Hometown: Newton Center, Massachusetts
Major: Economics
Lauren heads to the Philippines to research why students there drop out of university. She hopes the experience will help her “continue my passion for development, particularly within female empowerment, microfinance, education, and youth.” She also plans to pursue an MBA.
Hometown: Staten Island, New York
Degree Program: PhD in Musicology at Eastman School of Music
Jacek’s Fulbright takes him to Paris to conduct archival research for his dissertation, exploring the city’s music and urbanism from 1850 to 1870. “I am excited to share my findings with my colleagues in both Paris and Rochester,” he says.
Hometown: Phoenix, New York
Major: Spanish, Biological Sciences: Neuroscience
Benjamin heads to Madrid, Spain, to teach English. He will also offer guitar lessons at a children’s hospital, promoting cultural exchange through stress relief and self-expression. He’s looking forward to immersing himself in Spanish culture.
Hometown: Fullerton, California
Major: Applied Music
Melissa will study the historical performance of Mozart opera in Salzburg, Austria. She has also been offered the lead role in the Mozart Opera Institute’s 2015–16 opera, an opportunity to “put what I learn on stage,” she shares.
Hometown: Wilton, New York
Major: Anthropology
Beginning in January, Samantha will teach English in Malaysia for ten months. The Fulbright, she explains, “offers me the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture and use my skills to help Malaysian students on their own journeys.”
PhD program: Psychology
Emily earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Chicago.
PhD program: Chemistry
Keywan earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Delaware.
PhD program: Physics
Evan earned his bachelor’s degree at Colorado College.
PhD program: Chemistry
Tessa earned her bachelor’s degree at Miami University.
Hometown: Sharon, Massachusetts
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Michael will work with researchers at Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) on developing a short-term, temporary immune system for bone marrow transplant recipients. Last year he donated bone marrow and organized bone marrow drives at Rochester.
Hometown: Pittsford, New York
Major: Biomedical Engineering
At Switzerland’s University Hospital Basel, Namita will research 3D tissue engineered cartilage grafts. She credits her coursework and URMC lab work with preparing her for this upcoming experience. “I am excited to immerse myself in a rich culture while also pursuing cutting-edge research.”
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Major: Economics, Psychology
Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
Major: Business
Hometown: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Major: International Relations
Aaron previously studied abroad in Istanbul, Turkey. This summer, he’ll return to study Turkish in Ankara. “Journalism and political science can go hand-in-hand,” says the Campus Times’ editor-in-chief. “Turkey is an incredible place to learn about both subjects.”
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
Major: Mathematics
Brian’s undergraduate research includes studying the distribution of zeros of GL(2) L-functions and exploring combinatorial questions about Zeckendorf decompositions. This summer Brian will participate in the University of Chicago’s math REU. He plans to pursue his PhD in mathematics.
Hometown: Tivoli, New York
Major: Physics, Math
This summer Steven will study the behavior of particles in penning Ion traps at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He has conducted physics research at Rochester’s LLE, the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, and Roswell Park Cancer institute.
Hometown: Wuxi, China
Major: Optical Engineering
Jane will work at Friedrich Alexander-Universität in Erlangen and Nuremburg. She’s excited to apply what she’s learned about optical design, manufacturing, calibration, and testing. She anticipates “visiting the former residences of the great European musicians.”
Hometown: Lake Forest Park, Washington
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Claire will study alongside a PhD student from the Technical University of Munich in Germany. Inspired by her biomedical engineering courses and work at URMC, she will also work at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) on molecular imaging.
Hometown: Sha Tin, Hong Kong
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Florence will conduct research at Germany’s Friedrich Schiller Universität. The project explores the elastic behavior of fiber-reinforced composites. “I’ll be studying the mechanics, preparation, and characterization of FRPC, one of the most popular advanced materials these days,” she explains.
Hometown: Haikou, China
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Linda will work at Forschungszentrum in Jülich, Germany.
Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
Major: Computer Science
This summer Nathaniel will conduct research on “smart interaction” at Germany’s Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences. By combining sensors and actuators with everyday objects, the researchers aim to increase the immersive experience of augmented environments.
NOT PICTURED: Luke Daily '16 (Biomedical Engineering); Zhaoyu Nie '17 (Optics)
Hometown: Webster, New York
Major: Physics
Ian has worked at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics since high school, conducting theoretical and experimental research. His experience with high-power laser systems is, in part, why the Space and Missile Defense Command sponsored him for this scholarship.
Hometown: Farmington, Missouri
Major: Anthropology
Christian will spend next year in Tanzania learning Swahili, living with a host family, and completing an internship as part of the African Flagship Languages Initiative. His previous experiences abroad in Norway and Taiwan have helped prepare him for this opportunity.
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Major: History
Kaight will teach English at two high schools in Graz, the second largest city in Austria. Afterward, she says, “I hope do my master’s in Austrian history and its complicated relationship with National Socialism and anti-Semitism.”
NOT PICTURED: Matthew Adrian (graduate student in performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music)