Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Fulbright / FLAD Open Study/Research Award
Helene Duebel
Helene Duebel is a recent graduate of Boston University with a degree in Neuroscience and Computer Science. She is passionate about computational approaches to understanding the brain. She is currently a research assistant in the Myers Laboratory at Colorado State University, analyzing neural and behavioral data. For her honors thesis, she applied a state-space model to explore how rats’ decision-making strategies shift across the circadian rhythm. Helene is excited to join the Mainen Laboratory at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, where she will examine whether facial expressions reveal decision-making strategies and whether facial movements reflect neural manipulations that alter behavior.
Neuroscience and Computer Science
Neuroscience
“Using Facial Expressions to Gauge Serotonergic Modulation of Decision-Making Strategies ”
Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Lisboa
8 months
Fulbright / Camões, I.P. Open Study/Research Award
Pia Hernandez
Pia Hernández is a recent graduate from Rollins College with a B.A. in Music and in Religious Studies, summa cum laude and a Phi Beta Kappa member. Music is at the core of Pía’s mission, and she seeks to lead peaceful and productive change through the conversation of music. Her passion for raising indigenous voices, promoting regenerative wellness, and leading systemic change is channeled through her intuitive musicianship and artful expression. Through Fulbright, she will continue synthesizing her studies on music and spirituality by crafting a project on Portuguese folk choral music while refining her skills as a conductor.
B.A. in Music and in Religious Studies, Rollins College.
Conducting
“Voices Unheard: An Ode to Portugese Choral Musi”
Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisboa
8 months
Fulbright / Azores Regional Government Open Study/Research Award
Alyssa Botelho
Alyssa Botelho is a screenwriter and filmmaker with dual degrees in Film/Media and Business Management from the University of Rhode Island. Her work centers on community, psychology, folklore, and overlooked histories. Alyssa is excited to develop a feature-length screenplay set in the Azores during World War I, exploring Portugal–U.S. relations through a father-son story amid the changing whaling industry and rise of American naval presence. Her research will be conducted in collaboration with the Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada (Councilman Sérgio Rezendes), the Museu Carlos Machado, and the Museu Militar dos Açores, fostering cross-cultural exchange through storytelling.
Dual Degrees in Film/Media and Business Management from the University of Rhode Island
Creative Writing
“The Last Frontier: War, Whales, and American-Azorean Family Bonds in WWI”
Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada / Museu Carlos Machado / Museu Militar, Ponta Delgada
8 months
Champ Turner
Champ Turner is a multimedia artist with experience working in museums, collections and archives. He holds a B.A. in Visual Art and International Affairs from Brown University. With an interest in understanding local history through its material legacy, Champ will work to create a site-specific installation at the Carlos Machado Museum on the topic of historic upheaval events in the Azores. Having lived in Rhode Island (home to a large Azorean diaspora), Champ hopes to connect his work to the shared history of Portugal, the Azores, and New England.
B.A. in Visual Art and International Affairs from Brown University
Installation Art
”
“Out of the Ashes: The Symbiotic Archipelago”
Museu Carlos Machado, Ponta Delgada
8 months
Priya Talreja
Priya Talreja is a transportation electrification researcher from the San Francisco Bay Area with a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from the University of California, Davis. She previously worked on electric vehicle incentive programs at ICF, CALSTART, and the California Air Resources Board.
As a Fulbright researcher, Priya will collaborate with the University of the Azores and the Azores Regional Directorate for Energy to develop a mapping tool that supports the equitable placement of electric vehicle chargers to address the varying mobility needs of the islands' industries.
Priya Talreja is a 2025 Fulbright-National Geographic Award recipient.
B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from the University of California, Davis
Transportation
“Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Equity in the Azores”
Universidade dos Açores / Direção Regional de Energia, Ponta Delgada
8 months
Zahra Tyebjee
Zahra Tyebjee is a material designer and a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts in Textiles program at the Rhode Island School of Design. During the Fulbright grant, she intends to develop a deep understanding of Azorean basketry craft through collaborating with local artisans, learning traditional basket weaving techniques, and mapping the lifecycle from seed to basket. As fewer local artisans are working with basketry today, she will build upon Azorean methods of preservation to carry forth the craft while amplifying the sensory and tactile qualities of basket weaving to bring emotional resonance to materials. Her research will be compiled into an artist’s book and an interactive exhibition of materials. She will work with Anda&Fala – Associação Cultural and Centro de Artesanato e Design dos Açores. Zahra looks forward to engaging with the local community through hiking and trail running.
Master of Fine Arts in Textiles program at the Rhode Island School of Design
Textiles
“Haptic Witnessing: The Sensory Experience of Basket Weaving”
Anda&Fala – Associação Cultural / CADA – Centro de Artesanato e Design dos Açores, Ponta Delgada
8 months
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award
Amy Inestroza
Amy Gisselle Inestroza was born in La Ceiba, Honduras. Her upbringing in a diverse immigrant community in the U.S. shaped her passion for cultural diplomacy and education equity. A first-generation college graduate from the College of the Holy Cross, she earned her BA in International Studies and Sociology with a focus on Latin America. While studying abroad in Buenos Aires, she began learning Portuguese, deepening her commitment to engaging with Lusophone communities. She also conducted research on the intersections of religion and political behavior among Latino and Asian American communities in the U.S. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at the Universidade da Madeira, she looks forward to creating community through dialogue, creativity, and shared experience. She hopes to pursue a career in diplomacy that amplifies underrepresented voices and promotes cross-cultural connection. .
BA in International Studies and Sociology with a focus on Latin America, College of the Holy Cross
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
“English Teaching Assistantship”
Universidade da Madeira, Funchal
9 months
Jamie Nicolas
Jamie Nicolas is from Brooklyn, NY. She graduated with a degree in American Studies and Education Studies from Yale University in 2025. In college, she participated in several organizations focused on advancing education equity, including Matriculate, Breakthrough NY, and the National Coalition on School Diversity. During her ETA, she will teach university students and spend time studying Portugal's history with colonialism. Jamie is excited to teach, learn more about Portugal, and increase her fluency in Portuguese, a language she has been learning throughout her life as a Brazilian American. In the future, Jamie hopes to become a Black Studies professor.
American Studies and Education Studies from Yale University
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
“English Teaching Assistantship”
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria
9 months
Joceline Rodrigues
Joceline Rodrigues, born in Praia, Cabo Verde, is a dedicated and passionate aspiring physician whose goal is to blend clinical work with advocacy, research, and service. She is deeply committed to transforming healthcare into a more equitable system, with a strong focus on global health, community outreach, and policy reform. Joceline graduated from the University of Rhode Island, where she earned bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Biology. During her time at URI, she was honored as a Ryan Scholar and a Gilman Scholar, allowing her to spend a semester in India, South Africa, and Argentina. These immersive experiences enhanced her understanding of global health and fueled her desire to advocate for vulnerable populations worldwide. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA), Joceline plans to immerse herself in Portuguese culture, improve her fluency in the language, learn about the healthcare system, and explore Lusophone communities. Following her Fulbright year, Joceline plans to attend medical school and pursue a dual MD/MPH degree, continuing her advocacy for marginalized populations and working towards global healthcare solutions."
Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Biology, University of Rhode Island
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
“English Teaching Assistantship”
ISG| Business and Economics School, Lisboa
9 months
Julia Lininger-White
Julia Lininger-White is a graduate of Middlebury College, where she studied History and Global Health. While working on a drug policy initiative in Oregon, she became interested in how different countries approach public health without compromising law and order. Her study of Portuguese and a semester in Lisbon gave her a strong appreciation for national identity, civic order, and community resilience—values she also sees in her home state of Oregon. As an English Teaching Assistant, Julia looks forward to strengthening local ties through education, service, and shared values. She is excited to build her prior English teaching experience at the Washington English Center in D.C. and at Success Academy in Chisinau, Moldova. An avid tennis player and runner, she also looks forward to building community through sports and volunteering.
History and Global Health, Middlebury College
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
“English Teaching Assistantship”
Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Almada
9 months
Matthew Hernandez
Matthew Hernandez is a Colombian-American, multilingual, 2024 graduate of Denison University, where he majored in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. For his Senior Thesis, Matthew investigated the politics of housing and immigration in the contemporary context of his hometown, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since graduating college, Matthew has served low-income communities as a paralegal at Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services and he has aided international affiliates of Harvard University seeking immigration consultation and representation at Harvard Law School's Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program. In Portugal, Matthew is excited to support Portuguese students in linguistic and cultural learning so that they may access unique career opportunities after their university studies. After Fulbright, Matthew plans to enroll in law school to become a stronger advocate within his community. On the weekends, Matthew enjoys long distance biking, attending live music events, and spending time with his one-year-old niece, Valeria.
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, Denison University, OH
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
“English Teaching Assistantship”
Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro
9 months
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Fulbright All Disciplines Award
Danielle Kuntz
Danielle M. Kuntz is Associate Professor of Music History and Riemenschneider Bach Institute Scholar-in-Residence at Baldwin Wallace University. Her research examines the intersection of music, drama, and religion in eighteenth-century music, focusing on the music of the Portuguese court. She is excited to return to Portugal, where she previously completed dissertation research with the support of a Fulbright Student Program Research Grant (2012-2013) and pursued advanced language study as the recipient of a U.S. Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies Grant (Universidade de Lisboa). She holds the PhD in Historical Musicology from the University of Minnesota.
Associate Professor of Music History and Riemenschneider Bach Institute Scholar-in-Residence at Baldwin Wallace University
Music History
Scholar-in-Residence in 18th-Century U.S.-Portugal Music Studies
Divino Sospiro – Centro de Estudos Musicais Setecentistas de Portugal, Lisboa
4 months
Fulbright / FCT: Foundation for Science and Technology Award (All Disciplines)
Heidi Pearson
Heidi Pearson is a Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Alaska Southeast. She earned her BS in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, and Biology, from Duke University and her PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. Heidi's research focuses on the behavior, ecology, and conservation of marine mammals, with a focus on humpback whales, small dolphins, and sea otters. Her field sites include Southeast Alaska, the Eastern Tropical Pacific, Tonga, New Zealand, and the south of Portugal. In addition to being a Fulbright Scholar to Norway (2018) and Portugal (2025), Heidi is a National Geographic Explorer.
Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Alaska Southeast
Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
“Creation of a Monitoring Strategy for Pedra do Valado to Facilitate Conservation Goals in Portugal”
AIMM – Associação para a Investigação do Meio Marinho, Faro
4 months
Humberto Campins
Humberto Campins, PhD, plans to carry out research on asteroids at the University of Coimbra. He is especially interested in Near-Earth asteroids that could threaten Earth with an impact and can also be used for space mining. He is Pegasus Professor of Physics and Astronomy and head of the Planetary Science group at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He was a 2021-2022 Jefferson Science Fellow and served as science advisor at the US State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. He is a member of NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, which brought to Earth samples of asteroid Bennu. He also works on European Space Agency projects, including the Euclid and Hera missions.
Pegasus Professor of Physics and Astronomy and head of the Planetary Science group at the University of Central Florida in Orlando
Planetary Astronomy & Science
“Studying asteroids with the European Space Agency’s Euclid Space Observatory”
Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra
4 months
Sarah Braden
Sarah Braden holds a PhD in Linguistics, an MS in Education, and a BA in biology and environmental studies. Dr. Braden is an Associate Professor in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at Utah State University where she helps to train future teachers and education researchers. In her research, Dr. Braden uses applied linguistic and linguistic anthropological methods to identify instructional design principles that leverage the assets of multilingual youth in STEM learning environments. Dr. Braden has been a PI or Co-PI on several projects funded by the National Science Foundation in which she collaborated with scientists and education researchers to design and deliver informal STEM learning opportunities on cosmic ray physics and engineering to middle and high school students.
Associate Professor in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at Utah State University
Education and Leadership
“Developing a Model for Asset-Based Engineering Education for Multilingual Learners ”
Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa
4 months
Tayyaba Hasan
Tayyaba Hasan, PhD, is a Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard-MIT HST.
A global leader in photodynamic therapy, she has ~300 publications, 30+ inventions, and directs international programs on image-guided cancer treatment and affordable oral cancer care in low-resource settings.
Dr. Hasan has received over a dozen major awards, including ICPP, SAASCR, ASP, ESP, IPA, and the US Presidential Award (PAESMEM), recognizing her scientific impact and commitment to mentoring.
She is internationally respected for mentoring advancing equity and in science. Through the Fulbright program, she aims to expand global collaborations and promote innovative, accessible healthcare solutions.
Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard-MIT HST
Photodynamic Therapy
“Fundamental Principles of Photochemistry Applied to Medical Problems”
Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra
4 months