Fulbright-LUT-EMRC Scholar Award
The Fulbright-LUT-EMRC Scholar Award is available for U.S. scholars to conduct research for 4-12 months in any field represented at the Electric Mobility Research Center (EMRC) at LUT University.
Purpose of the Grant Program
The Fulbright-LUT-EMRC Scholar Award can be granted within any research theme of interest of the Kempower Electric Mobility Research Center (EMRC) at LUT University. The up-to-date list of the research themes can be found at www.lut.fi/en/emrc.
The Electric Mobility Research Center is committed to supporting multidisciplinary research across various themes, which we believe are crucial for advancing our field. These themes include:
- More Power: Efficient electronics, thermal management, and energy grid connections.
- Data Wisdom: Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom, Business.
- Competitiveness: Competitiveness of the e-mobility industry.
- Beyond Charging: Customer behavior, market development, and societal transformation.
- Future of E-Mobility: Infrastructure development and new technologies such as wireless charging applications and automated driving.
We encourage you to suggest a research topic within these themes that resonates with your expertise and interests.. Please note that these themes are not meant to be restrictive; we welcome innovative ideas that may extend beyond these areas.
The Fulbright-LUT-EMRC scholar will conduct research and possible lectures at any of the three Schools of LUT University:
Applicants are encouraged to contact the EMRC, the host department, School, or research program to work together in designing the activities. To facilitate this process, we kindly ask you to develop a one-page proposal outlining your proposed research topic. Grantees will be introduced to the EMRC and have the opportunity to work in close cooperation with industry, especially Kempower, a Finnish high power DC charging equipment manufacturer.
The Fulbright-LUT-EMRC Scholar Award is jointly funded by EMRC, LUT University, and the Fulbright Finland Foundation.
Benefits
The award is available for visits of 4–12 months. It includes:
- Monthly grant is 2,700 - 5,000 EUR (approx. 2900-5400 USD*), depending on the rank of scholar (post-doc level 2,700 EUR, assistant/associate professor level 4,000 EUR, full professor level 5,000 EUR), 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 arranged and paid for by the host university.
- Work facilities and administrative support.
- 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 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 for the Fulbright-LUT-EMRC Scholar Award must hold a Ph.D. degree (or other terminal degree). The candidate must be a U.S. citizen. 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 this grant.
LUT University
Clean energy, water and air are life-giving resources for which we at LUT University seek new solutions with our expertise in technology, business and social sciences. We help society and businesses in their sustainable renewal. Our international community consists of over 9,000 members. Our campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland. We are one of the top universities in the world for climate action.
The Kempower Electric Mobility Research Center (EMRC) aims to strengthen cross-disciplinary research on electric transportation and to develop education to meet the needs of future industry. The center advances science and education, cutting across the boundaries of virtually all of LUT University’s fields of specialization, from technology and business to social and communication sciences. The EMRC is the heart of e-mobility-related research at LUT. Further information can be found in lut.fi/en/emrc.
The city of Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta combines urban culture with beautiful, soothing nature. LUT's modern and versatile campus is located right on the shores of Lake Saimaa, which is a big part of the city's identity. Lappeenranta's southern location and proximity to the Helsinki metropolitan area surprise many, as the train journey to Helsinki takes less than two hours. In 2021, the European Commission awarded the city the Green Leaf Prize. Read more about LUT in Lappeenranta.
The city of Lahti
With its 120,000 inhabitants, Lahti is one of Finland's largest cities, offering a wide range of activities and events. Urban culture, a diverse range of services, and its central location close to the Helsinki metropolitan area make Lahti a great city for study and work. Having been chosen as the 2021 European Green Capital, the nature- and sports-friendly city aims to become carbon-neutral by 2025 at the latest. Read more about LUT in Lahti.
How to Apply?
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program competition for 2026-27 opens in February 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:
TIMELINE | |
|---|---|
| Application period starts: | February 2025 |
| Application period ends: | September 15, 2025 |
| Earliest possible starting date: | September 2026 or January 2027 |
| Orientation seminar in Helsinki: | TBC (expected to take place in mid-August 2026 and mid-January 2027) |
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.
LUT University encourages applicants to contact the university staff beforehand. Dr. Ville Naumanen is happy to help potential candidates to connect with the faculty members for discussion.
Contact Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Finland Foundation (general Fulbright program related questions) | LUT University/EMRC (host institution related questions) | ||
Emmi Jelekäinen Mihkel Vaim | Dr. Ville Naumanen
| ||
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-LUT-EMRC Scholar Award program is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.
Questions?
Emmi Jelekäinen
Program Manager, Scholar Programs (part-time)
+358 44 5535 275
