The Fulbright Program

American engineering student Jackson Wilt designs 3D-printed robots that move without motors 🤖🐞 Through his 2020 Fulbright U.S. Student award to the Netherlands, Jackson collaborated with teams at the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) Soft Matter Group and AMOLF research institute to engineer 3D-printed, self-powered robots that move through bio-inspired propulsion rather than relying on onboard motors. Jackson says this research “sets the stage for small-scale robots using no electronics” with possible applications in a wide range of fields such as manufacturing and food production. Jackson is currently pursuing a PhD in materials science and mechanical engineering where he is exploring how 3D printing can help to make highly engineered products and materials more accessible. 🔗Read more about Jackson’s research and the inspirations behind his designs: https://lnkd.in/eF8kii28

The Fulbright celebrations continue! 🎓 Congrats to the #Classof2025 ✨ Gabriel Davis, a Fulbright U.S. Student to Jordan, completed his master's in international relations at The Johns Hopkins University. Fadli Nauval, a Fulbright Foreign Student from Indonesia, completed his master’s in atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University. 🌐 Gabriel shares, “I attribute the multiple successes I enjoyed in graduate school almost entirely to Fulbright, without which my current trajectory would not have been possible. Fulbright provided the intellectual, professional, and academic blueprint for virtually every paper and project I completed during my master’s degree, and it instilled in me both a propulsive desire to learn more about Jordan, my Fulbright country, and powerful sense of direction that guided me through the program. I feel exceptionally grateful to the Fulbright Program—for all it has given and will continue to give me—as I celebrate this milestone.” 🌐 Fadli reflects, “Fulbright changed my life. It shaped not just my career but who I am as a person. Studying Atmospheric Science at Texas A&M gave me the chance to explore what I’m truly passionate about: understanding extreme weather and how it affects people’s lives, especially in Indonesia. Living in the U.S. for the past two years has been a journey of growth. I’ve gained not only knowledge but also new perspectives, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose. Fulbright didn’t just open doors. It gave me the confidence and clarity to walk through them with heart.” #Classof2025 #Fulbright #Grads

Congratulations to the Fulbright Class of 2025! 🎓👏 Persis Naumann, a Fulbright U.S. Student to India, earned her doctorate in healthcare ethics from Duquesne University. Jonathan Morency, a Fulbright Foreign Student from Haiti, earned his master’s in political communication at American University. 🌐 Persis reflects, “The Fulbright award has been a profoundly transformative milestone in my professional, academic, and personal journey. It enabled me to pursue interdisciplinary empirical bioethics research for my PhD dissertation. Beyond research, it expanded my commitment to cross-cultural dialogue and leadership.” 🌐 Jonathan shares, “Fulbright has completely shaped who I am, both personally and professionally. The depth of knowledge I gained through my degree in political communication at American University, along with the life-changing experience of the program, gave me the tools and perspective I needed to grow. The last two years have prepared me to live with bigger purpose and to serve my family and my community with even greater commitment.” #Classof2025 #Fulbright #Grads

“The Fulbright experience was very, very empowering…. It opened up new avenues in diplomacy.” American geologist Dr. Kusali Gamage’s #Fulbright facilitated connections that can strengthen the economic ties and long-term growth of both the United States and Sri Lanka. 🌏 Dr. Gamage, an oceanic drilling expert from Austin Community College in Texas, traveled to Sri Lanka on her Fulbright to teach oceanography courses at University of Peradeniya. In Sri Lanka, she facilitated a meeting with researchers and industry representatives focused on the critical mineral graphite, an important material for cell phones, nuclear reactors, and electric cars. Dr. Gamage emphasized that these initial talks were an important step in exploring Sri Lanka’s potential as a graphite supplier to the United States. 📱🔋🚙 She also guided student lab research projects on irrigation and extracting microplastics to mitigate pollution. 💧🌳🌾 📷: Dr. Gamage at the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka. Dr. Gamage at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo with United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission (US-SLFC) Executive Director Patrick McNamara. Dr. Gamage, front row fourth from left, convenes graphite sector industry stakeholders at Peradeniya University, including the Economic officer representing the U.S. Department of State. 🔗:https://bit.ly/3SJUrGD

Congratulations to #Fulbright alumni Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Benjamin Nathans for winning 2025 Pulitzer Prizes! ✍️ 🏆✨ 🎭 “Fulbright is where I was born as a writer.” Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a 2010 Fulbright U.S. Student to Germany, received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Purpose, which has been nominated for six Tony Awards. https://lnkd.in/e4JydnYz 📖 “I am profoundly grateful to the Fulbright Program for nurturing not just my career but my life.” Dr. Benjamin Nathans, a 1991 Fulbright-Hays awardee to Russia, received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for his book To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement. https://lnkd.in/euRnKq7U Fulbright alumni have won a total of 98 Pulitzer Prizes. 🔗Check out the full list: https://lnkd.in/eyvddAgj

Fulbright English Teaching Assistants took part in a workshop on developing practical AI skills for classroom teaching. It was hosted by Rochester Institute of Technology in Kosovo and the U.S. Embassy in Pristina. With AI-driven strategies to enhance student engagement and foster critical thinking, these young educators are charting the future of education! 💻 🤝 📚

Eighteen Fulbright alumni have been selected for the Guggenheim Foundation’s 100th class of fellows, joining a distinguished cohort of visionary artists, authors, and innovators in 53 disciplines. 👏✨ Guggenheim Fellows are selected based on outstanding career achievements and exceptional contributions in their respective fields. 🔗See the full list of Fulbright alumni who were awarded a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship and learn about their work here: https://lnkd.in/eC6fgGvh 📸 Left to right: Fulbright alumni Tania James, Antonio Tibaldi, Nadia Shihab, Accra Shepp, and Marzena Abrahamik—who were among those selected for the 2025 cohort of Guggenheim Fellows.

“My Fulbright opened the door to transformative global research and expanded my interdisciplinary work in healthcare and AI. It provided me with the time and space to develop new theoretical frameworks immersed in the ground realities of Moroccan healthcare. The program also provided an unparalleled platform for cultural and academic exchange.” How is AI shaping the future of healthcare? 🖥️ 🏥 ➡️ Read our recent Q&A with Dr. Rachida Parks, PhD, Fulbright Scholar to Morocco, leading expert in AI and digital health innovation, and #Fulbright Alumni Ambassador 🔗 https://lnkd.in/exgnsUsN Dr. Rachida Parks, PhD

Dr. Ellen Roche develops lifesaving medical devices which prevent heart failure and improve diaphragm function for stronger breathing. 🩺♥️ While completing her PhD as a #Fulbright student from Ireland, Roche invented a soft robotic sleeve that wraps around the heart, relieving pressure while providing support to help the organ pump. Roche now leads a team at MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, where she applies her Fulbright research to cutting-edge medical technology such as an implantable ventilator for end stage respiratory failure. "I am so grateful for my experience as a Fulbrighter. This opportunity allowed me to [..] pursue research in medical devices and eventually go on to start my own group at MIT to continue this work [...] I’ve since hosted many Fulbright students in my lab." 🔗Fulbrighters are leaders, innovators, and inventors. Read more about how Dr. Roche’s Fulbright experience helped her advance her research and career. https://lnkd.in/e4wHN7Sx 📸: M. Scott Braeuer

Fulbrighter Tiffany Pace is transforming lives through education. ✏️🌐 Inspired by her #Fulbright Teacher Exchanges in Uruguay, Tiffany, a recipient of the 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science, initiated a virtual STEAM exchange program between students in her classroom in Charleston, West Virginia, and the students in her host community of Salto, Uruguay. K-5 students from both countries collaborate virtually on STEAM-themed projects, such as by building models using engineering principles and programming their movement. Tiffany raised nearly $1 million in small grant funding to offer these virtual exchange opportunities for her students in West Virginia. She was also recently honored as a top 50 finalist for the 2024 Global Teacher Prize. 🏆 ✨ “The Fulbright Teachers program has been a transformative experience that has allowed me to foster personal and professional growth and bring the world into my classroom. Through our U.S. and Uruguay STEAM Team, my students are developing meaningful connections with their global peers as they learn from one another and collaborate to create innovative solutions for today’s global challenges.” 🔗Fulbrighters highlight American talent and global leadership. Learn more about how you can start your #Fulbright journey today: https://lnkd.in/e2vB-X9j