Grants for US Scholars and Professionals
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers opportunities for American scholars, artists and professionals to teach, conduct research, and/or consult with other scholars and institutions in Bulgaria.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers opportunities for American scholars, artists and professionals to teach, conduct research, and/or consult with other scholars and institutions in Bulgaria.
Up to 5 awards per academic year are open to specialists in any field except for clinical medicine and dentistry. Awards are for 3 to 5 months. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, and independent scholars.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Global Flex Award gives U.S. academics and professionals the opportunity to collaborate and engage in scholarly activities in two or three countries in one or more regions. Projects are welcome in all disciplines, as well as those with an interdisciplinary focus. Proposals should reflect topics which would benefit from a global perspective and clearly demonstrate a need to spend time in each of the proposed countries. The minimum length of the total grant is three months and the maximum is six months. Grant segments may be conducted within one academic year or spread over two or three consecutive years.
Projects are welcome in all disciplines, as well as those with an interdisciplinary focus. The Program is open to both academics and professionals. Please note that for teaching grants, some universities/departments require a Ph.D. while others do not. Candidates should inquire about degree requirements when reaching out to potential host institutions. For research and professional projects, applications are accepted from university faculty, and from professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, or independent scholars outside of academia who have recognized professional standing and substantial professional accomplishments. The Fulbright Core Scholar Program supports activities and projects that recognize and promote the critical relationship between educational exchange and international understanding, in addition to the intellectual merit of the proposals. Projects under the Global Flex Award should reflect topics which would benefit from a global perspective and clearly demonstrate a need to spend time in each of the proposed countries.
US Scholars interested in applying for Fulbright grant to Bulgaria should visit the Council for International Exchange of Scholars’ (CIES) website for detailed description of awards, tips for applying and the actual application form (application must be submitted online).
Scholars can teach undergraduate/graduate courses and/or conduct research in their field of specialization; consult on program development and curriculum design, collaborate with faculty on research projects, assist with thesis advising, conduct tutorials, seminars, public lectures, etc. Scholars are encouraged to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities. While a letter of invitation is optional, applicants are encouraged to reach out to local institutions and try to obtain one. The Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission can assist in identifying prospective host institutions, and in providing relevant contact information. In some fields, such as pure and applied sciences, a letter of invitation is preferred due to the limited number of host institutions where the Scholar can teach or conduct research. Candidates should begin contacting potential hosts as early as possible (May-June) as most academic institutions are difficult to reach during the summer months. Applicants can indicate preferences for affiliation if invitation is not available. Final assignment is coordinated with the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission.
The standard grant benefits include:
Contact person at the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission in Sofia:
Program Officer, U.S. Grantees
Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission
For me, the study of communication is also deeply personal. I was a quiet kid. Introverted by nature, I never raised my hand in school.
Spotlight on Fulbright Alumnus Brian C. Murphy
by Angela Rodel
by Michael Musial, US Fulbright Scholar in Bulgaria