Fulbright Scholar Award

Science, Technology and Education

Panama

Application Deadline
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Award Code
271328-PA
Activity Type
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
Not Required
Career Profile
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.
Community College Faculty
Community College Faculty

Number of recipients

Approximately
1
Award Start Period
August 2027 - December 2027
Award Length
4 months - 6 months
Flex Option
Yes
This award allows Flex. This option enables applicants to propose multiple short-term stays in the host country over two years if required by their proposed project. Refer to Flex Description below for specific parameters. Plans, goals, and rationale for Flex must be described in Project Statement.
Multi-Country/Area Award
No
Disciplines
Agriculture
American Studies
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Education
Engineering
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Studies
Geology
Information Sciences/Systems
Materials Science
Mathematics
Medical Sciences
Neuroscience
Nursing
Nutrition
Oceanography
Paleontology
Pharmacology
Physics
Psychology
Public Health
Scholars selected for this award can choose to
Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
Conduct a research project designated by the host institution
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses of the applicant’s choosing

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

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. 

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

Any public or private institution in Panama, except in the Darien for security reasons.

The following university has expressed specific interest in receiving a Fulbright candidate:

  1. Universidad del Istmo
     a) Faculty of Administrative and Financial Sciences
     b) Faculty of Education and Social Sciences
     c) Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
     d) Faculty of Law and Political Sciences
     e) Faculty of Health Sciences (specifically psychology)
Award Length and Period

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. 

Flex

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.

Flex allowed for all activity type(s) listed in award
Segments may be proposed for up to a 2 year period
2 or 3 Segments may be proposed
Grant segments are allowed to be conducted in summer months (June, July, and August)
No
Minimum segment length is 1 month(s)
Maximum segment length is 5 month(s)
Minimum total award length is 4 month(s)
Maximum total award length is 6 month(s)
*Total award length is the total length (duration) of all segments and does not include time between segments.
Areas of Interest

Applications are sought in all science and technology fields. The following institution has made specific requests:

Universidad del Istmo:

  • Interest in candidates with expertise in cybersecurity (virtual program with open software) to provide an up-to-date education in the field for these students and carry out research on the private sector
  • Interest in industrial engineering experts with knowledge of the field to teach industrial engineering in a virtual format and conduct research
Special Features

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).

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

Applicants are encouraged to consult the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) “Can-Do Statements” to determine if they are qualified.

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

Applicants must have the proficiency sufficient to complete the proposed project.

Additional Comments

Applicants should contact the host institution and the embassy for further information:

Sarah Ferguson de Cano, Established Opinion Leaders Specialist, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section; phone: (507) 317-5196

You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.

Interview Requirements

Key Interview Focus Areas

  1. Project Feasibility & Goals: Can you do your research/teach? Why this project, why now, and how does it benefit your field/community?
  2. Host Country Connection: Specific knowledge of the country and the host institution, its culture, and why you chose it.
  3. Language Skills: Being prepared to use the host country language is important.
  4. Fulbright values: Connect your experiences to leadership, global awareness, and service.
Researcher and Professional Project Monthly Allowances
$3970
$4320
Teaching or Teaching/Research Award Monthly Allowances
$4740
$5310
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

$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.

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

$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. 

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 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.

Estimated Cost of Living

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

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. 

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.