The Fulbright Scholarship offers Australian students, academics, and professionals the chance to study, research, or lecture in the USA, unlocking new pathways to academic and career success.
Visiting UTS as a Fulbright Scholar
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RES Hub Manager, Jacqueline Randles and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, Dr. Yi Zheng
Last week in Research Café, we were joined by a visiting Fulbright US scholar and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, Dr. Yi Zheng.
Yi discussed his Fulbright experience and shared what motivated him to apply for this fellowship experience. Yi chose to visit UTS because his research interests include water desalination and UTS has one of the world leading research centres for water and wastewater. He applied for the Fulbright scholarship a year ago with the sponsorship of his UTS host, Prof. Wenshan Guo, at the Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater.
“I came here to explore further research collaboration. Since being here, I have reached out to people in my field and formed valuable connections,” Yi said.
An expansive research career
Yi’s academic research focuses on activities in sustainable energy and water technology. His work involves nano materials for solar energy applications, including solar energy harvesting, water desalination treatment and hydrogen fuel cells.
If you want to build academic connections overseas and also like culture-sharing and travelling, please consider the Fulbright program.
In addition to being an academic, Yi serves NASA as a Faculty Fellow. He sits on several civic committees in Massachusetts and is the founder of his own startup, Planck Energies, a company commercialising cost-effective cooling materials for infrastructure including building envelopes and roofing materials.
“If you want to build academic connections overseas and also like culture-sharing and travelling, please consider the Fulbright program,” Yi said.
Supporting international knowledge exchange
UTS International Research Grants Manager Maggie Wang said that the Fulbright Scholarship is one of the world’s most prestigious international exchange programs.
“The program was established in 1946 to promote mutual understanding between the United States and other countries,” explained Maggie.
“It provides funding for students and researchers to travel overseas to study, engage in research projects or simply forge new research connections.”
Past Scholar Prof. John Rees of the UTS Graduate Research School agreed, adding that the Fulbright becomes a doorway of embedding, in a sustainable and deep way, ongoing research collaborations.
“The status of the Fulbright Scholarship is much higher in the United States than here in Australia, and we were told time and time again: if you're a Fulbrighter, doors will open.”
The Fulbright Scholarship is one of the world’s most prestigious international exchange programs. It provides funding for students and researchers to travel overseas to study, engage in research projects or simply forge new research connections.
Maggie said that in selecting Scholars, assessors look for people with cross cultural experience and those that can act as an ambassador for their country.
“If you want to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship like Yi, in addition to being able to demonstrate academic excellence, think about how you can show leadership and let your personality shine through!”
What’s next?
- Visit the Fulbright Australia website.
- Reach out to Maggie Wang via email for more information.
- Attend the fortnightly Research Cafe.
- Learn more about Yi's research.