“Great collaboration led to new grant”
College:
Department: Biological Sciences
Host City and Country of Fulbright Award: Stockholm, Sweden
What motivated you to apply for a Fulbright award?
I have always enjoyed international travel, but the opportunity to live and work in another country was special. The Fulbright project let me collaborate with colleagues in Sweden that led to multiple papers and new research ideas. My whole family loved the chance to spend more time learning about Swedish culture, and we've made some new family traditions.
Describe the importance and reach of the research and/or teaching you did while on Fulbright?
I gave guest lectures for some graduate classes (and taught a short graduate course on a later return visit to Sweden), and a couple graduate students from Sweden later visited my lab at FSU. However, my Fulbright was focused on research. My sponsor, another colleague and I co-authored a major review paper, and the ideas we generated while writing that review then led to a new US National Science Foundation grant. We also collaborated on other papers with new data and theory. A connection that I made during the Fulbright period led to a second visit to Sweden, with additional papers and research connections.
Tell us about significant personal Fulbright experiences you had
I enjoy traditional old-time music and dance and got to learn more about Swedish music and dance while living in Stockholm. We also traveled around Sweden and had great times with my sponsor's family.
Advice for anyone considering the Fulbright award
My advice is to plan very far ahead, particularly for countries where people traditionally take a long summer vacation. The Fulbright deadlines can sneak up at the end of the summer! Making connections with international researchers at conferences is a good strategy, but do not be afraid to cold call potential collaborators that you only know through the literature.
Accomplishments
Elected fellow the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).