The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees can research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
AWARD DETAILS
AWARD ACTIVITY AND DISCIPLINES
Category: U.S. Scholar Program.
Type: Research.
Award Activity: Support the development of the mission-oriented approach of the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre) in the context of the disciplines identified in the scope of the Atlantic Interactions initiative:
- Earth observation from deep ocean to near space;
- Ocean observation and modelling;
- Healthy and clean oceans;
- Marine resources and biodiversity;
- Digital twin of the ocean;
- Marine robotics and applications.
- Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
Focus on innovation in multi-national collaborative networks and creative approaches to the transatlantic cooperation, including within the initiative of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA), to improve the understanding of the ocean and coastal systems as a whole.
The activity will involve the identification of relevant players from science, industry and administration in the USA and the countries associated with the AIR Centre and the promotion of workshops and meetings to develop the research agenda and identify research projects, new services and products and business opportunities.
Scholars selected for this Awards can choose to:
- Advise and/or mentor students
- Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
- Conduct a research project designated by the host institution
- Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
- Conduct a professional and/or artistic project
Disciplines: Only projects in the following disciplines will be considered:
- Biology
- Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Geology
- Information Sciences/Systems
- Mathematics
- Oceanography
- Physics
Specializations:
- Biological Sciences;
- Data and Information Sciences;
- Ecology;
- Environmental Biology;
- Environmental Engineering;
- Mathematics;
- Natural Resources;
- Oceanography;
- Physical Oceanography
AWARD LOCATION AND PERIOD
Location: Associação para o Desenvolvimento do AIR Centre (Atlantic International Research Centre), Lisbon and Terceira Island (Azores Archipelago), Portugal.
The activity will take place at the AD AIR Centre Office in Lisbon and AD AIR Centre HQ and Earth Observation Laboratory located in the Science and Technology Park–Terinov in Terceira Island, Azores.
Length: Four months.
Period: Award dates must be approved by the Portuguese host institution. Grants can begin at any time during the academic year, between September 2027 and May 2028.
Projects must be completed by August 31, 2028.
AWARD REQUIREMENTS
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Citizenship/Residency Requirement: Applicants residing in Portugal at the time of application or thereafter are not eligible to apply for this award.
Permanent residents of Portugal are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement: A letter of invitation is optional.
If applicants can obtain the letter of invitation, the letter of invitation must express the host’s interest in the project and describe the proposed activities and timeline for the project; it must be written in English and printed on institutional letterhead.
Follow this link for guidance on seeking Letters of Invitation and developing contacts abroad.
Degree Requirements: Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) required
Career Profile: Early Career Academics, Mid-Career Academics, Senior Academics, Professionals.
Language Proficiency Requirements: None, English is sufficient.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION INFORMATION
Priority areas of experience/capacity are:
- Multinational distributed collaborative networks (with a focus in the Atlantic);
- Innovative / creative approaches to transatlantic cooperation for improving the understanding of the Ocean and Coastal systems (with a focus in the Atlantic).
Applications are sought in all appropriate disciplines, but the following technical disciplines as academic / technical background are preferred:
- Integration of satellite data and in-situ observations into assimilative models;
- Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning applied to Earth Observation;
- Earth Observation in support of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;
- Development of Earth Observation concepts and prototypes for operational services and products.
CONTACTS AND HELPFUL LINKS
Contacts:
Candidates can seek further information to the AIR Centre’s Deputy Executive Director Mafalda Carapuço, mafalda.carapuco@aircentre.org.
Assistance will be provided by AIR Centre’s Deputy Executive Director Mafalda Carapuço, mafalda.carapuco@aircentre.org and Alexandra Frazão, Executive Secretary, alexandra.frazao@aircentre.org, telephone: (+351) +351 21 723 10 62
Helpful Links:
AIR Centre – Atlantic International Research Centre
TERINOV – Science and Technology Park, Terceira
Diplomatic Portal – Country Profile: Portugal
AWARD BENEFITS
AWARD ALLOWANCES
Grant stipend: €11.200 (approx. $12,954), corresponding to a monthly stipend of €2.800 (approx. $3,238).
Housing allowance: €4.000 (approx. $4,628), corresponding to a monthly allowance of €1.000 (approx. $1,157).
Award allowances are paid as a lump sum in the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate: December 1, 2025)
TRAVEL ALLOWANCE
Travel allowance: €1.100 (approx. $1,272).
The travel allowance is paid in the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate: December 1, 2025)
DEPENDENT BENEFITS
The Fulbright Commission offers funding for dependents (spouses and unmarried children under 18) who accompany the scholar for the full duration of the grant, as follows:
- Travel allowance: €1.100 (approx. $1,162) per dependent.
- Monthly dependent allowance: €250 (approx. $289) for a spouse, and €750 (approx. $867) per child.
Dependent allowances are paid in the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate: December 1, 2025)
SPECIAL AWARD BENEFITS
The host institution provides computer facilities, internet access and e-mail, office space, access to laboratory facilities and transportation.
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS AND DEADLINE
Number of Grants: One grant to Award.
US Scholar Program Catalog of Awards: Detailed information can be found on Award #27318-PT – Fulbright Award for the Ocean, Environment and Space / AIR Centre: https://fulbrightscholars.org/award/fulbright-award-ocean-environment-and-space-air-centre
Applications: Applications must be submitted through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program website: https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards#steps
Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information about the U.S. Scholar Program in Portugal, contact Dora Reis Arenga, U.S. Program Manager at the Fulbright Commission Portugal, darenga@fulbright.pt.