fulbright research grant countries

The 2025-26 Competition is now open. Applications must be submitted by the national deadline of October 8, 2024 at 5pm ET.

Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program .

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program .

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org .

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program .

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FULBRIGHT UPDATE: UKRAINE AND RUSSIA

We are currently supporting Ukrainian and Russian Fulbrighters who continue to carry out their programs in the United States. The Fulbright Program is actively monitoring the situation and hope to continue future programming in the region when circumstances allow.

2023 Fulbright HSI Leaders Announced

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Grant programs for studies, research and professional development between finland and the u.s..

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. We promote the exchange of knowledge and professional talent through educational contacts between Finland and the United States. We design and manage study and research scholarships, leadership development programs and internationalization services in collaboration with a range of government, foundation, university and corporate partners on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Explore Fulbright Opportunities

Which type of fulbright is for you, professional, higher education institution, u.s. citizens.

Please review Fulbright U.S. Student eligibility requirements . Note that requirements may differ depending on the program or country.

The Fulbright Study/Research Award is the traditional award opportunity for a candidate to design a proposal to pursue coursework or undertake independent research in a specific country. Applicants for Study/Research Awards design their own projects and will typically work with advisers at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education. Program requirements vary by country. Some countries have awards at specific institutions or in specific fields.

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program places recent graduates and young professionals as English teaching assistants in primary and secondary schools or universities overseas, improving foreign students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the United States while increasing the U.S. student’s own language skills and knowledge of the host country. ETAs may also pursue individual study/research plans in addition to their teaching responsibilities.

The Fulbright-National Geographic Award Program is seeking proposals that undertake an in-depth examination of globally relevant issues as an add-on to the Fulbright Open Study/Research project. Funded projects will incorporate science, storytelling, and/or education, and must align with one or more of the Society’s five focus areas: Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human History and Cultures, or Human Ingenuity. This award is made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the National Geographic Society.

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program , sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States.

Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health give medical students and graduate students interested in global health the opportunity to conduct research in public health and clinical research in resource-limited settings. Fellows spend nine months in one of nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, or South America. This Fellowship is offered in partnership with the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institute of Health.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program  sends U.S. scholars and professionals to approximately 130 countries, where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. Current faculty, administrators, and experienced professionals are encouraged to apply. Postdoctoral candidates are encouraged to apply for postdoctoral awards. Click here to review Fulbright U.S. Scholar eligibility requirements.

The Fulbright Specialist Program , a short-term complement to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, sends experienced U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants and engage in education and/or training activities for a period of two to six weeks. Specialists are hosted by a range of overseas institutions, including insitutions of higher education, government institutions, cultural institutions, non-governmental organizations, and medical institutions. Note that eligibility for the Fulbright Specialist program may differ from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar guidelines.

The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship  provides opportunities for U.S. early- and mid-career professionals and practitioners to serve in placements in a foreign government ministry or institution around the world. Fulbright Public Policy Fellows build mutual understanding and contribute to strengthening the public sector while cultivating public policy experience in their area of expertise. The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship also includes an independent research component that focuses on an issue related to the Fellow’s in-country work. Note that eligibility for the Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship may differ from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar guidelines.

Fulbright Amazonia brings together applied researchers from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, the United States, and Venezuela to collaborate on action-oriented research with the goal of securing a sustainable Amazonian Basin. Working in multidisciplinary research teams, Fulbright Amazonia Scholars will explore socially relevant research questions and participate in group seminars and exchanges to inform actionable project outcomes and policies, directly improving the quality of life of communities throughout the Amazonian Basin.

The Fulbright Arctic Initiative  supports scholars, researchers, and professionals from Arctic Council member countries to carry out collaborative research on public policy questions related to the unique challenges of the Arctic region. The goal is to create a network to stimulate international collaboration on Arctic issues while increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

The Fulbright International Education Administrators  (IEA) Awards provide international education professionals and senior higher education officials an opportunity to engage in a two-week intensive seminar to learn about the host country’s education system and establish networks of U.S. and international colleagues.

The Fulbright Distinguished Scholar  awards are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Candidates should be senior scholars and have a significant publication and teaching record.

The Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of modern foreign language and area studies in the U.S. by providing opportunities for scholars to conduct research abroad.

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program sends U.S. primary and secondary school teachers abroad for three to six months to pursue individual projects, conduct research, take courses for professional development, and share their expertise with local teachers and students. There is a short-term program option (two-six weeks) that sends expert U.S. teachers to support projects identified by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions in schools, teacher training colleges, government ministries, and educational non-governmental organizations.

The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program is a professional development fellowship for elementary, middle, and high school teachers from the United States to participate in a program aimed at globalizing U.S. classrooms. The fellowship includes an online professional development course, a Global Education Symposium held in Washington, D.C., and a two-to-three-week international field experience.

The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program  provides short-term study and travel seminars abroad for U.S. educators in the social sciences and humanities for the purpose of improving their understanding and knowledge of the peoples and cultures of other countries.

The Fulbright-Hays–Group Projects Abroad Program  provides grants to support overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for teachers, students, and faculty engaged in a common endeavor.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program  sends U.S. scholars and professionals to approximately 130 countries, where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. Current faculty, administrators, and experienced professionals are encouraged to apply. Postdoctoral candidates are encouraged to apply for postdoctoral awards.  Click here to review Fulbright U.S. Scholar eligibility requirements.

Fulbright Amazonia  brings together applied researchers from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, the United States, and Venezuela to collaborate on action-oriented research with the goal of securing a sustainable Amazonian Basin. Working in multidisciplinary research teams, Fulbright Amazonia Scholars will explore socially relevant research questions and participate in group seminars and exchanges to inform actionable project outcomes and policies, directly improving the quality of life of communities throughout the Amazonian Basin.

Non-U.S. Citizens

Eligibility for the Foreign Fulbright Program varies by country and the specific program for which you are applying. Please contact your binational Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy for more detailed information.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program  enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to research and study in the United States for one year or longer at U.S. universities or other appropriate institutions. Application details and grant terms for the Fulbright Program vary by country of citizenship and program. Potential applicants should consult individual  country pages for program availability and contact information or to see a list of current programs. For prospective applicants from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the UAE, West Bank and Gaza, or Yemen, please see this page  for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program places early career educators as FLTAs at U.S. colleges and universities —improving U.S. students’ foreign language abilities and knowledge of other countries. U.S. schools can apply to host FLTAs in over 30 languages. U.S. campuses enhance the teaching of languages and expose students to a true understanding of people of different nations.

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program provides grants to foreign scholars to conduct postdoctoral research or teach at U.S. institutions for periods ranging from an academic semester to a full academic year.

Fulbright Amazonia will bring together applied researchers from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, the United States, and Venezuela to collaborate on action-oriented research with the goal of securing a sustainable Amazonian Basin. Working in multidisciplinary research teams, Fulbright Amazonia Scholars will explore socially relevant research questions and participate in group seminars and exchanges to inform actionable project outcomes and policies, directly improving the quality of life of communities throughout the Amazonian Basin.

The Fulbright Arctic Initiative supports scholars, researchers, and professionals from Arctic Council member countries (Canada; the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands; Finland; Iceland; Norway; Russia; and Sweden) to carry out collaborative research on public policy questions related to the unique challenges of the Arctic region. The goal is to create a network to stimulate international collaboration on Arctic issues while increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

The Fulbright-National Archives Heritage Science Fellowship , a component of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, provides an opportunity for a Fulbright visiting scholar to connect with National Archives and Record Administration scientists and experts while conducting research at the National Archives and Record Administration’s Heritage Science Research and Testing Lab in College Park, Maryland. This fellowship is made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the National Archives and Records Administration. The award was established to support archival science education, conservation, and research.

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (S-I-R) Program is a unique Fulbright Scholar Program initiative that is specifically driven by the goals of U.S. institutions of higher education to enhance internationalization efforts on their campuses. Through the S-I-R Program, institutions host a scholar from outside of the United States for a semester or full academic year to teach courses, assist in curriculum development, guest lecture, develop study abroad/exchange partnerships, and engage with the campus and the local community.

The Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF) provides funding for campuses, especially Minority Serving Institutions, community colleges, small liberal arts colleges, women’s colleges, and art Colleges, and geographically underrepresented institutions, to host Fulbright Visiting Scholars already in the United States for short-term speaking engagements. The OLF award is designed to enrich both institutions and Visiting Scholars through lectures that promote academic disciplines and cultural understanding.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides 10 months of professional enrichment and non-degree graduate-level study in the United States for accomplished mid-level professionals from designated countries. Fellows are nominated by U.S. Embassies or Fulbright Commissions based on their potential for leadership and a demonstrated commitment to public service. The fellows are placed in groups by professional field at selected U.S. universities offering specially designed programs of study and training.  This growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in fields of critical importance to advance societal and institutional capacity, promote human rights and freedoms, ensure sustainable environments, and develop thriving communities.

The  Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program  brings international educators to the United States for a six-week professional learning program featuring academic seminars at a host university and co-teaching placements at U.S. primary and secondary schools. Fellows observe classrooms, team-teach, and share their expertise with educators and students at the host university and at a variety of public, private (secular or faith-based), or charter schools. Participants also take part in civic and cultural activities in their host communities.

The  Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers brings international primary and secondary educators to the United States for a four-month program to complete an individual or group project; take courses for professional learning at a host university; and observe, collaborate, and share their expertise with U.S. colleagues in public, private (secular or faith-based), or charter schools.

Fulbright Amazonia  will bring together applied researchers from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, the United States, and Venezuela to collaborate on action-oriented research with the goal of securing a sustainable Amazonian Basin. Working in multidisciplinary research teams, Fulbright Amazonia Scholars will explore socially relevant research questions and participate in group seminars and exchanges to inform actionable project outcomes and policies, directly improving the quality of life of communities throughout the Amazonian Basin.

The  Fulbright-National Archives Heritage Science Fellowship , a component of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, provides an opportunity for a Fulbright visiting scholar to connect with National Archives and Record Administration scientists and experts while conducting research at the National Archives and Record Administration’s Heritage Science Research and Testing Lab in College Park, Maryland. This fellowship is made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the National Archives and Records Administration. The award was established to support archival science education, conservation, and research.

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Fulbright Scholar Grant (including Inter-Country Travel Grant)

Apply now through September 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. PST

Program description

Are you interested in a visiting lectureship and/or doing research in Germany? The country offers a vast and varied research landscape, including more than 400 universities. Excellent research and teaching takes place all over Germany. If you are postdoctoral faculty our lecture and research grants offer you a wide selection of institutions with which to collaborate. To foster your networks as well as your academic and intercultural outreach additional funds can be made available through the Inter-Country Travel Grant for invited university lecture tours within Germany or in neighboring European countries.

As a rule, the lecture and research grants are awarded for a continuous stay in Germany of three to eight months, beginning between September and April 1.  In addition, you may also apply for a „flex grant“ which allows you multiple, short-term stays in Germany over a period of one or two years, preferably during the German fall or spring semesters.

For Scholars (Professors) ONLY

Who can apply.

Postdoctoral scholars with adequate academic experience in teaching and/or research who propose projects in cooperation with a German host institution, usually a traditional research university, university of applied sciences -- Fachhochschule, or a non-university research institute.

In the interest of German students and teachers, who benefit greatly from U.S. lecturing methods, Fulbright Germany encourages applications from scholars with lecturing projects, or research schemes that also include lecturing components.

Fulbright Germany strives to embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of its work. Applications are open to all individuals regardless of their race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity.

Requirements

• US citizenship; applicants with US-German dual citizenship are not eligible
• Higher education faculty with high level of teaching/research performance (PhD or other terminal degree is required)
• A consistent and focused plan for the intended research and/or lecture project, as well as the German language skills required to be able to fully perform the project
• A meaningful letter of invitation from the intended German host institution
• Demonstrated willingness to actively engage in academic and cultural exchange between Germany and the US through shared interests and joint activities

 Additional requirements for application for “flex grant”: 

• Minimum total grant period is four months, maximum total grant period is six months
• Minimum length for any grant segment is one month and the maximum is three months 
• Two or three grant segments may be spread over one or two consecutive years

Grant benefits

• Stipend of currently Euro 3.000/month or Euro 3.600/month (depending on academic seniority)
• Health insurance
• One-time international roundtrip travel allowance
• Other benefits include a monthly family allowance for grantees accompanied by their spouse and/or family, participation in Fulbright orientation or midyear meeting (if within grant period), the administrative support through Fulbright Germany, and access to the international network of Fulbright grantees and alumnae:i, and Intercountry Lectureship Grant benefits, if applicable.

Application procedure & deadlines

The application cycle usually opens in April and ends in September. Please check out the general Fulbright scholar information and application instructions provided on the Institute of International Education (IIE) Fulbright Scholar Program website .  For preliminary guidance about the Fulbright Scholar grant in Germany, you might want to check here .

All applications will be reviewed by special selection committees, with the final assessment made by a selection panel in Germany. Grant nominations are made after the completion of the award competition and depending on funds available.

Please note Fulbright Germany’s data protection declaration .

American Programs Fulbright Germany Lützowufer 26 10787 Berlin Germany E-mail contact

Other programs for undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S.

Berlin Capital Program

Program dates: online April - July 2024 and in Germany September 14 - 21, 2024 (application period for 2024 has ended)

Study in Germany: Open Study/Research Award

Apply now through October 10, 2023, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Young Professional Journalist Program

Seminar for US Administrators in International Education

Fulbright Specialist Program

Apply now through May 15, 2024

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SLU Students Receive Fulbright Recognition

Saint Louis University has one finalist for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and one alternate for a Research/Study Award.  

Grace Almgren, left, received an English Teaching Assistant and will be teaching in Spain. Anuj Gandhi, who applied for a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Grant, was named a research/study alternate. Photos submitted .

Grace Almgren received an English Teaching Assistant and will be teaching in Spain. The research/study alternate is Anuj Gandhi, who applied for a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Grant. An alternate is a candidate who can be promoted to Finalist status if additional funding becomes available.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. In partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers opportunities to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. 

Almgren is a biomedical engineering major with minors in mathematics and Spanish. She will be working as an English Teaching Assistant, assisting teaching staff at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, vocational and/or university level for up to 16 hours per week, with an additional two hours for planning and coordination meetings. 

Responsibilities include assistant-teaching, in English, subjects such as social studies, science and technology, art, physical education, and English language. Other activities include directing conversation groups, in some cases with school staff, and leading special programs such as Global Classrooms (Model UN) and Speak Truth to Power (STTP). ETAs are also expected to engage with their host community actively.

Gandhi applied for a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Grant. The Fulbright-Nehru Student Research grant provides its recipients the opportunity to conduct individually designed research projects in India. Gandhi is a psychology major and proposed an independent study investigating the effects of globalization-based acculturation on mental health and treatment attitudes in Indian youth.

Both students were supported by the Competitive Scholarships and Fellowships Office at SLU. The office supports all SLU students who are interested in applying for competitive national grants, including graduate students and recent alumni. A select list of options is available on the office’s website . Any student interested in learning more can fill out a brief survey and will be contacted by our office.

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• SFA’s Fraser Named Fulbright Scholar

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Sfa’s fraser named fulbright scholar.

Dr. Roslyn Fraser, associate professor of sociology in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Anthropology, Geography and Sociology, has been named Fulbright Scholar for the 2024-25 academic year.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Dr. Roslyn Fraser, associate professor of sociology in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Anthropology, Geography and Sociology, has been named Fulbright Scholar for the 2024-25 academic year. The Fulbright Program, the United States government’s flagship program for international educational and cultural exchange, selects university faculty members and professionals to conduct research, teach and produce artistic and professional projects in other countries in an effort to find solutions to challenges facing our world. As a Fulbright Scholar, Fraser will spend 10 months beginning this August in Port Louis, Mauritius — an island in the Indian Ocean — to work on her research and teach graduate courses at the University of Technology, Mauritius. “It is an honor to be selected to travel to another part of the world to represent our university, our country and the discipline of sociology,” Fraser said. “That level of recognition has real weight to it. It feels like being told ‘You’re doing good things. Keep it up.’” Fraser’s research examines women’s international labor migration through a qualitative study of the experiences of Bangladeshi women working in the Mauritian garment sector. Fraser’s previous research studies have taken place in villages in rural Bangladesh, with a focus on women’s work and family dynamics as people emigrate abroad for work. The Fulbright Program will allow her to see the other side of workers’ experiences by traveling to a country where Bangladeshi workers are going as labor migrants. “I first became interested in Mauritius after looking at some migration data out of Bangladesh,” Fraser said. “I noticed large waves of women migrating there for industrial jobs in clothing factories.” Fraser’s fascination with cultural differences and immigration comes from stories of her parents immigrating to the United States from Australia four-and-a-half months before Fraser was born. Fraser said she learned a lot by seeing the world through their eyes. Along with teaching graduate courses, Fraser also will help the host university develop their graduate school and serve as an advisor for a doctoral candidate during their studies. “It is widely understood that PhD training in the United States is very rigorous, so universities in middle- and lower-income countries seeking to grow their own graduate studies like to collaborate with U.S. faculty members as they develop local programs,” she said. Fraser credits a small list of female faculty mentors she’s worked with throughout the years for changing her perception of the Fulbright Program’s accessibility, which she thought of as obtainable only for Ivy League faculty members. “I remember clearly a philosophy professor who took the time to sit down and explain the Fulbright to me and how the application worked,” Fraser said. “She made it feel attainable, despite how much work it would be. By the end of the conversation, I thought, ‘Oh! I can probably do this. Why not!’ If not for people like her and my other mentors, my life would look very different today.” According to the Fulbright Scholar Program’s website, the program was established by Congress in 1946 to increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between people of the U.S. and those from other countries. For more information about the Department of Anthropology, Geology and Sociology, visit the department's website .  ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at the SFA website .

Earth, Environment and Society Professor Is a 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Scholar

Dr. Thomas Hickson, a professor in the Department of Earth, Environment and Society in the College of Arts and Sciences, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in geology to Spain for the 2024-25 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Hickson will be working at the Institute of Geosciences in Madrid. This is one of many institutes that constitute the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Superior Council of Scientifc Investigation) of Spain. His project focuses on the evolution of early life on Earth and on other planets. The evidence for this life can be found in microbialites, rocks that formed under the influence of microbial metabolic processes. Hickson will work with Spanish geoscientists to investigate ancient lake deposits that host microbialites, mainly located in the southern Pyrenees Mountains.

He plans several field campaigns to collect specimens that he will then analyze using scanning electron microscopy, standard transmitted light microscopy, and chemical techniques to characterize the microbialite textures, morphologies, and chemistry. Results from his work can be used by NASA and other scientists in their exploration for evidence of early life on Mars and other planetary bodies.

Hickson also plans on working with Spanish colleagues on other projects of shared interest and he hopes to share some of his teaching expertise with instructors at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

“I am really fired up to work with a number of Spanish geoscientists in the Madrid area,” Hickson said. “They have been doing amazing work to understand the role that microbes play in the formation of minerals and I really hope to learn so much from them.”

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.

“Over my academic career I have tried to meld my love of the Spanish language and culture with my science,” Hickson explained. “It started with fieldwork in Peru when I was in my 20s. It carried forward into my master’s degree with a project in northern Mexico and it continues now that I’m at St. Thomas, having co-led a study abroad course in southern Spain. I am now working on developing a research project in Chile that complements the work that I propose to undertake when I’m in Spain during the Fulbright. All of this work informs my teaching and undergraduate research partnerships. I sincerely hope that this will be the beginning of further collaborations."

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

Over 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants – recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals – participate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad each year.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide. 

In the U.S., the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.  For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org .

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VASCI student Becca Yen presented at the Undergraduate Research Conference

Title: Neoliberal Globalization and the Transformation of Agriculture: Case Studies from Developing Nations

Abstract: Since the 1980s, international organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued loans tied to structural adjustment program (SAPs), which required developing countries adopt economic policies aimed at reducing trade barriers and opening labor markets. These policies often included reduced public spending, privatization of services, dismantling state enterprises, and lowering import tariffs. While industrialized countries benefited greatly from open markets, developing nations became overrun by large corporations and small farmers were unable to compete in global markets. Today, many developing nations have been transformed into major exporters of agricultural products, largely to the benefit of developed nations. Under this façade of “development” and “efficiency,” the very nature of agriculture has transformed from an industry that serves communities to one that provides profits to corporations and foreign entities. Today, many of the global poor are left unable to sustain themselves at the most basic level: farming for food.

Veterinary and Animal Sciences

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