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.
For teaching/research projects, candidates should plan a 60/40 ratio of teaching to research. Scholars may also engage in visiting universities and public and private institutions related to their topic of interest.
Any public or private institution in Panama, except in the Darien for security reasons.
Specific requests are associated with the following institutions (this list is not exhaustive):
6 months total for non-Flex awards. 4 - 6 months total for Flex awards. (Please see the Flex Description section for additional details on Flex award parameters.)
August 2026 and later; start date varies with institution.
All Scholars to Panama are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, which typically takes place in late June or early July in the United States, 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.
Applications are sought in all science and technology fields. In addition, the following institutions have made specific requests:
1. University of Panama (UP): Chemistry/Biochemistry. Teaching/Research; four to six months. Conduct research on carotenoids in the prevention and treatment of diseases, teach a biochemistry course at post graduate level and serve as a guide/mentor for thesis orientation (work with Dr. Murillo). Must have experience in the analysis of carotenoids in biological samples and interpretation of the results.
2. Universidad Tecnologica de Panama (UTP):
3. Universidad del Istmo: For candidates with expertise in cybersecurity (virtual program with open software) to update students and carry out research on the private sector/ Candidates with expertise on research and the necessary software to teach Industrial engineering in virtual format.
Host institutions will assist grantees in locating housing and will provide office and laboratory space, as well as internet and archive access necessary for the project.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Applicants are encouraged to consult the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) “Can-Do Statements” to determine if they are qualified.
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.
Applicants should have the proficiency sufficient to complete the proposed project. All applicants, except for those claiming native-level fluency, must submit a language evaluation.
Applicants affiliating with specific institutions (listed below) have varying language requirements as outlined:
1. UP: Spanish fluency is preferred but not required. Language of instruction is English.
2. UTP: Spanish fluency is required for the Electronic Health, Industrial Analysis, and Environmental Sciences topics. Basic Spanish is desirable but not required for the other opportunities at UTP.
3. U. del Istmo: Spanish fluency is preferred but not required.
$2,750
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.
$1,000 books and educational materials allowance; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.
$300 - $500 research allowance for research-only grants.
Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependent. These amounts range from $200/month to $400/month.
In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents. Amounts range from $1,400 - $2,800.
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.
Please visit this website to help estimate the cost of living, meals, and incidentals. Significant differences can exist in smaller towns where costs tend to be lower
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.
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.
Applicants should contact the host institution for further information:
UP: Dr. Gilberto Boutin - diciat@up.ac.pa
UTP: Aris Castillo
Applicants interested in Universidad Marítima de Panamá should contact:
Haydeé Billingslea | hbillingslea@umip.ac.pa | International affairs Office
Capitan Julio Bonilla jbonilla@umip.ac.pa
Sarah Ferguson de Cano, Established Opinion Leaders Specialist, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section; phone: (507) 317-5196