Cary Deck, an economics professor at the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business, has been selected to work with students and faculty at the University of Economics, Prague, under a short-term grant through the Fulbright Specialist Program.

Deck directs the Walton College’s state-of-the-art Behavioral Business Research Lab, an interdisciplinary facility where researchers can study human behavior and decision-making.

“I am very excited to have been selected as a Fulbright Specialist and am looking forward to this great opportunity to collaborate with scholars in the Czech Republic,” Deck said.

Deck’s program in Prague begins at the end of January.

He will teach a two-week graduate level course in experimental economics to students at the Prague university and from other nearby schools. While there, he also will help faculty develop related curriculum and teaching materials and engage them regarding research ideas and projects that utilize controlled laboratory experiments.

Deck also will use his experience as the director of the Walton College’s Behavioral Business Research Lab to aid the Prague school in developing the infrastructure and administrative practices for operating their Laboratory for Experimental Economics.

“At the same time, this trip will expand my understanding of the Czech Republic’s continuing economic transition, which will directly benefit my students and my own research on the role of economic institutions,” Deck said. He said his trip will lay the groundwork for continuing collaboration between the University of Economics, Prague, and the University of Arkansas. 

The Fulbright Specialist Program promotes connections between U.S. academics and professionals and their counterparts at host institutions overseas. The program is designed to award grants to qualified U.S. faculty and professionals, in select disciplines, to engage in two- to six-week collaborative projects at host institutions in more than 100 countries worldwide. The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs funds international travel costs and a stipend. Participating host institutions cover in-country expenses or provide in-kind services.

U.S. faculty and professionals apply to join a Roster of Specialists for a five-year term. Roster candidates are reviewed by peers in the same discipline and by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.