Dr. Monika Gulia-Nuss is a molecular parasitologist and vector biologist focused on the genetics, physiology, and control of blood-feeding arthropods such as insects and ticks that affect agriculture and public health. As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Uruguay, she conducted research at the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA) La Estanzuela and collaborated with the Pasteur Institute in Montevideo, building genetic tools to study the cattle fever tick, a major threat to livestock production in South America.

Dr. George Antoniou is an associate professor of cybersecurity at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, advancing cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) education. As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar at the University of Tirana in Albania, he worked with the Department of Informatics to strengthen cybersecurity education and support the responsible integration of AI.

Dr. Ryan Richards is a University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. As a Fulbright Futures Scholar at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, he worked with some of the world’s leading researchers on photocatalytic technologies that use light to drive chemical conversions. His Fulbright connected his U.S. research group with the Australian experts to complement its work on new synthetic methods to control the size, shape and composition of nanoscale materials for applications in energy technologies.

Dr. Scott M. Waring is a scholar of American history and a Professor of Social Science Education and the Associate Director for Internationalization and Research in the School of Teacher Education at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in social science methodology, research, and theory, using primary sources such as letters from John Adams to teach history. He was a Fulbright U.S. Scholar at Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, led a Fulbright-Hays program, and was a Fulbright Specialist in Bulgaria.

Dr. Yanchulova Merica-Jones, an astronomer, was a 2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar in the Faculty of Physics at Sofia University in Bulgaria. Her project focused on student recruitment and retention in astronomy and physics, integrating teaching, research, and outreach. She collaborated with faculty and students at Sofia University and the Institute of Astronomy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Milda Aksamitauskas is a data strategist and public sector leader with over 20 years of experience building integrated data systems that help governments make better decisions. As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Lithuania, she collaborated with the Prime Minister's Office and the State Data Agency on a national data strategy to make government data more accessible and useful for policymakers and analysts. This experience deepened her expertise in public sector data governance and reinforced her commitment to cross-border knowledge exchange.

Dr. David Thornton worked on AI innovation and new technologies as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria. He collaborated with Game Lab Graz and the Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science on projects involving virtual reality, speech technologies, and artificial intelligence. He developed AI-supported multilingual speech controls and an AI tutor for the Maroon physics simulation platform while teaching graduate courses to nearly 100 students and mentoring students working in generative AI, multimodal interfaces, and gamification.

Dr. Kusali Gamage, a marine geologist and educator, engaged in discussions on critical minerals, taught courses in oceanography and introductory geology, and mentored undergraduate researchers as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar at the Department of Geology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Through teaching, collaborative research, and engagement with faculty and students, her Fulbright experience catalyzed new international collaborations and expanded her work in geoscience education.

Dr. Craig J. Goergen is a professor and Associate Head of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, specializing in technology and innovation that advances the study and treatment of cardiac disease. As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in France, he conducted research at the Université de Montpellier examining the ways mild traumatic brain injuries influence long-term cardiac function.