Number of recipients
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.
Please note that although much of the online information provided on the host institution's website is in Spanish, most faculty in the School of Marine Sciences speak English, and the scholar will only be expected to teach in English. Detailed information about his/her tasks will be provided to candidates in a timely manner and in English after being selected, but candidates can expect to dedicate 50% of their time to teaching and 50% to research.
MARINE SCIENCE
Teaching undergraduate-level courses for third-year students earning their Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences.
The lecturer is expected to teach a course as part of the Bachelor's degree program in Marine Sciences and may be invited to give lectures on different topics related to that field:
The visiting professor will be invited to present his/her research in seminars and to attend research seminars led by the School of Marine Sciences professors. He/she will also have ample opportunity for collaboration with any of the research groups related to the field of Marine Sciences. These are included in the following research institutes and departments: IOCAG (The Institute of Oceanography and Global Change); IUNAT (The Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources); ECOAQUA (The Institute of Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosytems); SIANI (University Institute of Intelligent Systems and Numeric Applications in Engineering); and Physics Department (OFYGA group).
IOCAG
GAA (Grupo de Algología Aplicada)
GOB (Grupo de Oceanografía Biológica)
GOF (Grupo de Oceanografía Física)
QUIMA (Grupo de Química Marina)
IUNAT
AQMA (Análisis Químico Medioambiental)
BIRB (Biología Integrativa y Recursos Biológicos)
EMAP (Ecología Marina Aplicada y Pesquerías)
FEAM (Fotocatálisis y Espectroscopia para aplicaciones medioambientales)
FIMATA (Física Marina y Teledetección aplicada)
GEOVOL (Geología de Terrenos Volcánicos)
GIRMA (Interacción Radiación Materia)
ECOAQUA
*(all research groups linked here)
GIA (Grupo de investigación en Acuicultura)
BIOCON ( Biodiversidad y Conservación)
EOMAR (Ecofisiología de Organismos Marinos)
OTHER RESEARCHS GROUPS:
OFYGA (Oceanografía Física y Geofísica Aplicada).
ROC-SIANI (División de Robótica y Oceanografía Computacional)
School of Marine Sciences, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Edificio de Ciencias Básicas, Campus Universitario de Tafira, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Four months from February, 2027.
Marine Sciences: The scholar's expertise should preferably be in physical, chemical, or biological oceanography.
The ULPGC sponsors this award and, in addition to financial benefits for the scholar, offers housing advice and, if needed, assistance to find a school for dependent children. A contact will be available to help the scholar adapt to the university.
The Scholar will enjoy all the benefits and rights of a regular faculty member of the ULPGC, including access to all digital resources.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
The ULPGC welcomes scholars to seek more detailed information.
Contact: Dr. Jin Taira Alonso, Vice-rector for Internationalization, Mobility and International Projection
Email: v.internacional@ulpgc.es
Classes will be taught in English, and the Lecturer should expect students to complete all their written and oral assignments in that language. Most of the faculty of the School of Marine Sciences speak English.
The Canary Islands are a major travel destination for tourists from around Europe, and English is widely spoken as a result. However, while not required, some proficiency in Spanish is recommended for daily life.
For academic candidates: Associate or Full Professor. Assistant Professors with substantial teaching experience will also be considered.
For professionals: candidates with wide and demonstrated experience in the discipline, as well as contact with teaching, education and/or outreach programs.
Please note that candidates with dual U.S./Spanish citizenship, or candidates who are residing in Spain at the time of application or anytime thereafter, are not eligible for the Fulbright program in Spain.
€3,200 per month. This amount covers the monthly stipend, housing and living allowances.
The allowances will be paid by the Spanish Commission as a lump sum once the Grant is formalized (in Euros or in Dollars, at a conversion rate to be determined on April 15, 2026. View conversion rates).
Travel and relocation allowance for scholars: €1,300. Authorized dependents' travel allowance: €750 per person, for up to two dependents.
The allowances will be paid by the Spanish Commission as a lump sum once the Grant is formalized (in Euros or in Dollars, at a conversion rate to be determined on April 15, 2026. View conversion rates).
Scholars accompanied by dependents for at least 80 percent of the grant period will receive a monthly dependent allowance of €150 for one dependent or €300 for two or more dependents.
No tuition allowance will be provided. Both public and private schools in Spain have bilingual or English language instruction available. If needed, the ULPGC will provide assistance to find a school for dependent children.
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.
For information about the cost of living in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, see: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Las-Palmas.
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.
To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Spain, 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
Contingent upon the availability of funds, up to 11 All Discipline awards for Postdoctoral Researchers and a variety of co-sponsored awards for Senior Research, Teaching, or Teaching/Research are available. The co-sponsored awards have unique scopes and features, and detailed information can be found in each individual award description.
The U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission provides extensive support to selected candidates regarding administrative issues, such as the visa and documentation processes, and ample pre-departure and arrival information. However, assistance in establishing contacts at prospective host institutions cannot be provided.
Please note that candidates with dual U.S./Spanish citizenship or candidates who are residing in Spain at the time of application or anytime thereafter are not eligible for the Fulbright Program in Spain.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in Spain?
Although Spain may be known for its nice weather and beautiful beaches, there are many other reasons why Spain has long been held as one of the most desirable destinations for Fulbright grantees. Spain’s higher education and research institutions, technological advancement, cultural opportunities, and modern infrastructure add to the country’s appeal as one of the most popular tourist destinations. Additionally, Spain’s relatively low cost of living makes it very affordable when compared to most other countries in the EU.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Spain has the highest life expectancy out of all European Union member states, at just above 80 years, and it is the 8th safest country in which to live out of all OECD member states. In fact, 82% of Spanish citizens report that they feel safe walking alone at night (World Gallup Poll).
Spain is comprised of excellent public transportation networks throughout the country. With its metropolitan public transport systems, including metro networks, buses, and trains, it is very easy to get around cities, smaller towns, or even across the country.
If you plan to come to Spain with your family, you will love the child-friendly environment. Although the Commission cannot provide assistance with school placements, rest assured that there are many options for high-quality and bilingual education. In Spain, there are public schools, private schools (religious and international), and semi-private (concertados).
For more detailed information about Spain, please see the OECD's Spain profile.
General Information about Spanish Universities and Research in Spain
There are 76 universities in Spain, 20 of which are private. Spain's universities are increasingly focused on internationalization. By offering degree programs taught partially or entirely in English, they are attracting students from a wide variety of countries, providing viewpoints in studies and discussions that are often unique and enriching for U.S. Scholars. Depending on the award, Scholars will be afforded the opportunity to teach both undergraduate and/or graduate students and/or carry out research, and they are often invited to work with faculty on curriculum development. Research groups are usually multicultural, and English is the language predominantly used in lab settings.
The academic year in Spain broadly runs from September to June, with breaks during the Winter and Spring holidays (approximately December 22-January 6 and coinciding with the weeks surrounding and including Easter). Research activity continues in July, whereas August is a very quiet month, and many academic and research institutions are closed for all or part of the month.
Additionally, there are various national and public research institutions that, together with universities, form the basic core of the Spanish public system of scientific research and technological development in Spain. These include:
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
The Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT)
The Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII)
The Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC)
The National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA).
Researchers are usually fluent in English, although there may be wide variation in students’ English proficiency. For day-to-day life, a working knowledge of Spanish is useful, especially in smaller cities and towns. Language proficiency should be commensurate with the project's scope. Please discuss this point with your host institution in advance.
The friendly and open nature of most Spaniards will help make it easy for you to engage in multidisciplinary research groups and collaborate with your host institution. Many former Fulbright Scholars to Spain maintain and nurture the mutual engagement and joint research they initiated with their Spanish hosts while they enjoyed their Fulbright grant.
Prospective applicants may contact the Spanish Fulbright Commission for further information at: informacion@fulbright.es or by visiting https://fulbright.es/
If you wish to hear from previous US Fulbright Scholars and Researchers about their experiences in Spain, check our Fulbright Spain- Alumni Voices reel here.
Enrichment activities: Depending on the grant dates, Scholars and Researchers are welcome to participate in enrichment activities. Research seminars are organized during the Fall and Spring semesters. For reference, please take a look at an overview of the 2023 Mediterranean Research Seminar organized in Alicante and watch the video testimonials from participants, as well as the recap video of the Crossing the Strait Seminar organized in Córdoba during the Spring of 2024.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Established in 1982, the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the first such school in Spain. The experience gained since its creation, coupled with the strategic location of the Canary Islands, make it a reference center and a model in teaching marine sciences in Spain and Europe.
The School of Marine Sciences at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria offers undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programs. Specifically, the university offers Bachelor degrees in Marine Science and Master’s degrees in Marine Aquaculture, Coastal Management, Sustainable Management Fisheries, and Oceanography. Additionally, the university offers an expertise course in Coastal and Harbor Engineering (in collaboration with the Civil Engineering School and the Port Authority of Las Palmas). The university offers Ph.D. degrees in Coastal Management, Sustainable Management of Fisheries, and Oceanography.
The involvement of the faculty of the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in research, development and innovation is outstanding. Journals focusing on the impact of marine sciences in Spain list the faculty to be among the top ten centers in the country, at levels comparable to the National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO).
The faculty of the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria develop their research work through a variety of groups, including Applied Marine and Fisheries Ecology; Applied Marine Physics and Remote Sensing; Observation and Modelling of Geophysical Phenomena and Marine Processes (with research areas focusing on Mixing and Boundary Layer, Ocean Circulation and Coastal Upwelling, Applied Geophysics, Circulation and Coastal and Estuarine Pollution); Biological Oceanography; and Physical Oceanography and Satellite Oceanography (with the research areas: Marine and Coastal Meteorology Physics Applied, Applied Remote Sensing).
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 will be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.