MIT Students Achieve 2024 Fulbright Scholarships Count of Eleven Grantees
A Gang of 11 Tech Whizzes from MIT to Roam the World, Courtesy of the Fulbright Scholarship
In a thrilling turn of events, a gaggle of ambitious students and alumni from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are about to embark on internationally funded projects, thanks to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. In this exceptional 2024-25 grant cycle, no less than eleven scholars from MIT have been granted this prestigious award. shockingly, two additional students were given the honor, but they decided to bail on the opportunity to pursue other interests.
Adored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers a magnificent opportunity for American students and recent grads to expand their horizons through independent research, graduate studies, or English teaching across more than 140 countries.
The sky-high popularity of MIT is not a new thing; the university has proudly held the title of Fulbright Top-Producing Institution for five years straight. If you're an MIT student or alum hoping to seize the Fulbright chance, you should reach out to Julia Mongo, the MIT Fulbright program's friendly advisor in the Office of Distinguished Fellowships.
Astrophysics Whiz, April Cheng, a junior with a double concentration in physics and mathematics, is gearing up to explore the mysteries of the universe in Germany. Awarded the Fulbright grant, Cherng will team up with the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics to decipher the expansion rate of the universe using statistical techniques and gravitational waves. It all started when Chang became captivated by gravitational waves and black holes while working at the MIT LIGO and Caltech LIGO labs. Further, Chang's research interests span a broad spectrum within astrophysics, including cosmology and fast radio bursts. Passionate about physics education and outreach, Cheng has dedicated much effort to creating educational materials for high school Science Olympiads. At MIT, Cheng is a member of the Physics Values Committee, the physics mentorship program, and the MIT Lion Dance team. In the long run, Chang aims to pursue a PhD in astrophysics at Princeton University, where they have received the President's Fellowship.
Teaching and learning beyond borders, that's the motto for Grace McMillan. A senior majoring in literature and mechanical engineering with a Russian language concentration, McMillan will teach English as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Kazakhstan. McMillan's infatuation with Central Asia was ignited by a Russian language immersion program she attended in her sophomore summer in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, funded by MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI). McMillan hopes to assist her students in language acquisition so they can integrate seamlessly into the global academic community. Throughout her time at MIT, McMillan has collaborated with faculty from diverse fields, including nuclear science, earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, and the Digital Humanities Lab. In addition to academics, she has been an active member of her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and served on the MIT Health Consumers' Advisory Council for two years. After Fulbright, McMillan intends to attend law school with a focus on education reform.
Ryan McTigue will receive his diploma this spring with a BS in physics and mathematics and a concentration in Spanish. McTigue, armed with a Fulbright grant, is off to Spain's University of Valencia to investigate the physics of two-dimensional multiferroic nanodevices at the university's Institute of Molecular Science. Excited about improving his Spanish and immersing himself in another culture, McTigue has been hooked on condensed matter physics research since joining the Checkelsky group at MIT. Outside of research, McTigue has mentored students in the physics department's mentoring program and is a member of the heavyweight men's crew team. Post-Fulbright, McTigue will commence a PhD in physics at Princeton University.
The list continues with an amazing group of individuals like Keith Murray, Maaya Prasad, Anusha Puri, Olivia Rosenstein, Jennifer Schug, Vaibhavi Shah, Charvi Sharma, and Isabella Witham. Each of these remarkable scholars has unique plans and ambitions, hoping to make an impact in their respective fields and beyond as they expand their horizons with the Fulbright Grant.
To learn more about the specific details and plans for these grants, it's best to contact the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or MIT's Office of Distinguished Fellowships directly. Happy travels and best of luck to our exceptional MIT scholars!
- April Cheng, an astrophysics whiz with a double concentration in physics and mathematics, will venture into Germany to unravel the mysteries of the universe with the help of the Fulbright grant and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics.
- Cheng's research interests delve into a broad spectrum within astrophysics, encompassing cosmology and fast radio bursts, having been captivated by gravitational waves and black holes during her time at the MIT LIGO and Caltech LIGO labs.
- Passionate about physics education and outreach, Cheng has dedicated much effort to creating educational materials for high school Science Olympiads and is a member of the Physics Values Committee, the physics mentorship program, and the MIT Lion Dance team at MIT.
- With plans to pursue a PhD in astrophysics at Princeton University, Cheng was awarded the President's Fellowship.
- Teaching and learning beyond borders is the motto for Grace McMillan, a senior majoring in literature and mechanical engineering with a Russian language concentration, who will teach English as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Kazakhstan.
- McMillan's fascination with Central Asia was ignited during a Russian language immersion program she attended in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, funded by MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI).
- McMillan hopes to aid her students in language acquisition so they can integrate seamlessly into the global academic community.
- Throughout her time at MIT, McMillan has collaborated with faculty from diverse fields, including nuclear science, earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, and the Digital Humanities Lab.
- In addition to academics, she has been an active member of her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and served on the MIT Health Consumers' Advisory Council for two years.
- After Fulbright, McMillan intends to attend law school with a focus on education reform.
- Ryan McTigue, who will graduate this spring with a BS in physics and mathematics and a concentration in Spanish, will embark on a journey to Spain's University of Valencia to study the physics of two-dimensional multiferroic nanodevices.
- Excited about improving his Spanish and immersing himself in another culture, McTigue has been hooked on condensed matter physics research since joining the Checkelsky group at MIT.
- Outside of research, McTigue has mentored students in the physics department's mentoring program and is a member of the heavyweight men's crew team.
- Post-Fulbright, McTigue will commence a PhD in physics at Princeton University.
- The Fulbright Grant will enable a diverse group of individuals like Keith Murray, Maaya Prasad, Anusha Puri, Olivia Rosenstein, Jennifer Schug, Vaibhavi Shah, Charvi Sharma, and Isabella Witham to expand their horizons in their respective fields.
- Each of these remarkable scholars has unique plans and aspirations, driven by their desire to make an impact on society and contribute to education, science, and research on a global scale.
- To understand the specific details and plans for these grants, contact the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or MIT's Office of Distinguished Fellowships directly.
- Happy travels and best of luck to our exceptional MIT scholars as they delve into promising educational and research opportunities around the world, contributing to advancements in fields such as astrophysics, neuroscience, climate science, materials science, medicine, public health, engineering, and online education for sustainability and education-and-self-development.
