Fulbright Research Grant for a Junior Scholar in Partnership with the Nokia Foundation

This page is being updated!

Stay tuned for the 2026-27 application round opening in June 2025.

Purpose of the Grant Program

The purpose of the award is to enable scholars in ICT fields to carry out research projects in the U.S. and at the same time act as ambassadors for the Fulbright program, Finland, and their home institution, sharing their culture and contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.

The award can be applied for by postdoctoral scholars who have completed their doctoral degree less than four years ago at the time of the application deadline.

The Nokia Foundation promotes and supports scientific development and education throughout Finland’s information and telecommunications technology sectors. Examples of the focus areas in ICT research are 1) Data Science and AI, including research on novel methods, tools, applications and implementations of data science, machine learning and augmented as well as artificial intelligence, 2) Wireless and Network Technologies, including research on future networking and communication technologies for fixed and wireless connectivity, and 3) Future Microelectronics, including research on enablers and practices of information and communication driven technologies, methods and systems for the digital revolution. The Fulbright Finland Foundation is pleased to work with the Nokia Foundation and support together the transatlantic mobility of Finnish researchers.

Cost of living in the U.S. 

The cost of living in the U.S. has been increasing recently and can be significantly higher than in Finland depending on city. The total costs (including potential host institution fees, insurance, and living costs) vary by institution and city. Living costs (accommodation, meals, and everyday expenses) typically range anywhere between USD 3 200 to 4 850 per month depending on the city. Minimum funding requirements for accompanying family members are USD 1 400 to 2 150 (for dependent one) and USD 700 to 1 100 (for each additional depended) per month. It is important to estimate the total costs of the grant term as accurately as possible and budget accordingly. 

For example, renting a studio apartment in high-rent regions such as San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford University campus, and New York City may cost between USD 2 500 and USD 3 000.

Benefits

• Grant: The grant is max. 30 000 USD for a visit of 3-6 months.
• Personal advising and guidance services: Supporting you before and during the grant term.
• Free visa: J-1 visa for you, and J-2 visa for family members who travel with you
• Orientation training: Extensive orientation training to U.S. culture, the higher education system, and details for the upcoming Fulbright period, including online materials, virtual meetings, and an orientation day in Helsinki.
• Networking opportunities: Enabling you to build connections professionally and internationally in Finland and the U.S. As a Fulbright grantee, you are provided an opportunity to participate in the Fulbright enrichment activities (Fulbright Enrichment Seminars, events, and workshops) allowing you to connect with fellow grantees from all around the world as well as local community members. In addition, you will be joining a global network of 400 000+ alumni as well as the Fulbright Finland alumni community.

You can find the full list of additional benefits and program services here.

Support for Grantees with Disabilities

Extra funding support is available for grantees with disabilities. If you have a disability that would cause additional costs for the grant term, contact the Foundation to discuss reasonable accommodations. Email the Foundation (emmi.jelekainen@fulbright.fi) by the grant application deadline your self-assessment with a description of the disability and the specific accommodations requested.

Please note that disclosing the need for disability accommodation does not affect the review and selection process.

Application requirements

Academic requirements

• Doctoral degree: The applicant must hold a doctoral degree at the time of application deadline and the doctorate must have been earned within four years of application. If the candidate does not yet have a PhD, the Selection Committee may take the application under evaluation on the following two conditions: the applicant submits with their application 1) a reference letter or statement regarding the progress of the dissertation work from their dissertation supervisor and 2) a copy of the comments from the advance reader of the applicant’s dissertation. In all cases the grantee must have completed their doctoral degree before the grant period in the U.S. begins.

Ambassadorial Role

• Cultural ambassador of Finland: You are motivated to learn about other cultures and to share your own. The grantees contribute to the enhancement of Finland-U.S. relations by acting as citizen ambassadors of their home country and institution, and by promoting cultural understanding.
• Representing a Fulbright Finland Foundation grant program: You may seek and receive additional funding for your time in the U.S. from other organizations or foundations, but your primary affiliation is always with the Fulbright Finland Foundation as your stay in the United States will be on the Fulbright program and on a Fulbright sponsored visa.
• Motivated to learn and share: You are motivated to develop your field of specialization and share your knowledge and learning during and after the grant term. After the grant term, you are interested in engaging as an alum of the Foundation.

Other eligibility and visa requirements

• J-1 Visa: You will travel to the U.S. with an exchange visitor visa (the J-1 visa) organized by the Fulbright program.
• Finnish citizenship and residence: You must be a Finnish citizen (if you are not a Finnish citizen but work as a researcher in Finland, please see our travel grant programs). You cannot have Finnish-American dual citizenship or a permanent residence permit in the U.S. The grant cannot be given to an applicant who already resides in the U.S. The applicant has to start their research in the U.S. with this grant.
• Previous stay in the U.S. (for both applicant and family members): Due to the 12-month bar and 24-month bar regulations, if you and your family members have visited the U.S. with a J-1 or J-2 visa within the past 24 months, please contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation before applying.
• Two-year home country residency requirement: Grantee cannot apply for a work permit or an immigration visa to the U.S. immediately after the end of their grant term. One has to reside in their home country/country of residence for two years after the grant period. However, normal tourist visits and for example studying in the U.S. is possible. Read more about this requirement here.

How to Apply?

The detailed application instructions and more information on the application process can be found in the links below. Please read them carefully.

• Information on the application procedure and grant interviews
• Instructions on how to fill in the online application form

These instructions, targeted at Finnish applicants, provide you with further information on the questions of the application form and guide you through the application step by step. Please follow the instructions while you are filling in the form. If there is any contradictory information in the form or in the instructions, always follow the instructions for Finnish applicants specifically.

Application and attachments

The application is submitted through the IIE online application form.

Documents which are required to be included in the application:

• Invitation letter from the host institution
• Project statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of a Finnish passport
• Bibliography
• Recommendations (2). Read instructions for submitting a letter of recommendation.
• Preliminary project budget
• Signed checklist

Use the checklist to make sure you have attached all the required documents in the application. 

The applicant is responsible for saving all the required attachments in the application system by the deadline.

Evaluation criteria

The applications are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board, and the interviews focus on the following attributes. The Foundation does not provide feedback on individual applications, their review process, or on any single grant decision.

As part of the application review process, IIE, our U.S. partner organization, will screen the applications to identify any instance of plagiarism.

If you face any technical difficulties when filling in the application form, you should immediately contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation.