10449-MX

Fulbright-Garcia Robles Scholar Border Program

Mexico

Western Hemisphere

Tabs

Award Details

Grant Activity

The Border designation of this award refers to geography as well as focus. The goal of the Fulbright Border Program is to enhance linkages and collaborative work between U.S. and Mexican institutions and scholars in the border regions. Grantees maintain their U.S. residence and travel into Mexico periodically to engage in research, teaching or both. At least eight work days per month should be spent in Mexico. Grantees can teach university courses and/or conduct research in any discipline, except medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry, that is relevant to U.S.-Mexico border relations.

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 will be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities‎.

Grant Length

Three to nine months

Grant Dates

Full academic-year grants are preferred. Nine month grants start in August or September 2020. One semester grants must correspond to the host institution´s academic calendar. All grants must be completed by June 30, 2021.

Locations

(1) Applicants must be employed at a U.S. university or research facility located in a U.S. – Mexico border state. Eligible states are California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

(2) Grantees must secure an affiliation with a Mexican university or research institution in a U.S. – Mexico Border state, with the exception of Tamaulipas. Eligible states are Baja California Norte, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila (Saltillo is the ONLY city eligible in Coahuila), and Nuevo Leon.

(3) Locations must comply with the U.S. Travel Advisory. Applications or affiliations located in areas where there is a level 4 U.S. Dept. of State travel advisory in effect will NOT be considered. See the U.S. Dept. of State Travel Advisories webpage for further information.

Flex Option

Discipline Type

Applications are sought in all appropriate disciplines

Award Requirements

Application Requirements

Invitation Requirement

A letter of invitation is strongly preferred

Language Requirements

Intermediate proficiency in Spanish is required. The level of Spanish language proficiency must be commensurate with the requirements of the project if a higher level of Spanish is required. Applicants should submit the Language Proficiency Report: Self Evaluation and Language Proficiency Report: External Evaluation. Native speakers need only to complete the Language Proficiency Report: Self Evaluation.

Applicant Profile

Professional Profile

Open to academics and appropriately qualified professionals outside of academia

Additional Qualification Information

All disciplines will be considered with the exception of medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry. COMEXUS is particularly interested in projects focused on STEM fields, public policy and health initiatives, but also has a long history of supporting projects in the arts that further dialogue and contact between the arts communities of Mexico and the United States. All humanities and social sciences also welcome.

Projects located in areas where there is a U.S. Travel Advisory deferring all non-essential travel will NOT be considered. See the U.S. Dept. of State Travel Advisories webpage for further information.

Additional Information

Additional Comments

Applicant must provide a letter of affiliation or invitation from a Mexican university, accredited institution or research center before grant start date. COMEXUS will assist with affiliation as necessary.

The Border designation of this award refers to geography as well as focus. The goal of the Fulbright Border Program is to enhance linkages and collaborative work between U.S. and Mexican institutions and scholars in the border regions. Grantees maintain their U.S. residence and travel into Mexico periodically to engage in research, teaching or both. At least eight work days per month should be spent in Mexico. Applications in any discipline relevant to U.S.-Mexico border relations will be considered.

Full academic-year grants are preferred. Start dates must correspond to the academic calendar. Recommended candidates will be invited to participate in virtual interviews with COMEXUS staff in November 2020.

Helpful Links

COMEXUS - the Fulbright Commission website
COMEXUS YouTube Channel
U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Mexico

Award Benefits

Stipend

A monthly stipend/travel allowance of US$1,300 will be awarded. Unlike other Fulbright U.S. Scholar grants, the Border Program grants do not include subsistence allowance, professional stipend, relocation allowance, dependent allowance, or a separate international flight reimbursement.

Special Award Benefits

A reimbursable allowance of USD$750 will be included in the first installment of the grant to cover educational materials donated to the host institution (or research site with justification). Materials include books, DVDs and other academic or research materials.

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, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, México, 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 hosting institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once 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 at the Regional Travel Program website.

Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the 2020-2021 academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Country/Area Overview

Summary

Fulbright Mexico (COMEXUS) offers awards for teaching, research or a combination of teaching/research. Fulbright-García Robles grants are available for Senior Scholars in Science and Technology, the Social Sciences and the Humanities, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), as well as postdoctoral candidates. Additional unique opportunties include the Fulbright-Carlos Rico Award for North American Studies, the Fulbright-García Robles Border Scholar Program and four U.S. Studies Chair awards.

Overview

The rich, dynamic relationship between the United States and Mexico offers a plethora of opportunities for scholars interested in conducting research or teaching at the university level on issues of relevance for both countries. The U.S.-Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (COMEXUS) promotes the development of networks of individuals and institutions that stimulate research and teaching on important themes related to the binational agenda.

COMEXUS (the Fulbright commission in Mexico) is particularly interested in projects addressing issues of relevance to U.S.-Mexican relations, including culture, economic integration, society and politics, migration, trade policy, ecological issues, human rights, education, public health, border issues. While COMEXUS is currently particularly focused on research and teaching projects related to the STEM fields, they also have a long history of supporting projects in the arts (both performance and fine arts) that further dialogue and contact between U.S. and Mexican arts communities.

Fulbright-García Robles awards are open to candidates in every discipline and at any academic or professional rank. COMEXUS encourages those applicants looking for postdoctoral research stays in Mexico.

Typically, academic semesters begin in August or September and/or January or February. Grant periods from three to nine months are accepted; nine-month academic year grants are preferred. All grants are to be completed by the end of June.

Grantees and accompanying dependents must obtain a visa authorization prior to entering Mexico, which is arranged by COMEXUS. Grantees with dual U.S. and Mexican nationality are eligible to apply and are required by Mexican law to enter Mexico on a Mexican passport. However, due to Mexican immigration regulations, U.S. citizens with permanent residency or a current work visa are not eligible to apply.

For more information on program details, contact Jackal Tanelorn or visit the COMEXUS website.

The Fulbright commission in Mexico follows the recommendations of both the Mexican government and the U.S. Embassy when placing U.S. Fulbright grantees in Mexico. Placement may be restricted in certain states or areas of Mexico, dependent on these recommendations. Please consult the detailed U.S. State Dept. Travel Warning for information about your prospective location. Projects in level 4 travel advisory areas will not be considered.

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.

Number of Grants

Up to one

Activity

Research

Teaching

Teaching/Research

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