Fulbright Scholars celebrate US research ties
Three University of Melbourne graduates have been named 2019 Fulbright Scholars, recognising the potential international impact of their research aspirations.
The scholarships support Australian recipients for professional development in the United States and promote cultural and educational exchange between the nations.
Three US Fulbright Scholars have also been selected to study at the University of Melbourne.
University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Ruth Fincher said the scholarships highlight the University’s world-class research and global ties.
“Bringing the brightest minds together is vital to solving global challenges,” Professor Fincher said.
“University of Melbourne graduates are outstanding in their field, and I’m delighted to see our experts in medicine, science and the arts selected to further their talent and transfer knowledge.”
Academics William Yan, Tim Connell and Andrew Strano will travel to the US to commence their studies.
Dr Yan is a surgical registrar and postgraduate researcher in ophthalmology, with a passion for digital health and blindness prevention.
As a Fulbright Future Scholar, he will complete a Fellowship in Ophthalmic Innovation at the Stanford Byers Eye Institute and study clinical bioinformatics. Dr Yan hopes to advance technology-driven approaches to increasing healthcare access and enable informed clinical decision-making in Australia.
Postdoctoral research fellow Dr Connell will use his Fulbright Future Scholarship to undertake research in the laboratory of Professor Stefan Bernhard at Carnegie Mellon University.
His research aims to develop a sustainable system for the solar generation of hydrogen – an emerging alternative fuel source to oil and natural gas.
Victorian College of the Arts graduate Mr Strano is an accomplished musical theatre writer, performer and director.
For his Fulbright Victoria Scholarship he will join the prestigious New York University Tisch School of the Arts’ Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, the only of its kind in the world. Uniquely tied to Broadway, Mr Strano will act as a cultural bridge between Australian musical theatre writers and world class writing techniques used by Broadway musicals.
The 2019 Fulbright Scholars will be officially recognised at the 2019 Fulbright Gala Presentation Dinner held at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday, 28 February.