"A research opportunity like no other"
College: Arts and Sciences
Department: Modern Languages and Linguistics
Host City and Country of Fulbright Award: Moscow, Russia
What motivated you to apply for a Fulbright award?
My book examines the experiences of exile and repatriation. I was especially interested in writers exiled from the Soviet Union who, after many years of living abroad, made the decision to return a reformed post-Soviet Russia. Fulbright gave me the opportunity to meet some of these writers and gain a deeper understanding of how their experiences informed their writing.
Describe the importance and reach of the research and/or teaching you did while on Fulbright?
What happens when exiled writers return to their native land and readership? My Fulbright award allowed me to interview writers who did exactly that. This, along with archival research, provided the foundation for my book project Exiles at Home. Since then, my research has expanded to include the experiences of recent emigres who live in the United States and write in English.
Advice for anyone considering the Fulbright award
Opportunities for sustained research do not come around too often, and when they do, it is important to make the most of them. The Fulbright award provides institutional support, dedicated time for research, and a community of scholars with whom to share the experience abroad. I strongly encourage colleagues to apply and advance their research in this ideal environment.