Fourteen Carls receive Fulbright Awards for 2025
Fulbrights support college students and recent graduates during a year of exploration abroad.
Thirteen students from the Class of 2025 and one Carleton alum from the Class of 2024 received Fulbright Awards this year from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Fulbright program gives college students and recent graduates the opportunity to conduct research, pursue graduate study, or teach English in a host country of their choice, facilitating cross-cultural respect and dialogue.
“During their grants, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences,” according to the Fulbright website. “The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think.”
The Fulbright is the largest exchange program in the country and selects approximately 2,000 students annually to spend one academic year in a country of their choice. The participants are chosen for their academic record, personal qualifications, language preparation, eagerness to promote active engagement with a host community, and the feasibility of their project.
Students interested in applying in the future should contact Carleton’s Office of Student Fellowships for support and assistance.
Meet this year’s Fulbright grant recipients:
Jens Bartel ’25
- Biology
- Fulbright: Research in Austria
“I’ll be in Innsbruck, Austria, working in the Soil Microbiology and Climate Change group at the University of Innsbruck, focusing on projects surrounding land use change. I’ve had previous experience working in microbial research as well as land management here at Carleton in the Arb, and this project combines both interests! I have loved my previous experiences in Austria, including visiting while studying abroad and designing an independent fellowship last year to Vienna, and I am so excited for a chance to live there and experience the place and culture for a longer period of time.
In addition to furthering my interest in human and environmental interactions, I am most looking forward to learning what makes Innsbruck so special for everyone living there by exploring its university culture, surrounding mountains, and group trips like attending an annual ball in Vienna!”
Sadie DiCarlo ’25
- Geology (minor in history)
- Fulbright: Research in Iceland
“Next year, I will be studying the geomorphology and geochemistry of rootless cones in Iceland as terrestrial analogs of Martian paleoenvironments. Rootless cones are volcanic formations that result from lava and water or ice interactions and resemble similar structures seen in Martian satellite imagery. While rootless cones on Mars remain unconfirmed, their existence could indicate where and when there was near-surface water on Mars.
For my comps, I studied the geochemistry of meteorites as analogs for astro material sample-return. Through this, I became fascinated with planetary science and the use of terrestrial analogs to study our solar system. I’m super excited to spend time outside hiking and exploring Iceland, and geeking out about some cool rocks!”
Akash Ganguly ’25
- Mathematics
- Fulbright: Rényi Institute of Mathematics Award in Hungary
“This September, I’ll be in Budapest studying algebraic curves, which are shapes cut out by certain kinds of polynomial equations. Their study involves a number of really interesting techniques and I’m excited to learn more about them. I really enjoyed the city when I studied abroad there my junior year, so I’m excited to head back and enjoy the city again.”
Malachy Guzman ’25
- Mathematics
- Fulbright: Research in Spain
“I’ll be traveling to Spain to do research in biology, joining Professor Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona. I’m really excited about the opportunity to contribute to a collaboration between Professor Garcia-Ojalvo’s group and other groups in Spain and Germany, where I will be employing both experimental biology techniques and mathematical and computational tools to investigate how single cells learn from their environment by adapting their gene regulatory networks.
I first met Professor Garcia-Ojalvo through my work with physics professor Arjendu Pattanayak here at Carleton. Working together on a different project between Carleton and the UPF motivated me to apply, and I am thrilled that the Fulbright will allow me to engage with this fascinating new research. I cannot thank Arjendu enough for introducing me to this research community. Just as much as I look forward to throwing myself into the vibrant research community of Barcelona, I am incredibly excited to experience life in Catalonia. I’m deeply grateful to have this opportunity to serve as a cultural ambassador between the U.S. and Spain, and I can’t wait to get started!”
Olivia Ho ’25
- American studies and English
- Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Bulgaria
“I’m happy to say that I’ll be spending the next year as an English teaching assistant in Bulgaria! I’ll be in a small town called Pravets, which is about 50 minutes outside Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. Since I’ll be living and working in a rural area, I’m very eager to get outdoors and explore the natural landscape. Pravets is in a valley surrounded by the Balkan Mountains, and I’ve heard it has some amazing hiking! As I’ll be the only teacher in the classroom for a majority of my time, I’m eager to incorporate my own interests in creative writing and art that I’ve fostered at Carleton into my lesson plans.
As an American studies major, I was interested in going to Bulgaria because I wanted to immerse myself in a country that has had limited cultural and social interaction with America. Bulgaria’s history as a communist nation affiliated with the Soviet Union is particularly interesting to me given the historical tensions between the United States and the USSR. Along these lines, I hope to engage my students, ranging from ages 14 to 18, in conversations about their understanding of national history. In all, I’m immensely grateful for this opportunity to explore Bulgarian culture and become a member of the Pravets community!”
Ellis Kondrashov ’25
- Sociology and anthropology (minor in Russian)
- Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Kyrgyzstan
“I’ll be flying out to Kyrgyzstan in September, where I’ll be an English teaching assistant. I’m excited to be back in Central Asia. I’m particularly excited to be just a few hours away from Kazakhstan, where I studied abroad two years ago and conducted my comps research last summer. I’ll get to see some of the amazing people I’ve met before, who have been some of the kindest and most generous people I know. It’s an absolute privilege to be able to go back, but this time I’ll be going to teach instead of study or conduct research.
Even though I’ll have a job this time around, I’ll still be learning every day. I’m hoping to learn about Kyrgyz dance and music (and learn Kyrgyz, too), and maybe get better at horseback riding somewhere along the way. This is one of those rare opportunities to live somewhere where I’m a true stranger and guest. I’ll be working around 20 hours a week, but for the rest of my time, I hope I can integrate myself into different communities and networks of people I can learn from and become real friends with.”
Caroline Loescher ’25
- Biology (minor in educational studies)
- Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
“I am thrilled to be spending the next year as an English teaching assistant in the La Rioja region of Spain. Through my educational studies minor, I have worked in a Prairie Creek Community School classroom, a highlight of my time at Carleton. I had the honor of running an environmental science after-school program for students at Greenvale Park Community School, creating lesson plans that combined having fun outdoors and STEM subjects.
I am excited to immerse myself in the Spanish culture and language by learning from educators and students. The La Rioja region has lots to explore outdoors, and I am looking forward to hiking and traveling when outside of the classroom. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn and teach in Spain.”
Ruby Mead ’24
- English (minor in creative writing)
- Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia
“This September, I’ll be traveling to Indonesia, where I will work as an English teaching assistant at a vocational secondary school. While abroad, I plan to draw upon my past work as a writing consultant at Carleton as well as my time tutoring K–12 students, nannying, and teaching youth dance classes. My previous studies abroad in India, Australia, and the United Kingdom have additionally provided me with the necessary toolkit to design compelling lesson plans and community engagement projects.
I am most excited to immerse myself within a largely unfamiliar culture and language and to connect with those working toward reciprocal international exchange. In a more personal vein, I am eager to explore Indonesia’s diverse landscape and wildlife as well as their history of literary and oral artistry. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and to those who have supported me through this process; I can’t wait to get started!”
Melina Sasaki-Uemura ’25
- Major: Mathematics (minor in East Asian studies and music performance)
- Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan
“I will be doing an English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan this coming fall! I am very excited and honored to be able to spend a year in Taiwan teaching elementary school children. I spent my sophomore and junior year summers learning Chinese in Taipei, and my interest in going to graduate school for East Asian studies motivated me to apply for a Fulbright.
I am very excited to be returning to Taiwan, and this opportunity will allow me to explore the island and culture in more depth than before. I am most looking forward to eating all the good food at the night markets!”
Henry Stier ’25
- Cognitive science and music
- Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Germany
“I’ll be teaching English in Germany next year, starting this August! I’ve been placed in the seemingly Midwestern-y state of Niedersachsen, although I haven’t been placed in a town or school yet. I’m really excited to find out what type of school I’ll be in and who I’ll get to work with. I started taking German at Carleton just to fulfill the language requirement, but it grew into a study abroad in my sophomore fall, which led to a love of the people I met and a strong desire to return.
I was lucky enough to hear German professor Kiley Kost talk about her experience on a German Fulbright, and she had so many positive things to say about it and how it cemented her relationship with the people and culture she was around. I’m most looking forward to developing those relationships with local people through food and music, improving my language skills, and getting to explore the surroundings and go hiking in a new area. There’s so much to look forward to with this opportunity, and I’m excited to represent Midwest America abroad!”
Kate Ulrich ’25
- Chemistry (minor in Spanish)
- Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
“This fall, I will be working in the IE University (Universidad Instituto de Empresa) writing center in Madrid and Segovia, Spain. I am very excited for this opportunity to continue working as a writing consultant, as I have had a wonderful experience in this role throughout my past three years at Carleton.
As part of my Spanish minor, I spent this past fall in Madrid on Carleton’s off-campus studies program. I had a fantastic time and I am looking forward to diving back into Spanish culture, especially Madrid’s rich food and museum scenes. I’m grateful to all who have supported me throughout my time at Carleton and through the application process. I am lucky to have spent my last four years in such a supportive, enriching community and am looking forward to building new connections next year!”
Katie O’Leary ’25 was selected for an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany, but instead accepted the U.S. Teaching Assistantship in Austria.
Mitch Porter ’25 was selected for the English Teaching Assistantship in Portugal, but instead accepted the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.
Aaron Zivsak ’25 was selected for an English Teaching Assistantship in the Czech Republic, but instead accepted the Pierce Fellowship through the American College of Greece.