Seven distinguished faculty members from the University of Arizona are preparing to embark on global journeys to conduct significant research and foster international relationships as part of the Fulbright Scholars program.
The Fulbright Program stands as the U.S. State Department’s premier cultural exchange initiative, facilitating American scholars in their research or teaching endeavors abroad for up to a year. It also invites international academics to engage with U.S. institutions, promoting global academic collaboration.
“Our Fulbright Scholars create a network of U of A expertise across the globe, building international partnerships and tackling grand challenges,” expressed President Suresh Garimella. “I’m proud of our scholars for their work in expanding the university’s land-grant mission on an international scale.”
The University of Arizona’s legacy with the Fulbright Program began in 1954 when Walter S. Phillips conducted biological research at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Since then, over 300 scholars from the university have participated in Fulbright exchanges worldwide.
Meet the 2026 Fulbright Scholars
- Mark Frederickson, retired associate professor from the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, will head to the Kyrgyz Republic. There, he will instruct architecture studio courses at the American University of Central Asia. This marks his sixth Fulbright Award, with his most recent assignment in Botswana during the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Geneva Foster Gluck, from the College of Fine Arts, will undertake a Fulbright Postdoctoral Research Award at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona. Her research will delve into using applied theater and immersive experiences to drive behavioral change concerning climate change.
- Christopher Impey, notable professor and co-department head of astronomy at the Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory, will collaborate with the University of Copenhagen. His work will focus on advancing science education, communication, and public engagement, alongside researching quasars and supermassive black holes in galaxy evolution.
- Scott Saleska, a professor in the College of Science, plans to work with Brazilian universities to explore forest drought resilience. His research will employ novel remote sensing techniques to map vulnerability across the Amazon and Atlantic forests.
- Travis Sawyer from the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences will partner with Utsunomiya University in Japan. His research will focus on pioneering endoscopic technology for early gastrointestinal cancer detection, aiming to establish enduring research collaborations and student training programs.
- Richard Simpson, professor in the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, will collaborate with Sapienza University of Rome. His project will investigate the impact of exercise on T-cell production and potency, with ambitions to enhance therapies for blood cancer patients.
- Mihai Surdeanu from the College of Science will engage in developing AI systems for argumentation debate at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in Romania, his alma mater.
For those interested in the Fulbright Program, the University of Arizona offers resources and application guidance on its Fulbright website. The top-producing institutions of Fulbright Scholars will be announced in February.
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