Opportunities in U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program: Science, Technology and Innovation

Each year, the core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sponsors the research and teaching activities of approximately 800 American scholars and professionals in more than 125 countries abroad. The Fulbright Program, the flagship educational exchange program of the United States Department of State, lists among its alumni the largest number of Nobel Prize laureates of any educational program in the world.  

Recent innovations to the U.S. Scholar Program that may be of particular interest to faculty and professionals in the STEM fields include: 

• Increased stipend levels in many countries.
• Opportunities in 88 countries for Flex awards that allow the grant to be spread out over two to three years.
• Postdoctoral/early career grants in over 80 countries.

While the program is open to academics and practitioners in all fields of academic endeavor, one persistent bit of Fulbright "mythology" is that the program is not interested in applicants in the sciences. Whether referred to as STEM fields, the hard and the applied sciences, biology, physics, or earth sciences, specializations across the spectrum have been and continue to be welcome. In fact, among the opportunities included in the 2014-2015 competition there are numerous awards available in STEM fields, including: Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Global/Public Health, Medical Sciences, Engineering,Geology, Physics and Astronomy, and Environmental Sciences.

More than 50 countries in every region of the globe are offering STEM awards. They range from large programs in Brazil, Canada, India, and others, to many smaller ones, such as in Mauritius, Kosovo, and Panama. Distinguished Chair awards in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, India, Italy, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom seek scholars to pursue activities in STEM areas.  

For more information on Fulbright Scholar opportunities in the STEM fields, including scholar stories and sample projects, visit the website. For complete information on the range of Fulbright Scholar awards for faculty and professionals in all disciplines, visit www.iie.org/cies.