An individual is eligible to receive a fellowship if the individual—

(a)(1) Is a citizen or national of the United States; or

(2) Is a permanent resident of the United States;

(b) Is employed by an institution of higher education;

(c) Has been engaged in teaching relevant to his or her foreign language or area studies specialization for the two years immediately preceding the date of the award;

(d) Proposes research relevant to his or her modern foreign language or area specialization which is not dissertation research for a doctoral degree; and

(e) Possesses sufficient foreign language skills to carry out the research project.