fulbright research grant

Fulbright’s Mission and Management

The Fulbright Program is an international academic exchange program founded in 1946 with an ambitious goal — to increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Today, the U.S. government oversees an extensive suite of fellowships and scholarships in partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide.

The primary source of the Fulbright Program’s funding is an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, foundations, and alumni in partner countries and the United States provide direct and indirect support.

Fulbright Program Management

The  U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)  directs the global Fulbright program, manages priorities, allocates resources, and funds the Fulbright program’s administration by non-governmental organizations that serve as implementing partners in the United States. Fulbright’s implementing partners include the  Institute of International Education (IIE) ,  World Learning ,  IREX , and  Amideast.  The Presidentially-appointed  Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board  sets program policies and priorities, selects participants, and promotes the Fulbright Program to audiences around the world.

Management Outside of the United States

In 49 countries worldwide, independent  binational Fulbright Commissions , most of which are funded jointly by the U.S. and partner governments, plan and implement Fulbright educational exchanges; develop priorities for the program; recruit and nominate candidates; identify local educational institutions to host U.S. Fulbrighters; engage alumni; support incoming U.S. Fulbrighters; fundraise; and operate an information service for the public on study in the United States. Where Fulbright commissions do not exist, the program is administered by U.S. embassies in cooperation with host country governments.

Higher Education Institutions

Colleges, universities, and research institutions, both in the United States and abroad, play an important role, serving as hosts and sharing costs to support the academic and professional development of Fulbrighters.

Fulbright Through the Years

The Fulbright Program Is Established

To promote international goodwill and mutual understanding, President Harry S. Truman signed the Fulbright Act into law on August 1, 1946, launching the framework for the Fulbright Program.

John Hope Franklin Begins Fulbright Journey

Franklin, a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, author, historian, and Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Chair, went on his first Fulbright to the UK in 1954.

Year of Seven Fulbright Nobel Prize Laureates

Future Fulbrighter Linus Pauling (pictured) won the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the same year that six future Nobel Laureates received Fulbright awards: Milton Friedman, Philip Anderson, William Fowler, Niels Jerne, Roy Glauber, and Hannes Alfven.

First Fulbrighter on Record with a Disability

Jeff Davis Duty, Jr. began his Fulbright in the United Kingdom at the London School of Economics. Later in his legal career, he successfully argued to allow guide dogs in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fulbright Through Video

What is fulbright.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international education and exchange program.

Fulbright Impact

Our mission is to shape a more positive vision for our communities and our world, and Fulbrighters are critical in helping us carry it into the future—one connection at a time.

I Am Fulbright

Fulbrighters live and learn together with people of different cultures and become part of a global network that fosters mutual understanding between nations, advances knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the world.

Tips for Fulbright Applicants: How to Choose the Right Grant

The University of Notre Dame’s National Fellowships Coordinator and former Fulbright ETA, Zoë Gioja, gives an overview of the wide range of Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards offered in more the 140 countries, and tips for developing a competitive application.  

By Zoë Gioja

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers a number of international fellowships – the well-known research grants, as well as grants that fund graduate study, creative arts projects, or a year of teaching English abroad. Applicants for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program include recent graduates, master’s and doctoral candidates, and young professionals with less than 5 years of experience, including writers, creative and performing artists, journalists, and those in law, business, and other professional fields. Here are some tips on deciding which Fulbright grant is right for you.

Keep in mind, you can only apply to one country and one type of grant per application cycle.

The first thing to think about when deciding which grant to apply for are the two main criteria that all types of Fulbright applications are evaluated on. A good Fulbright application is both compelling and feasible .  Below, I’ll detail what would make a compelling and feasible application to each type of grant.

Fulbright Study, Research and Arts Grants

A U.S. Student Fulbright Grant for allows for individually designed projects and graduate study that will take place during one academic year (9-12 months) in one of more than 14o countries. Depending on the country, these grant awards may support: an independent research project, graduate study or a creative arts project. Applicants design their own projects and typically work with advisers at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education.

Should I propose a research project?

Here’s a few questions to ask yourself when considering a research project proposal.

What makes a research project feasible?

The first question you must ask is: Do you have the research methods experience to do the project you are proposing? For example, say you’re proposing to do research that requires oral interviews. Do you have past experience with conducting these sorts of interviews in your field? Are you aware of the protocols for conducting research that involves human subjects? Much like writing an application for a job, you’ll need to convince the selection committee that you have the qualifications to do this type of research. Experience in research methodologies in your discipline is essential.

Your GPA and strong track record of coursework in your discipline is also helpful. The Fulbright does not have a minimum GPA requirement, though a strong GPA  in the discipline of your research can help demonstrate that you have adequate preparation to carry out your project. At the same time, however, GPA is only one factor; what matters most is that you convince the Committee that your project is feasible and that you have the skills to do it.

You’ll also want to be sure that your project can be completed within a one-year time frame. Your research should not be overambitious – something that would take dissertation-length research to finish – but should not be too short for a year-long project, either.

Next, consider whether your project can be completed with the resources at the institution in the host country. Fulbright research grants fund a one-year research project abroad, and this research must be conducted under the auspices of an institution within the host country. One of the main components of the research application is a letter of affiliation . This is a letter from the lab, university, NGO, or other organization that confirms that the institution will support your project.

Do you have an institution in mind that will enable you to complete the project, and if not, do you think you will be able to obtain a letter of affiliation within the application timeframe? Do you believe the institution can fully support the project? For more tips on gaining affiliation letters, read more here .

What makes a research application compelling?

First, ask yourself: must this research be conducted in the host country? An application is compelling if the research you are conducting can only be conducted in the host country – i.e., if there are certain people you would work with in the field, certain resources you could only use within that country, or if your topic is based around the country itself. If this is research that could as easily be conducted in the U.S. or anywhere else, this won’t be compelling to the Fulbright Committee.

Another aspect of a compelling proposal is whether the project is timely and relevant. Does it have the potential to positively impact the lives of others, the field of study, etc.? There are many ways for a topic to be compelling – whether the issue itself is timely or would be considered important to the host country; if your research has the potential for impacts within the field or beyond; and what the end results of your research would be. Look at Fulbright grantee directory to get a sense of past projects.

Should I pursue graduate study?

In some countries, the U.S. Student Fulbright Grant can provide funding for part or all of a master’s degree, sometimes in combination with independent research. Select countries offer these opportunities; to find them, look at this page and click Fulbright Graduate Degree Grants. Keep in mind that some of these programs might require you to apply separately to the institution and receive admission from them as well.

In this sense, your application strategy will be very similar to applying for graduate school. What will make your application compelling will be how essential it is that you work with the specific faculty in that institution; how much your interests align with the faculty’s interests and the program; and why you must study that subject in that country, as opposed to stateside.

What will make your application feasible will be your past academic performance in the field you are proposing to study, your own experience adapting to new cultural situations, and your preparedness and motivation for graduate study.

Should I pursue a creative arts project?

The Fulbright Program provides opportunities for American and foreign artists, writers, poets, filmmakers, and musicians to showcase their creativity. A large number of Fulbright grants are offered to U.S. applicants in the performing and visual arts each year. Fulbright Arts grants are a fantastic and often under-subscribed opportunity. If you are an artist, architect, writer, etc., then you might very well want to consider this grant. To identify countries offering arts grants, check the program details by country for further information and specific eligibility requirements.

What will make your application compelling is, similar to a graduate school application, you making a strong case for why you must work with a particular person in the field in that country.

What will make your application feasible will have much to do with a) what you are proposing on the grant and b) your experience in the field that prepares you to carry out your proposal. You will submit a portfolio as part of the application; this will be a crucial element, and will be evaluated by other artists in your same field or medium.

Should I apply for the Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship?

The Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship is a relatively new component of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program that provides opportunities for U.S. citizens to participate in an academic year of overseas travel and digital storytelling in up to three countries on a globally significant social or environmental topic. In addition to receiving Fulbright benefits (for travel, stipend, health, etc.), Fellows receive instruction in digital storytelling techniques and are paired with one or more National Geographic editors. Applicants may submit proposals for grants to 1-3 foreign countries.

This is one of Fulbright’s most competitive fellowships – perhaps because of the National Geographic name, and perhaps because it enables you to make multi-country proposals. You may very well be qualified for the grant, but be sure to fully explore Fulbright Arts Grants before deciding to apply for this one. You may very well be able to accomplish your project through a Fulbright Arts Grant, which might best suit your proposal.

Should I apply for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA)?

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program  places recent college graduates and young professionals from the U.S. in classrooms abroad for up to 1 year to provide assistance to the local English teachers. ETA’s help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. The age and academic level of the students varies by country, ranging from kindergarten to university level. Applicants for English Teaching Assistant Programs can apply to only one country.

If you are interested in teaching, this may be the perfect opportunity for you. However, if you’re more passionate about pursuing an independent project, be careful: applying to do an ETA when it’s clear that you in actuality wish you could have applied for a research grant won’t necessarily up your chances of receiving the grant. Readers can see through these things. More important, if the thought of teaching for most of your day doesn’t appeal to you – even if you don’t want to be an educator long term – then the Fulbright ETA might not be the best choice.

What makes an ETA application feasible?

The criteria here is simple. Do you have the teaching experience to do the job? The answer to this question will vary, though, depending on which country you are applying to. Different countries want varying levels of prior teaching experience, language ability, and academic backgrounds. Explore your country’s criteria (in comparison to other countries) carefully before choosing, and consider which candidate profile you are the best match for.

Keep in mind, though, that “teaching experience” can encompass many different types of experience – from formal classroom ESL teaching, to one-on-one tutoring, or even summer camp counseling. Don’t be afraid to get more experience during the time you are applying (and even waiting to hear back about your application). Beyond the experience making you “more competitive,” it will better prepare you if you do get the grant. Teaching can be an adjustment for most first-time teachers, and you’ll want all the prior preparation you can get!

As a general rule of thumb, though: never do anything for a Fulbright application that you wouldn’t have enjoyed doing regardless of whether you get the grant. Not just because Fulbright grants are competitive, but also because application readers can see through things that aren’t done for genuine, more intrinsically-motivated reasons. The Fulbright application is best approached as a discernment process – one that you’ll learn from whether or not you are offered the grant.

What makes an ETA application compelling?

This hinges on how well ETA fits with your future plans, and your reasons for going to the country you have chosen to apply to.

For country choice, arguments like “Mongolia seems cool and fun ’cause I’ve never been there” won’t suffice; you’ll need a powerful reason that you want to go to a country –regardless of whether you have been there before, or not–that shows real intellectual curiosity and motivation. If you have already been to the country (even for as long as a semester or year-long study abroad) this doesn’t automatically disqualify you from applying to a Fulbright in that country. Instead, you’ll want to think carefully what your argument will be for why you must go back to the country when you have already spent significant time there.

Do your research. If you are applying for an ETA in Malaysia, for example, and have never been there before, do some reading! You’ll need to be able to answer why Malaysia interests you – whether it’s a connection to your academic interests, or personal background, or future plans. Read about the country in The Economist, or pick up a book on the country’s contemporary history. This will make a huge difference in digging deeper into your own motivations for applying, and the knowledge with which you speak about the country in your application.

A compelling application also makes a strong argument for how teaching in that particular country will fit into your future career, and how it will further your long-term ambitions. Whether your career aspirations lie inside or outside of the educational field, you’ll want to make a strong case for how this will fit into your overall future goals, and further them in a concrete way.

When choosing a country, how much should I take application statistics into account?

Some applicants let Fulbright application statistics make the decision for them on which country or grant type they should apply to. Instead, it’s good to take a holistic approach here. Gaming statistics won’t get you a grant; just look a t Andorra ETA grant statistics from the last three years to see how much application numbers can fluctuate. Instead, you might consider: if you have two countries or grant types that are equally compelling and feasible, but one is much more competitive – then that might be a good time to take statistics into account.

At the same time, it’s worth casting the net wide. Consider a country you might not have considered before, especially if you’re applying to one of the more competitive awards (such as the UK study awards). Are there other countries or programs you hadn’t considered? The Fulbright program can be very rewarding when you let it open up new countries, interests, and options for you.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to read Zoë’s other Fulbright application tip articles: Tapping Your University’s Resources: Zoë Gioja on the Fulbright Application Process and  Tips for Polishing Your Fulbright ETA Application .

© Victoria Johnson 2017, all rights reserved.

Related Posts:

• New 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Awards for Students and Young Professionals
• New 2018-19 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Awards for Students and Young Professionals
• New 2017-18 Fulbright Awards for Recent Graduates, Aspiring Graduate Students and Young…
• Tapping Your University’s Resources: Zoë Gioja on the Fulbright Application Process
• New 2022-2023 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Awards for Students and Young Professionals

Fellowships for Recent Graduates , Fulbright Application Tips , Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship , Fulbright ETA , Fulbright ETA Statistics , Fulbright Fellowships , Fulbright Statistics , Fulbright U.S. Student Program , Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship , Recent Graduates , Zoë Gioja

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Required Documents: (All documents must be uploaded to the online application by no later than September 26, 2024 . Please carefully read the Application Instructions) 

• Online Application
• Project Statement
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• CV with clear contact information and updated publications
• Letter of support from home institution
• Three recommendation letters
• Scanned copy of the original valid National ID
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• Scanned copies of any previous U.S. J1 or J2 visas (if applicable)

Important : The Fulbright Program seeks applicants that have developed a sense of personal integrity and are original thinkers. Copying someone else’s writing, whether from the Internet, from a book or from a friend is considered plagiarism. Any quoted words or sentences should include a citation. An applicant who is found to have plagiarized in any form (including unintentional or accidental plagiarism) in his or her application will be disqualified. For further information about plagiarism and citation, please click on the following link:  https://fulbright-egypt.org/resources/ . All content in applications must be the applicant’s original contribution and his/her own intellectual property. Having someone else write or contribute to the writing of an individual’s application, either fully or partially, does not uphold the standards of integrity expected of Fulbrighters and may result in the ineligibility of your application.

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AY2025-2026 Research Grant

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FULBRIGHT UPDATE: UKRAINE AND RUSSIA

We are currently supporting Ukrainian and Russian Fulbrighters who continue to carry out their programs in the United States. The Fulbright Program is actively monitoring the situation and hope to continue future programming in the region when circumstances allow.

2023 Fulbright HSI Leaders Announced

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Fulbright grants received by a U.S. citizen from an agency which dispenses and administers Fulbright grants (domestic or foreign) fall into two types of income for tax purposes. If you are a U.S. citizen recipient of a Fulbright grant, you must determine which category of income your grant falls into in order to know how the grant is taxed for U.S. Federal Income tax purposes.

Fulbright grants may be either scholarship/fellowship income or compensation for personal services, which is usually considered wages.

For tax purposes, a scholarship/fellowship may be defined as an amount given to an individual which has the following characteristics:

• It is paid to aid the individual's pursuit of study, training, or research;
• It does not constitute compensation for personal services - past, present, or future; and
• It is paid more for the benefit of the grantee than the grantor.

For tax purposes, compensation for personal services represents an amount paid to an individual in exchange for his performance of personal services - past, present, or future. Compensation for personal services usually takes the form of either wages or self-employment income.

In 1961 the Internal Revenue Service issued Revenue Ruling 61-65 dealing with Fulbright grants. Portions of that Revenue Ruling read as follows:

"It is held that the amounts received for study and research abroad, under the Fulbright Act and the United States Information and Educational Act of 1948, by United States citizens are scholarship or fellowship grants within the meaning of section 117 of the Code. . . " "On the other hand, amounts paid to United States citizens for lecturing or teaching abroad are not paid to enable the recipients to pursue studies or research but are compensation for services rendered and are includible in their gross incomes under section 61 of the Code."

If the proceeds of a Fulbright grant are paid to enable the grantee to study, train, or conduct research abroad mostly for his/her own benefit, then the grant is scholarship/fellowship income. If the proceeds of the Fulbright grant are paid as compensation for lecturing or teaching abroad, then the grant is compensation for personal services and is usually considered to be wages.

When to report a Fulbright grant

Taxable Fulbright grant payments are reportable in the year in which they are received. For example, a Fulbright grantee with a ten-month grant who begins the grant in September 2019 and will receive two grant checks in tax year 2019 and two grant checks in tax year 2020. For tax year 2019, figure the income tax liability only on the amount of taxable grant funds received in calendar year 2019. For tax year 2020, figure the income tax liability only on the amount of taxable grant funds received in calendar year 2020.

A Fulbright grantee, who begins a grant in January 2020, will usually receive the first check in December 2019 and thereby incurs an income tax liability for 2019.

How to report a Fulbright grant as a scholarship/fellowship

If your Fulbright grant is scholarship/fellowship income as described above, then you should report the income as wages on the appropriate line of Form 1040 and add the note “SCH” in the margin next to the line. If you are reporting wage income from another source on the same line, simply add the amount of the Fulbright scholarship/fellowship income to the wage income also shown on that line.

If you were a candidate for a degree, and your study, training, or research performed under the Fulbright grant was a part of your pursuit of a degree, then you may deduct from your taxable Fulbright grant income any amounts you spent on (1) tuition, (2) fees, (3) books, (4) supplies, and (5) equipment required for your courses. You should attach a schedule to your Form 1040 itemizing your gross Fulbright grant income, less these 5 deductions, in order to arrive at a net taxable amount of the grant. This net taxable amount should be reported on the line for wages on Form 1040.

If you were not a candidate for a degree, then the entire gross amount of the Fulbright grant is taxable and reportable as wages on the appropriate line of Form 1040 as a scholarship or fellowship. If during the tax year, you paid foreign income taxes on your Fulbright grant, then you may be eligible to claim a Foreign Tax Credit on Form 1040. You should use Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit , to compute the amount of foreign tax credit. See Publication 514, Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals , for more information on the foreign tax credit.

See Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education , Chapter 1, for an explanation of the taxation of scholarships and fellowships.

How to report a Fulbright grant as wages

If your Fulbright grant is wages, because you performed lecturing or teaching services as a condition for receiving the Fulbright grant, then you should report the entire gross amount of the grant as wages on the appropriate line of Form 1040 – even if you did not receive a Form W-2.

Deductions, exclusions and credits

When a Fulbright grant is considered as wages, then several possibilities may be available to reduce your U.S. federal income tax on these wages. For example:

• If you are outside the United States, your tax home is in a foreign country, and you meet certain other conditions, you may be able to take the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is explained in Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad .
• If you pay foreign income tax on the Fulbright Grant income you earn in a foreign country, then you may be able to claim a Foreign Tax Credit . See Publication 514, Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals for more information.

Estimated tax payments

Since most Fulbright grants paid overseas are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, Fulbright grant recipients may need to make estimated tax payments on the taxable portion of their grants. See Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals , for the requirements for making estimated tax payments.

Grant paid in foreign currency

All income must be reported in U.S. dollars. In most cases, the tax must also be paid in U.S. dollars. If, however, at least 70% of your Fulbright grant has been paid in nonconvertible foreign currency (blocked income), you can use the currency of the host country to pay the part of the U.S. tax that is based on the blocked income.

If you receive all or part of your income or pay some or all of your expenses in foreign currency, you must translate the foreign currency into U.S. dollars. You must translate into dollars all items of income, expense, etc. (including taxes), that you receive, pay, or accrue in a foreign currency and that will affect computation of your income tax. For information on currency conversions, please refer to Foreign Currency and Currency Exchange Rates .

Blocked income

If, because of restrictions in a foreign country, your income is not readily convertible into U.S. dollars or into other money or property that is readily convertible into U.S. dollars, your income is “blocked” or “deferrable” income. See Chapter 1 in Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad , for more information on reporting and paying tax on Fulbright Grants when there is blocked income.

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• Explore The Programs

Learn more about Vietnam, one of the destinations for U.S. educators through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program.

3 to 6 months

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Placement information.

• Partner Organization: U.S. Embassy - Hanoi
• Eligible Program Dates: 3-4 months between January – April 2025 or September – December 2025
• Host Institution Expectations: Participants are placed at Vietnamese educational institutions by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. Depending on the nature of the participant’s research, placements can range from dense urban areas to small rural settings and universities or K-12 institutions.
• Language Requirement: None
• Monthly Allowance: Between $4,200 - $4,500 (exact amount to be confirmed at a later date)
• Dependent Information: An allowance of $2,000 per eligible dependent will be provided as part of the grant. The host institutions do not provide financial assistance for dependents. However, host institutions take on the responsibility of sponsoring visas for all dependents (spouse and children under 18 years old). Additionally, institutions offer guidance by suggesting housing options for families and recommending suitable school choices for children. Most of the public schools do not provide bilingual classes; thus, it is difficult for non-Vietnamese speakers to study. However, in major Vietnamese cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Hai Phong, and others, there are many international schools, with annual fees ranging from $20,000 to $35,000. Private primary and secondary schools, on the other hand, may have fees averaging up to $15,000. Notably, bilingual private schools in Vietnam generally impose lower fees compared to their international counterparts.  

Country Overview

• Overview of Vietnam (introduction, geography, people and society, government, economy, and more)
• Vietnam history and historical sites
• U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic milestones
• Vietnamese culture  

Educational System Overview

Vietnam’s national education system has five general levels:

• Early childhood education, which includes nursery schools (from 3 months to 3 years of age) and kindergarten (ages 3-5).
• General education, which includes primary education (grades 1-5), lower secondary education (grades 6-9), and upper secondary education (grades 10-12).
• Vocational or technical education, which can work as an alternative option to upper secondary education.
• University education, which includes undergraduate, master, and doctoral degrees.
• Continuing education.

Education management is decentralized from kindergarten to lower secondary education, with districts assuming responsibility. Upper secondary education is administrated at the provincial level, while higher education falls under the centralized authority of the Ministry of Education and Training. However, some higher education institutions are overseen by other ministries, government agencies, or provincial people’s committees.

Ongoing reforms aim to update textbooks, curriculums, and teaching methods, though educational institutions may not always meet international standards, particularly in higher education. To address this, the government promotes open international relations, encouraging collaborations between Vietnamese and foreign institutions to enhance teaching and learning quality in Vietnam.  

Vietnam's education system is committed to continuous development, adapting to the evolving needs of its students and the country's economic growth. By embracing international collaboration and prioritizing quality education, the system aims to prepare a skilled and knowledgeable workforce for the future.

Possible Topics of Interest for U.S. Educators

• Teaching and learning methods at gifted high schools
• STEM Education and curriculum development in natural science subjects, especially in the three main high school subjects taught in Vietnam (Biology, Physics, and Chemistry) as well as Mathematics
• Technology/Computer Science
• Student-centered learning
• Curriculum and materials to promote creative learning and critical thinking
• Integrating instructional technology in classrooms
• Increasing technological literacy in rural areas 

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Explore the latest news from the university of Northern Colorado.

Two UNC Faculty Members Receive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards

A view of the Amazon River from the town of Leticia, Colombia. Photo courtesy of Karen Barton.

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Sharon Bywater-Reyes and Karen Barton awarded competitive fellowships providing cross-cultural teaching and research opportunities. 

September 16, 2024 | By Deanna Herbert

The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have selected two faculty members from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) as recipients of the highly competitive and prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award.  

Sharon Bywater-Reyes, Ph.D., an associate professor of Environmental Geoscience, and Karen Barton, Ph.D., a professor of Geography and GIS, will each spend four months next spring participating in the cross-cultural exchange program designed to provide unique opportunities for scholars to further their teaching and research abroad.  

This is the first Fulbright award for Bywater-Reyes, a geoscientist and hydrologist in UNC’s College of Natural and Health Sciences. Her interest in processes that reshape Earth’s surface has provided her with a broad level of expertise across the field of geology, from ancient “rock” geological history to modern river science, including several projects in northern Colorado that measure the success of river restoration and influences on water quality.   

“I have become increasingly interested in expanding my geological skillset to include social science components that are vital to changing policies and practices to be equitable and just.” — Sharon Bywater-Reyes

As part of her Fulbright experience, Bywater-Reyes will spend four months in the Chilean Andes joining an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Manuel Prieto, Ph.D., from the University of Tarapacá in Arica, Chile. The group is studying the water management of bofedales, a type of wetland unique to the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains, thriving at elevations of more than 13,000 feet in Peru and Chile.   

On a scholarly level, Bywater-Reyes said the project is an opportunity to expand her skills in both community-engaged research and wetland hydrology. It also speaks to her personal goals of finding opportunities to apply her skills and knowledge to relevant societal issues while uplifting the voices of marginalized people.   

The bofedales have been managed by Andean pastoral communities for thousands of years and are critical to supporting local livelihoods as they serve as the primary source of food and water for llamas, alpacas and other livestock. Bywater-Reyes will be lending her geological and geomorphic expertise to the team to better understand the environmental and social justice impacts of managing water rights on the land, as well as providing a deeper understanding of how the wetlands work, what controls them and how climate change has or will impact the landscape.  

“I have become increasingly interested in expanding my geological skillset to include social science components that are vital to changing policies and practices to be equitable and just,” said Bywater-Reyes. “This particular project speaks to my passion for sustainable and equitable management of water resources.  I’m very excited because this opportunity checks the boxes of things I really care about.”  

Since her Fulbright includes a research and teaching component, Bywater-Reyes is also excited about the opportunity to expand her knowledge of teaching and interacting with other peoples, particularly within the Latine culture. It’s an experience she hopes will improve the inclusive teaching practices she already incorporates into her own classrooms to better serve UNC’s growing Hispanic/Latine student body.   

For Barton, a professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this most recent Fulbright Scholar award will be her 11 th from the program. As a veteran “Fulbrighter,” she has traveled to five continents since 2007, spending most of her time focusing on research and teaching in the field of environmental sustainability. This newest award comes on the heels of a Fulbright Hays grant she completed earlier this summer in Colombia.   

On that trip she was one of 16 educators from various disciplines visiting cities and universities across the country to learn more about sustainability, alternative energy sources, public transportation, conservation and infrastructure planning. She’ll use the insight she gained in Colombia to inform a research grant and a new curriculum project for her International Sustainable Development class at UNC.  

“I’ve always been interested in learning how so-called developing countries can be a great model for how we should behave and live and design." — Karen Barton

Barton said her experience in Colombia was very different compared to the perception she had of the country growing up, a realization that speaks to the success of the Fulbright program’s goal of promoting cross-cultural dialogue, expanding perspectives and facilitating cultural exchange. 

“The more I read about Colombia, the more I realized it’s a hotspot for biodiversity. They have mangroves, deserts and subtropical forests,” said Barton. “It’s often voted one of the happiest countries and they have over 100 different indigenous groups and about 60 national parks. The diversity is similar to what we have here in the United States, and I think they will be a great partner for future projects.”  

For her Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award in the spring, Barton will be on one of the islands in Cape Verde, a volcanic archipelago off the west coast of Africa. She’ll be teaching courses on sustainable development at the Universidad Europea del Atlántico and doing research on renewable energy and the sustainable use of ocean resources.   

“My research will mostly be on renewable energy in Cabo Verde and the blue economy, so all of the things that Cabo Verde is doing toward creating sustainable fisheries,” said Barton. “This community has done a really good job of managing its marine resources, while also making sure that locals have jobs in the marine economy.”  

Barton has the honor of being the first Fulbright recipient to travel to the island community, although she already has strong ties in the region thanks to the network she created during a Fulbright trip to Senegal in 2016. Her long-term goal is to set up a partnership between UNC and West Africa.   

“I’ve always been interested in learning how so-called developing countries can be a great model for how we should behave and live and design,” said Barton. “Places like Colombia and countries in West Africa are a lot more complicated than we understand.”  

For Barton, the opportunity to travel the world and learn from other countries and cultures, and then use that knowledge in her teaching to dispel preconceived notions of them, is part of the allure of the Fulbright program.   

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“I feel like I’ve spent the first half of my career identifying problems and poking holes in concepts and processes. I’m trying to use the second half of my career to work with local communities toward consensus building and identifying solutions.  

I think it’s so much easier to critique than to create and it took me a long time to figure that out,” continued Barton. “But now I’m seeing ways that these communities across the world tackle problems in ways that we’ve just never thought of. They make it look so easy.”  

Fulbright Scholar Awards are prestigious and competitive fellowships that provide unique opportunities for scholars to teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbright scholars also play a critical role in U.S. public diplomacy, establishing long-term relationships between people and nations. Alumni include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and thousands of leaders and world-renowned experts in academia and many other fields across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. The program is primarily funded by Congress and is directed by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

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UNI to host first-ever visiting Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa –  For the first time, the University of Northern Iowa has been selected to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. This program brings visiting scholars from abroad to U.S. colleges and universities, helping the institutions internationalize their curricula, campuses and surrounding communities, and diversify the educational experiences of their students, faculty, staff and stakeholders. 

‌ Arta Berisha, a distinguished, prize-winning journalist and an academic from Kosovo will bring her expertise to UNI’s Department of Communication and Media and the Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy. She is one of 43 Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence, and among 1,000 outstanding foreign faculty and professionals who will teach and pursue research in the United States for the 2024-2025 academic year through the worldwide Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. This will be Berisha’s second time on UNI’s campus, following her time as a Fulbright Visiting Researcher in 2019.

Berisha, currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Leicester, was selected for the Fulbright award by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Her research critically examines how external factors such as social media and the internet are transforming journalism, focusing on changes in news routines and the detrimental effects of fake news on the profession. 

In UNI’s Department of Communication and Media, Berisha will be assisting with the Media and Power course on campus. She will also be collaborating with UNI professors Bettina Fabos (emeritus), Chris Martin and Catherine Palczewski on the final module of their "Media and Power" handbook that concerns misinformation in the media and the construction of truth. The new textbook is a product of UNI's Open Educational Resource initiative, which encourages instructors to develop free textbooks and other pedagogical content licensed with the permission to reuse, adapt and share widely. To this end, Berisha will adapt “Media and Power” for a Balkan audience. 

Furthermore, she will be working with the Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy to create an international media literacy conference, and will be involved in other departmental activities throughout the year.

On Friday, Sept. 20 at noon, UNI scholars will be invited to meet Arta Berisha at the Center for Multicultural Education 109 on UNI’s campus.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which has operated in over 160 countries worldwide.

For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit the Fulbright website or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by email: [email protected] .

Media Contact: Adam Amdor

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