Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Grant in Health and Environmental Sciences

Purpose of the Grant Program

The award is meant for conducting research and teaching in the fields of health or environmental sciences at any of the following faculties or research units at the University of Eastern Finland:

Faculty of Health Sciences

• A. I Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences (research institute)
• School of Medicine (Proposals for medical research involving clinical training, patient care, or patient contact are not eligible)
• School of Pharmacy
• Department of Nursing Science

Faculty of Science and Forestry

• Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences
• School of Forest Science
• Department of Applied Physics

Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

• Law School
• Department of Health and Social Management
• Department of Geographical and Historical Studies
• Department of Social Sciences

Other Research Units

• The Institute for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (LYY)
• Karelian Institute

Applications should preferably be on following multidisciplinary research focus areas:

• Water Research
• Forests and Bioeconomy research
• Neuroscience research

Applicants are encouraged to contact the host department, faculty or research program to work together in designing the activities.

The Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Grant in Health and Environmental Sciences is jointly funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, the University of Eastern Finland and the Fulbright Finland Foundation.

Benefits

The award is available for visits of 5–9 months. It includes:

• Monthly grant of 7,500 EUR (approx. 8,200 USD*), paid out in euro in monthly installments.
• One-time travel allowance of 1,800 USD.
• Residence permit allowance based on the actual permit fees (incl. grantee and accompanying family members).
• Housing for the scholar and their accompanying family is arranged and paid for by the host university.
• Work facilities and administrative support.
• Flex option: The award can be split into two segments within one or two academic years. Together the two segments cannot exceed nine months. Visits cannot take place in the summer months (June, July, and August).
• Orientation and support services provided by the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki. For example, the Foundation will arrange a four-day arrival orientation in Helsinki for all U.S. Fulbright grantees at the end of August each year (orientation is also arranged in January for grantees arriving for the spring semester).
• Fulbright Finland Foundation mid-year activities and networking opportunities (such as the American Voices Seminar at the University of Turku) each year.
• The grantee will also be eligible, free of charge, to participate in a Fulbright Finland pre-approved summer school in Finland consisting of courses on Finnish language, culture and society, pending availability of suitable programs.

* amounts in USD are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.

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. Send your self-assessment with a description of the disability and the specific accommodations requested to the Foundation ([email protected]) by the grant application deadline.

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

Eligibility

A candidate must hold a Ph.D. degree and have sufficient experience in teaching and research in Health or Environmental sciences.

The candidate must be a U.S. citizen. Proposals for medical research involving clinical training, patient care or patient contact are not eligible. Please contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation if you have any questions about the eligibility of your project.

U.S. Scholar Program eligibility guidelines and review criteria are published on the Fulbright Scholar Program website.

In Finland, the applications are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board.

Applicants residing in Finland are not eligible for a Fulbright grant.

University of Eastern Finland

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is one of the largest universities in Finland with 16,000 students and 2,750 members of staff. The university has two campuses in Joensuu and Kuopio, located 400 kilometers northeast of Helsinki.

UEF is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland and we offer education in nearly 100 major subjects. Our interdisciplinary research and education respond to global challenges to build a sustainable future.

Kuopio is known for its nature and quality of life, science and technology, and, its lively people. These excellent services, make Kuopio an attractive place to live.

Joensuu, the capital of North Karelia, is fashioned by the Karelian lifestyle and hosts numerous cultural events. Iconic national landscapes and rich Karelian culinary traditions attract visitors, especially in the summertime.

How to Apply?

The 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar competition is currently open for applications.

Apply by September 15, 2025!

The U.S. program partner in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is the Institute of International Education IIE. Applications are submitted through IIE and forwarded to discipline-based peer review committees in the U.S. Applications that pass this initial peer review in the U.S. are forwarded to the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki to be reviewed by the Foundation’s review committees. The Fulbright Finland Foundation makes the funding decisions and final selections of grantees.

Additional information and detailed application instructions are available from the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the Fulbright Scholar Program websites.

Fulbright Finland Foundation encourages potential applicants to contact the office directly with any questions.

Resources for Hosts:

• Instructions for writing invitation letters and a checklist for a U.S. scholar's host

Further Information

NOTE: Late June, July and early August are traditionally summer vacation months in Finland and responses to inquiries may be delayed. Applicants are advised to contact the Finnish host institution well ahead of time to solicit an invitation letter for their application.

Useful Links:

• Fulbright Finland Outreach Ambassadors
• University of Eastern Finland
• City of Kuopio
• City of Joensuu
• This is Finland

What is the Fulbright Finland Foundation?

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is

• to promote a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States, and
• to support the internationalization of education and research in Finland, and help U.S. and Finnish institutions create linkages.

What Makes the Fulbright Finland Foundation Programs Unique?

• In addition to the grant, the Fulbright Finland Foundation offers the grantees several additional benefits and free support services, as well as an access to a global, multi-professional network.
• We are looking for applicants who want to impact the future and to make a difference – applicants who want to facilitate positive change, develop and advance their own profession or discipline, and find solutions to national and international challenges in their field.
• The grantees also act as ambassadors for the Fulbright Finland Foundation, their home country, and their home organization and, in this way, do their part in sharing their home country and culture and contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.

Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Grant in Health and Environmental Sciences program is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.