National and Global Scholarships Advising

Clockwise from top left: Brandt Bridges, Jeremy Chu, Shaurya Gaur, Marichelle Gurski,
Andrew Harker, Daniel Howell, Scout Osborne, and Bridget Price 

(Corvallis, OR, April 18, 2023) Oregon State University’s National and Global Scholarships Advising office  is pleased to announce that 8 students and recent graduates have been named finalists for the 2023-2024 Fulbright  U.S. Student Program by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. This is the most Fulbright student awards the OSU community has ever earned in a single year. 

Bridget Price is graduating in 2023 with an Honors bachelor of science degree in Chemical Engineering and Bioresource Research and a minor in Chemistry. In collaboration with Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, Bridget will study the utilization of microalgae in wastewater treatment systems and how to optimize wastewater purification using photogranules, aggregates of algae and other microorganisms, with the goal to improve nutrient recovery and harvesting. Upon return, Bridget plans to complete a PhD in chemical engineering and work as a research scientist in the jet biofuels industry where she hopes to do her part to mitigate climate change by providing accessible alternatives to fossil fuels. 

Shaurya Gaur is graduating in 2023 with an Honors bachelor of science degree in Computer Science. Shaurya will earn a master of science in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Technology at Radboud University with the Netherlands Radboud Award. Shaurya will research the effects of AI on women and people of color, build solutions, and advocate for policy to correct the biases that AI often holds for marginalized groups. Upon return, Shaurya plans to continue his work by earning a PhD in AI ethics and policy. He hopes to work in the nonprofit sphere to research the relationship between AI and disinformation in order to become an intermediary between scientists and the public and make AI work best for society.

Andrew Harker is graduating in 2023 with a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Spanish. With the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award, Andrew will teach English in high school classrooms in the Galicia region of Spain. Andrew will also bring his STEM background to show students real-world applications for scientific knowledge. He hopes to empower students to advocate for themselves inside the classroom and out to find the confidence and strength within themselves to continue their education. Upon return, Andrew intends to complete a master’s degree in education and pursue a career in teaching high school mathematics with attention to teaching a diverse set of learners.

Daniel Howell graduated in 2022 with a bachelor of science degree in Biochemistry and Biophysics with a minor in Chemistry. Daniel will engage in a research project in collaboration with Max Planck Institute in Germany. His research will delve into the TaCo pathway - an energy-saving metabolic shortcut that allows plants and in-vitro carbon sequestration approaches to bypass limitations of natural photosynthesis. With this research and in collaboration with the original developers of the TaCo pathway, Daniel hopes his work will lead to solutions for climate change and agricultural concerns through accelerating plant growth and decreasing atmospheric carbon. Upon return, Daniel will complete a PhD studying Synthetic Biology.

Brandt Bridges graduated in 2022 with an Honors bachelor of arts in English with minors in Spanish, Writing, and Chemistry. With the Fulbright-García Robles English Teaching Assistantship in Mexico, Brandt will gain experience teaching in diverse classrooms in order to prepare for a future career in educational administration. Brandt is excited to better understand the relationship between the United States and Mexico and learn to best serve his students and community. Upon return, Brandt plans to pursue a master’s degree in English Education and begin a career in academic administration and education leadership.

Marichelle Gurski graduated in 2021 with a bachelor of arts degree in Liberal Studies with a focus in Psychology from OSU Cascades. With the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Germany, Marichelle will use her five years of German language study, TEFL certification, and prior teaching experience in special education to build relationships with her students in a German classroom. She hopes to further explore German values, policies, art, and literature and expand on her abilities as a culturally competent educator. Upon return, Marichelle plans to earn a master’s degree in German and Psychology and make steps towards becoming a professor with a global perspective.

Scout Osborne graduated in 2021 with a bachelor of science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry and a bachelor of arts in Spanish.  With a Fulbright research grant, Scout will travel to Honduras to investigate dengue virus to potentially improve earlier diagnoses and treatment of dengue fever. Neglected tropical diseases like dengue particularly target low-income communities and may spread due to climate change as well as urbanization in Honduras and other impacted countries. Following this Fulbright year, Scout will begin a biomedical science MD/PhD program and hopes to eventually lead a research lab as a physician-scientist. 

Jeremy Chu graduated in 2018 with a bachelor of science degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Jeremy has been offered a competitive opportunity to spend a second year abroad with a Fulbright English Teaching Flagship Award  in Taiwan. Jeremy engages his students by nurturing an inclusive environment, incorporating creative projects, and finding ways to break down language barriers. He hopes that his ongoing Fulbright experience will continue to further his abilities to communicate with and serve diverse, multilingual populations in his future career as a family physician. As a second year participant, Jeremy will create community service events and lead classes as a primary teacher. 

Additionally, two OSU Honors graduating seniors are currently alternates for the 2023-24 Fulbright and may be promoted at any time.  Anda Gherghe will graduate in spring with an Honors bachelor of science in Microbiology. Anda proposed a research collaboration in Romania  with Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy.  Jax Richards will also graduate in spring 2023 with Honors bachelor of science degrees in Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Speech Communication, and Sustainability Studies. Jax proposed to attend Maastricht University in the Netherlands for a one-year dual master’s program to earn degrees in Public Policy and Human Development.  For updates, please visit http://topscholars.oregonstate.edu 

In 2023-2024, more than 1,800 U.S. citizens will study, conduct research, and teach abroad for the  academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement, and record of service. As Fulbright alumni, their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Fulbright alumni include 60 Nobel Prize laureates, 88 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to forge lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has enabled more than 390,000 dedicated and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and find solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by telephone 202-632-6452 or e-mail [email protected].

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered at Oregon State University through LeAnn Adam, Director, OSU National and Global Scholarships Advising. For more information about applying for Fulbright or other national and international scholarships and fellowships, please contact  LeAnn at [email protected] and visit: https://topscholars.oregonstate.edu/