Fulbright Scholar Award

All Disciplines

Panama

Application Deadline
closed
Award Code
25268-PA
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
Teaching includes classroom teaching, as well as giving guest lectures, workshops, and seminars, and engaging in other related activities. Classroom teaching is typically at the undergraduate and graduate level, and courses may be designed by the scholar or prescribed by the host institution and may be taught or co-taught by the scholar. The teaching load varies by award, as well as the host institution. Scholars may also consult on building research capacity, advise graduate students, and assist with thesis advising.
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) not required
Career Profile
Artists
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in an artistic profession.
Higher Education Administrators and Executives
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of administrators or executives with a focus on the international dimensions of their campuses.
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.
Community College Faculty
Community College Faculty

Number of recipients

Approximately
2
Award Start Period
August 2025 - May 2026
Award Length
4 months - 9 months
Flex Option
Yes
Multi-Country/Area Award
No
Disciplines
Projects are sought in all disciplines
Scholars selected for this award can choose to
Advise and/or mentor students
Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
Conduct a research project designated by the host institution
Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses designated by the host institution
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses 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

Panama's academic community welcomes professionals and scholars to teach undergraduate courses, lead seminars for students and faculty, assist in curricular development, advise students and/or combine teaching with research under the teaching/research option. For teaching/research projects, candidates should plan a 60/40 ratio of teaching to research. 

Locations
Location Selection: Applicant may propose an appropriate host
Locations Detail
Award Length and Period

6 to 9 months total for non-Flex awards. 4 to 6 months total for Flex awards. (Please see the Flex Description section for additional details on Flex award parameters.)

Grants may begin any time after August 2025. For Flex grants, see Flex Option section.

All Scholars to Panama are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, which typically takes place in early to mid-July, prior to beginning their Fulbright grant.

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)
No
SEGMENTS MAY BE PROPOSED FOR Up to a 2 year PERIOD
2 or 3 Segments MAY BE PROPOSED
MAXIMUM LENGTH FOR ANY GRANT SEGMENT IS 5 MONTH(S)
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 6 MONTH(S)
MINIMUM LENGTH FOR ANY GRANT SEGMENT IS 1 MONTH(S)
MINIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 4 MONTH(S)
Areas of Interest

Research projects related to the reduction of social and economic inequality, improved quality of education in middle or high schools, and/or engagement with marginalized populations or indigenous communities are particularly welcome. 

Ciudad del Saber seeks applicants with experience in designing or managing study abroad programs.  

Special Features

Ciudad del Saber will assist scholar with finding housing and will provide a space for research, access to the internet and virtual libraries.

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

Citizenship/Residency Requirement
Not applicable – all U.S. citizens are eligible to apply, regardless of dual citizenship or residency.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation is optional.
Language Proficiency Requirements
Required (Intermediate): Spanish
Required Proficiency

Applicants must register qualified language evaluator, such as a language instructor or a translator, to conduct the external assessment in the application. Being a native speaker alone does not qualify an individual to conduct the assessment.

Applicants who are native speakers do not need to complete an external evaluation.

Level of Proficiency
Intermediate
Required Languages
Spanish
Additional Language Requirement

Intermediate to advanced Spanish is required for all institutions with the exception of: 

Ciudad del Saber: Spanish fluency is preferred but not required

Additional Qualification Information

Ph.D. is preferred, but master's degree plus relevant experience is acceptable. 

A terminal degree is not required for all affiliations.

Ciudad del Saber: A terminal degree is preferred but not required. Professionals outside of academia with experience in designing or managing study abroad programs are preferred.  

Researcher and Professional Project Monthly Allowances
$3970
$4220
Teaching or Teaching/Research Award Monthly Allowances
$4740
$5210
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

$2,550

For Flex grants: round trip travel will be included for each segment of the grant for the grantee only. Dependent travel will not be provided.

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

$1,000 books and educational materials allowance for teaching and teaching/research grants; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure. 

$300 - $500 research allowance for research grants only.

Do you offer additional dependent benefits
Yes

Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $200/month to $400/month.

In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents. These amounts range from $1,200 - $2,400.

Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.

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, Mexico, 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

Please refer to the figures above for an estimate of total monthly Fulbright award benefits. Benefits may include a monthly base stipend, living and housing allowances, and additional one-time allowances. Benefits may vary based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent), the city of placement, the type of award (teaching, teaching/research, or research), and the number of and duration of stay of accompanying dependents. Research-only or Professional Project grantees receive a standard stipend that is not adjusted for academic rank. In most cases, dependent benefits will not be provided to Flex grantees, or to grantees pursuing grants less than four months (or a semester) in length.

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 reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Panama

What is life like for Fulbrighters in your country?

The demand in Panama for visiting professionals, scholars, senior lecturers, and researchers at host institutions has increased greatly. Host institutions will benefit from their experience, different perspectives, training and educational culture and achieve the goal of establishing long-lasting partnerships.

Scholars are expected to be affiliated with a Panamanian university/institution and the award may also involve multiple affiliations. The two-semester academic year for public universities in Panama normally runs from late February/early March to July and again from August to December. For private universities, the academic year runs from January to April, May to August and the last quarter from September to December.

For teaching/research projects, candidates should plan a 60/40 ratio between teaching and research. In some cases, requested grant lengths may be adjusted at the discretion of the Fulbright Program.

Short-term flex grants for teaching, research or teaching/research for one-to-three month segments over one or two consecutive years are available. Final approval of flex grants will be contingent upon available funding. More information about Panama can be found in the World Factbook

Cases of the Zika virus have been reported in the Western Hemisphere. As you prepare your Fulbright application, we encourage you to read the information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

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