Fulbright Scholar Award

All Disciplines

Brazil

Application Deadline
closed
Award Code
24456-BR
Activity Type
Professional Project
The Professional Project activity type provides professionals and artists in various fields the opportunity to interact with relevant organizations abroad to explore a topic related to their field without answering a defined research question. Professional Projects may include: professional consultations; artist residencies; visits to organizations in the applicant's field; practical experience in day-to-day operations; public lectures; mentoring; arranging exhibitions, performances or musical compilations; preparation of print materials (books, articles, or reviews); exchange of expertise with other professionals; participation in public events; or other appropriate professional activities.
Research
Research includes activities involving scientific research, qualitative research, quantitative research, and practice-based research, including artistic research. Research can take place in locations such as the laboratory, the field, the archives, or an artist residency. It can be experimental, clinical, or applied. It can include examining policies, systems, theories, methods, interactions, and works of art and music, with the objective to evaluate or develop new knowledge or works. Quantifiable (tangible) outcomes can include publications (books, journal articles, scripts, etc.), conference presentations, artistic and musical compositions, exhibitions, performances, films, and patents.
Teaching/Research
A combination of teaching and research as described above. Refer to the award description for any specifications on percentages of time that should be devoted to teaching vs research.
Degree Requirements
Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) required
Career Profile
Artists
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in an artistic profession.
Early Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for no more than seven years.
Mid-Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than seven, and less than 13, years.
Professionals
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in a particular profession.
Senior Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than 13 years.

Number of recipients

Up To
30
Award Start Period
July 2024 - November 2024 or January 2025 - May 2025
Award Length
3 months or 4 months
Flex Option
Yes
Multi-Country/Area Award
No
Disciplines
Projects are sought in all disciplines
Scholars selected for this award will be required to
Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
Conduct a professional and/or artistic project

In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities‎.

Award Activity

This award supports independent or collaborative research at Brazilian universities, research institutes, and NGOs in exceptional cases. The strategic goal of the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program in Brazil is to support the internationalization process of the Brazilian higher education system.  In this way, scholars are expected to work on their research projects and develop activities that foster students' and peers' mobility and other collaborative initiatives. Teaching activities are welcome but should not exceed three hours per week. Professionals, artists, and scholars with little or no academic or professional experience in Brazil are also encouraged to apply.

Projects involving field research among Indigenous populations or nature reserves must have authorization from the Brazilian government. Please get in touch with your host for information on necessary research clearance well ahead of time and allow at least ten months for the entire process.

For further information about this award, please visit the Fulbright Commission website.

Locations
Location Selection: Applicant may propose an appropriate host
Locations Detail

The Fulbright Commission welcomes projects in all parts of Brazil, especially beyond the urban areas of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Candidates must designate a Brazilian accredited academic institution or research institute to serve as the Brazilian host institution to develop their project. Non-profit organizations, archives, museums, governmental agencies, etc., are acceptable and may be desirable depending on the project's nature. Feel free to direct any questions to the Fulbright Commission about the eligibility of your preferred institution.

Flex candidates have the option to propose two host institutions in different parts of Brazil, one for each two-month visit, provided that the activities in each site are part of the same project.

Award Length and Period

Four months total for Flex awards, spread across two segments (2 months + 2 months). Three or four months for non-Flex awards.

Be aware that most institutions in Brazil take a recess between December and January. For Flex awards, please see the Flex Option section.

Flex Description

Flex awards allow the stay to be split into two visits of two months each between July 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. There must be a period of at least two months between the two in-country stays.

Flex candidates can propose two host institutions in different parts of Brazil, one for each two-month visit, provided that the activities in each site are part of the same project.

The Flex Award is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over two or three short segments. Applicants must select Flex in the application form, and clearly describe their plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline. Flex grantees may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host-country academic community.

Grant segments are allowed to be conducted in summer months (June, July, and August)
Yes
SEGMENTS MAY BE PROPOSED FOR Up to a 1 year PERIOD
2 Segments MAY BE PROPOSED
MAXIMUM LENGTH FOR ANY GRANT SEGMENT IS 4 MONTH(S)
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 4 MONTH(S)
MINIMUM LENGTH FOR ANY GRANT SEGMENT IS 2 MONTH(S)
MINIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 3 MONTH(S)

All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).

Citizenship/Residency Requirement
Applicants residing in the award country at the time of application or thereafter are not eligible to apply for this award.
Dual citizens of the award country are not eligible to apply for this award.
Permanent residents of the award country are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation is required.
Invitation Requirement Additional Information

We encourage candidates to contact the chosen Brazilian institution to discuss interests, project feasibility, and availability to host them for the proposed award period. If you need assistance facilitating this conversation, please reach out to the Fulbright Commission in Brazil.

Candidates should not wait until near the application deadline to contact the Brazilian institution of their choice to obtain a letter of invitation. If that will be your first time communicating with a potential Brazilian host, be aware that a response can take longer than expected. 

The letter of invitation can include:

- confirmation of the Brazilian institution's interest in hosting the U.S. scholar, professional, or artist

- confirmation that the U.S. Scholar will have access to the institution's facilities and services

- information about project feasibility in regards to language skills

- information on how the proposed project will impact ongoing activities in the Brazilian host institution and what the projections are in the long term for the research partners and their institutions.

- any further relevant information

The letter of invitation can be in Portuguese or English. If the letter is in Portuguese, please submit a translated version and the original with your application. 

Language Proficiency Requirements
None, English is sufficient. However, feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project statement (Beginner): Portuguese
Additional Qualification Information

Preference for Early-career and Mid-career Academics, Professionals and Artists.  Candidates with little or no academic experience in Brazil are encouraged to apply.

 

Additional Comments

This award is funded by CAPES, the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education.

Award Allowances

The scholar will receive a fixed sum of US$5,000 per month to cover all expenses. 

Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

Scholars who opt for two visits of two months each (Flex award) will receive a total of US$2,400 for two international roundtrip tickets. Scholars on three or four-month awards will receive US$1,500 for an international roundtrip ticket.

Do you offer additional dependent benefits
No
Estimated Cost of Living

Information on the following website can help scholars figure out the cost of living, meals, and incidentals in different capital cities in Brazil. There can be significant differences in smaller towns, with prices being less high. https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/brazil

Special Award Benefits

During their grant period, Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the Western Hemisphere (WHA) region may apply for a short-term regional travel grant for activities such as workshops, seminars, presentations, lectures, performances, exhibits, curricular advising and similar projects at institutions in eligible WHA countries. (Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, México, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay).

The Regional Travel Program covers travel to and from the destination; lodging may be offered by the host institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once they are in country on their Fulbright grant. Scholars who apply for the Flex award are ineligible for the Regional Travel Program. Additional information can be found on the Regional Travel Program website.

Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Brazil

What is life like for Fulbrighters in your country?

To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Brazil for 2024-25, please view our archived webinar and slides to hear directly from the Fulbright Commission, IIE staff and U.S. Scholar alums regarding award details, the scholar experience and application guidance.

Summary

Up to 39 awards are available in Brazil. This includes up to 30 All Disciplines awards for early and mid-career scholars, professionals, artists, and nine Distinguished Scholar Awards in all regions in Brazil. The Distinguished Scholar Awards are opportunities for mid-career and senior academics with experience in Climate Change and Environmental Risks, Medical Sciences, Ocean Governance, and Public Health Data Science.

Fulbright Interdisciplinary Network (FIN)

To promote proficuous dialogues about contemporary issues in the Brazilian context from a U.S. perspective, the Fulbright Commission and the U.S. Embassy in Brazil have created the Fulbright Interdisciplinary Network (FIN). FIN is an opportunity for Distinguished Scholars to connect with five Brazilian universities during the award period and enrich their experience through online and onsite discussions, working collaboratively with faculty, and advising students from all regions of Brazil.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, and it is similar in size to the continental United States. It is also the largest country in South America and the largest Portuguese-speaking country globally, with around 211 million people and 43% living in its Southeast region. As to ethnic background, like the United States, Brazil has a very diverse population. According to the Brazilian Statistics Bureau, Brazilians self-identify as White (42.7%), two or more races (46.8%), Black (9.4%), and of Indigenous or Asian descent (1.1%). The most important economic sectors are agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and services. In spite of poverty reduction achievements over the last decades, inequality remains at high levels in one of the world's largest democracies and economies.

After achieving universal coverage in primary education, Brazil is now struggling to improve the educational system's quality and outcomes, especially at the lower and upper secondary levels.

Brazil has a wide range of higher education institutions with over 200 universities, 3,472 master’s programs, and doctoral programs with 122,000 graduate students. There are currently over 37,000 research groups around the country, with more than 200,000 researchers. Its leading research centers in Agriculture, Energy, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, and Epidemiology attract scholars and students worldwide. Among the top 20 universities listed in the Times Higher Education 2020 ranking, 13 are from Brazil. Also, Brazil is responsible for 52% of Latin American publications in indexed journals, which places the country as fourteenth worldwide by the Scimago Journal and Country Rank.

The extended coverage of Fulbright U.S. Programs in the country has been possible thanks to the significant contributions from Brazilian strategic partners such as the Brazilian Government through the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES).

Previous Fulbright Recipients
2017-18 Study and Researcher Kainen Bell in Olinda, Brazil
2015-16 and 2019-20 U.S. Scholar John Spencer in Ilha de Marajó, Brazil
2017-18 Study and Researcher Vanessa Castaneda in Salvador, Brazil
2018-19 Fulbright U.S. Student Matthew Aruch

 

  • News from 2019-2020 U.S. Scholar to Brazil King Chung in Audiology in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba and Bauru, Sao Paulo: 

Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.