FLAD Research Grants

The FLAD Research Grants in partnership with the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal (BNP) offer a distinctive opportunity for scholars affiliated with U.S. institutions to deepen their knowledge of Portuguese history, culture, and language through direct engagement with one of the country’s most comprehensive collections. This annual short-term research fellowship, funded by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), aims to foster scientific and cultural collaboration between Portugal and the United States by supporting immersive research experiences in Portugal. The program underscores FLAD's broader mission to promote Portuguese culture and to enhance bilateral academic exchange. This initiative is jointly managed by FLAD and the BNP, the latter being a national institution under Portugal’s Ministry of Culture. BNP is tasked with preserving Portuguese documentary heritage and ensuring its accessibility for scholarly inquiry. Selected grantees will conduct research using BNP’s collections in Lisbon, which encompass a diverse range of Portuguese-language materials and documentation about Portugal, housed across various formats. The research must require physical consultation of materials not fully available online, ensuring meaningful engagement with BNP's unique holdings. Eligible applicants include students, faculty, and researchers who are currently affiliated with higher education institutions or research centers in the United States, regardless of nationality. The scholarships are open to those pursuing projects connected to Portuguese history, language, or culture, including interdisciplinary or comparative frameworks. The grant supports a minimum stay of one month and a maximum of three consecutive months in Portugal, and research stays must begin no later than December 2026. Awarded fellows will receive €1,400 per month and a travel subsidy of €750, all paid in a single installment. Researchers may not hold concurrent funding for the same project during the fellowship period. Applications must be submitted via email to [email protected] and written in Portuguese. The deadline for submission is March 1, 2026. Required components include a completed application form (available on the BNP website), curriculum vitae, a brief bilingual biography (Portuguese and English), a detailed study plan with contextualization in a broader project, proof of institutional affiliation, and any recommendation letters that may enhance the application. The program stipulates that applications for less than one month or solely online-based document research will not be accepted. Applications will be reviewed by a joint jury comprised of representatives from FLAD and BNP. Evaluation criteria include the scientific merit and originality of the project, alignment with BNP’s collections, the researcher’s profile, and their proficiency in Portuguese sufficient to engage with relevant materials. Results will be communicated via email by March 31, 2026. Grantees must confirm acceptance and intended research dates within 10 days of notification and are obligated to submit a report within three months of completing the fellowship. All publications resulting from this grant must acknowledge BNP and FLAD’s support, and two copies must be submitted to both institutions. Noncompliance with these requirements may disqualify future applications. For questions or clarifications, applicants are advised to consult the official regulation or reach out directly to [email protected] or call +351 217982004.