Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program for U.S. faculty offers over 400 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world. College and university faculty, as well as artists and professionals from a wide range of fields can join over 400,000 Fulbrighters who have come away with enhanced skills, new connections, and greater mutual understanding.
Website
https://fulbrightscholars.org/
Award Details
- Fulbright Scholar Awards: Opportunity for faculty to teach, conduct research, and carry out professional projects for typically 3-12 months
- Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Awards: Opportunity for experienced faculty (>7 years in their discipline or area of expertise) to teach, conduct research, and carry out professional projects for typically 3-12 months
- Fulbright Postdoctoral and Early Career Awards: Opportunity for new PhDs, postdocs, and early career faculty (received a doctoral degree within 0-5 years of the fellowship start date, typically) to teach, conduct research, and carry out professional projects for typically 3-12 months
- Fulbright International Education Administrator Awards: Opportunity for international education professionals and senior higher education officials to engage in a two-week intensive seminar to learn about the host country’s education system and network
- Fulbright Specialist Program: A unique opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in short two- to six-week, project-based exchanges at host institutions across the globe.
Mines faculty typically engage in a Fulbright Scholar grant during a sabbatical or IDA year. Be sure to plan ahead and understand your department’s timeline for submitting sabbatical requests.
News & Announcements
Ryan Richards (Fulbright to Australia, '23-'24) Selected as a 2026-2028 Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador
(February 2026) Ryan M. Richards, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry, has been selected to participate in the 12th Cohort of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Alumni Ambassador Program. Dr. Richards, who completed a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant to Australia at the University of New South Wales in 2023-2024, serves as an official representative of the Fulbright Program, with the goal of promoting international exchange at Mines and beyond.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Alumni Ambassador Program is designed to increase the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program’s visibility nationwide and expand the range of future participants through recruiting applicants, mentoring future participants, and sharing their experiences via presentations, webinars, and social media.
You can reach out to Dr. Richards at rrichard@mines.edu for peer support on your Fulbright application, in addition to Ashley Weibel, Mines’ Fulbright Scholar Liaison, at ashley.weibel@mines.edu.
Three Mines Faculty Selected for Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for 2024-2025
Kevin Cash, an Associate Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering; Juan Lucena, a Professor in Engineering, Design, and Society and Director of the Humanitarian Engineering undergraduate program; and Anuj Chauhan, a Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering, have been selected for Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards for the 2024-2025 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Application Timeline
February: Competition opens
September: Applications due
December: Applicants receive semi-finalist status
January -June: Applicants are notified of final status
June – Onward: Grants may begin
Mines Contact
Ashley Weibel, Mines Fulbright Scholar Liaision
Assistant Director, Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, University Honors & Scholars
Getting Started
Find out what is needed to get started to become a Fulbright Scholar.
Eligibility Essentials
Are you eligible to be a Fulbright Scholar?
Application Steps and Requirements
All applicants must include a Project Statement, CV/Resume, Letters of Recommendation, and a Short Essay
Additional Timeline Information
When should I start the process?
Resources
Sample Invitation Letter Email and Invitation Letter recommended content
Join an Office Hour: Office hours are an open forum for IIE staff to answer your questions live.
Fulbright with Family – Bringing Your Family
- Scholars can find support for navigating the process of traveling with dependents. Your host institution can assist you in the practicalities – finding a place to live, identifying school options for your children, integrating into the local community. Many awards include dependent support/benefits within the award. But even if they don’t, be sure to ask about options. You may wish to do this prior to applying – you can always reach out to the institution or that country’s Fulbright commission.
Register for a Webinar: Webinars allow prospective applicants to learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program opportunities
Fulbright Scholar Directory: Find Fulbright Scholars by program, discipline, country, academic year or institution
Leave and Support: Information regarding Fulbright Scholar award benefits, research leave, teaching replacements, etc.
Sign up to Fulbright Scholar Newsletters: Stay up to date through monthly emails sent out by the Institute of International Education (IIE) on behalf of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Fulbright Named Awards
Common Question: “What are the awards that have a specific university name associated with the grant title?”
Answer:
Did you know many Fulbright Scholar awards are offered in cooperation with specific universities in the host country? These awards are no less prestigious than the All Disciplines awards, and carry some unique advantages. Awards with a university name indicate that the university has a dedicated interest in hosting an American scholar, and are often contributing toward the overall support and benefits of the award. University partner awards include the names and contact information of a university administrator who can answer questions. Fulbright Austria offers over 20 university partner awards that combine teaching and research and where an invitation letter is optional or not required. Israel offers eight postdoctoral awards at specific universities across the country.
These partner universities are frequently located away from metropolitan areas, thereby offering the scholar the chance to learn about regional nuances of the host country and to meet students and fellow academics working in their discipline in that context. In some cases, these awards also feature applied research in cooperation with industry or governmental partners, such as Australia’s Fulbright Scholar Award at Curtin University, which is recognized for strong industry connections in minerals and energy and seeks applications in the geosciences and resource engineering.
The award catalog is built through a collaborative process with bi-national Fulbright Commissions and Embassies abroad. Commission may offer new awards, whether in collaboration with a specific university or in response to their own national interests and priorities. Award descriptions contain details regarding specific disciplines activities, and areas of interest for scholars to consider in relation to their own project goals.