visiting Fellowship Allowance is 10,000Yuan/month.
The scholar may receive up to 6 months of living allowance. The allowance listed above is given in gross amounts (tax should be deducted), and is ONLY applicable to the period of time when the scholar is physically at MEL.
2.2 Travel expenses
One round-trip international (domestic) air ticket (economy class).
2.3 Accommodations
2.31 Xiamen University accommodation per diem amounts: Distinguished Visiting Scholar ≤500 Yuan/day; Senior Visiting Scholar ≤ 400 Yuan/day; Young Scientist ≤ 300 Yuan/day. Maximum up to 3,000 Yuan/month for any scholar.
2.32 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 these.
2.33 Scholars can live in apartments on campus (3000 Yuan/month) or hotels off campus.
2.4 Research Funds
Young Visiting Scholars can apply for a maximum of 20,000 Yuan in research funds.
ARTICLE 3: Reimbursement and Research Fund Uses
3.1 Scholars shall work at MEL a minimum of 3 successive days in order to be eligible for the living allowance claim.
3.2 Scholars shall handle expense reimbursements by themselves or via their MEL partners. Stepwise this involves: 1. Getting bills & papers signed by the scholar—2. Turning these into the program secretary—3. Get them examined and signed by the MEL fund administrator—4. Turn them into the financial department for reimbursement.
3.3 Use of the research funds (for Young Scientist Fellowship only)
3.31 The use of research funds shall be in strict accordance with the budget and meet the financial criteria of Xiamen University.
3.32 Research funds can only be used within Xiamen University.
3.33 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 scholars for attending meetings.
3.34 Travel expenses refer to expenses other than the initial round trip airfare (arrival/departure) for Young Visiting Scholars.
3.35 Experimental materials and small equipment can be bought while scholars are in Xiamen, otherwise they must be approved by the Fellowship Committee in advance.
3.36 Sample measuring expenses refers to the expenses of using MEL's public equipment.
3.37 This fund can cover the layout fee of papers only if acknowledgment is given to the fellowship in the paper.
3.38 At the end of the project, all remaining funds, experimental materials and small equipment must be returned to MEL. They can be passed on to his/her MEL collaborative partner.
Article 4: Logistics
4.1 Scholars can directly contact their MEL partners to make visitation plans. The MEL administrative office can assist with visas if needed.
4.2 The MEL Administrative Office can help reserve on-campus apartments for scholars. Hotels off campus shall be reserved by their collaborative (MEL) partners.
4.3 The MEL Administrative Office can help arrange office space, and collaborative (MEL) partners shall help to procure lab space.
4.4 The scholar's collaborative partner shall help procure a XMU e-card.
4.5 The scholars' academic lectures and academic exchanges are arranged together by the collaborative (MEL) partner and the program secretary.
4.6 Matters not mentioned herein can be discussed with the collaborative (MEL) partner and MEL administrative office.
Article 5: Responsibilities of scholars
5.1 Within the project validity period, the accumulative working time of the scholar in the MEL lab shall be no less than 1 month (30 days).
5.2 The scholar and his/her collaborative partner shall work according to the research plan.
5.3 A scientific seminar for Xiamen University faculty and students held during the project period, and a report of conclusions (on-line form) completed by the scholar and his/her partner within 30 days of the end of the project are required.
Article 6: Insurance
All visitors 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
7.1 Research outcomes and patents supported by the fellowship shall belong to MEL and the scholar's affiliated institution.
7.2 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 2016; the MEL Visiting Fellowship Committee has the final interpretation.
State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (Xiamen University)
June 2016
