Congratulations to the Columbia University affiliates awarded a Fulbright US Student Grant for 2026-2027!
TWENTY-FOUR alumni of Columbia’s three undergraduate divisions have been selected for 2026–2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Grants. They join an additional nine awardees from Columbia’s graduate programs, along with two at-large recipients. The Fulbright provides awardees the opportunity to undertake independent research, to pursue graduate study, or to serve in English-language teaching positions within classrooms around the world.
Of those selected, 21 have accepted their awards. Two additional Columbians received the Fulbright as at-large candidates, and nine affiliates of Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences were also named Fulbright awardees.
Read on to learn more about those who have accepted their award!
2026 - 2027 Fulbright Awardees, clockwise from top left: Chris Brown, CC'26; Haley Chung, CC'23, Oliver Fuisz, CC'26; Celeste Funari Muse, CC'25; Gitika Gorthi, SEAS'26; Griffin Hugland, CC'26.
Vietnam, English Teaching Assistantship
Chris Brown pursued a history major and a minor in visual arts at Columbia College. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Chris worked with Community Impact for three years at Columbia, where he was first introduced to teaching English. He will continue this work in Vietnam, where he will serve as an English Teaching Assistant. In 2025, he received a Critical Language Scholarship to study Japanese, further inspiring his love of learning unfamiliar languages. At Columbia, Chris served as Managing Editor of Blue and White, Columbia’s undergraduate magazine, and was a founding member of The Crown Magazine. He was also involved with WKCR and the Columbia Bartending Agency. Following his year in Vietnam, Chris plans to enroll in law school.
Haley Chung, CC’23
France, English Teaching Assistantship
Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Haley Chung graduated from Columbia College with a double-major in Film and Media Studies and Human Rights. Upon graduation, she was a Fred Rogers Productions writing fellow, which led her to write for a variety of PBS children’s television shows, such as Rosie's Rules, Donkey Hodie, and Lyla in the Loop. Haley was also selected for a writing fellowship with Film Independent’s ‘Project Involve’, where she wrote a stop-motion animated short with support from LAIKA Studios. As a Fulbright grantee, Haley is excited to immerse herself in and learn from a new pedagogical system to inform her personal philosophy on effective public education. Haley will be an English teaching assistant in Lyon, France, where she will continue to write and aim to try all of the local cheeses.
Oliver Fuisz, CC’26
United Kingdom, Graduate Study
A native New Yorker, Oliver Fuisz graduated from Columbia College with a double major in economics and history, and a particular interest in political economy. His senior thesis used game theory and experimental data to examine the relationship between biased media and voting decisions. For his commitment to the study of economics, Oliver was one of three recipients of the Sanford S. Parker Prize, a distinction awarded to graduating seniors demonstrating promise of original work at the graduate level. Outside of the classroom, Oliver enjoys reading, playing guitar, and most of all spending time with the many friends who made his time at Columbia so special. As a Fulbright grantee, Oliver will pursue an MSc in Economics at the University of Warwick, where he hopes to deepen his appreciation and understanding of political economy. After completing his course, he will return to the United States to pursue graduate study, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the design of better political institutions as a policymaker and an academic.
Celeste Funari Muse, CC’25
Mexico, English Teaching Assistantship
Celeste Funari Muse of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Mexico. Celeste earned her BA in archaeological anthropology from Columbia, where she focused on ancient and contemporary material culture. Her previous research includes a Spanish-language ethnography examining globalization in the Peruvian Andes, as well as an honors thesis exploring the colonial logics of safari hunting and artifact collecting. In addition to her role as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, Celeste will also pursue an independent project focused on collaborative art practices in Mexican printmaking and muralism.
Skyler Gluck, GS’26
Mexico, English Teaching Assistantship
Skylar Gluck, GS’26, is a graduate of the Dual BA Program between Sciences Po and Columbia University. At Sciences Po, Skyler studied Political Humanities; at Columbia, he studied Comparative Literature & Society. As an English Teaching Assistant in Mexico, he looks forward to deepening his commitment to cross-cultural communication and public engagement while building on his professional interests in English teaching, legal advocacy, and journalism.
Gitika Gorthi, SEAS’26
Netherlands, Independent Research
Originally from Centreville, Virginia, Gitika Gorthi will conduct research at the Surgical Research Laboratory at the University Medical Center Groningen under the mentorship of transplant surgeon and researcher Dr. Henri Leuvenink. At Columbia, Gitika studied biomedical engineering and economics; Her Fulbright research explores strategies to improve organ viability prior to transplantation, with the goal of expanding the supply of transplantable organs, thereby aiming to address the global organ shortage. Following her year in the Netherlands, Gitika plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in transplant medicine, with a long-term interest in leveraging technologies to develop artificial organs and contribute to alleviating the national organ shortage crisis.
Griffin Hughland, CC’26
El Salvador, Independent Research
Arriving in New York City from a small town in Wisconsin, Griffin Hughland studied political science and economics-philosophy while at Columbia. To complement his academic studies, he pursued public service through political internships and leadership roles with the Columbia University Democrats and the Columbia Undergraduate Law Society. He also contributed to educational outreach as a tutor and teaching assistant, while developing discipline and leadership skills through his involvement with the Columbia University Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club. In El Salvador, Griffin will examine how martial arts–based programs foster civic responsibility, build social capital and strengthen social cohesion by creating opportunities for young people. Following his Fulbright year, Griffin plans to attend law school and pursue a career in public service.
2026 - 2027 Fulbright Awardees, clockwise from top left: Eden Knapp, SEAS'26; Elliot Molz, CC'26; Sumer Moudgill, SEAS'26; Cassidy Murray, GS'26; Kiet Nguyen, GS'26; Daisy Nuñez Torres, CC’26.
United Kingdom, Graduate Study
Eden Knapp, originally from Northern Virginia, majored in Mechanical Engineering and minored in Aerospace Engineering. During her time at Columbia, Eden was active in student life as an Executive Board Member for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). She also served as a Resident Adviser, and a mentor for the "MechE Mentors" program. Her technical background includes designing space tools with the Columbia Space Initiative’s Micro-G NExT team and conducting research on solar sail technology. As a Fulbright recipient, Eden will pursue an MSc in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nottingham, where she will continue to explore the potential of solar sails for both space travel and climate change mitigation.
Elliot Molz, CC’26
Denmark, Independent Research
Growing up in Taos, a small town in northern New Mexico, Elliot Molz developed an early appreciation for the outdoors that later inspired him to study geology and climate as an Environmental Science major. As an undergraduate at Columbia, Elliot worked in Dr. Terry Plank’s lab at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, studying and writing his senior thesis on volcanism at the Santorini Caldera in Greece. Next year, Elliot will conduct research at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, examining ice cores collected from East Greenland in order to investigate how ancient volcanic eruptions shaped Earth's climate during the early Holocene. By analyzing layers of volcanic ash preserved in the ice, he hopes to advance our understanding of past climate dynamics and contribute to ongoing environmental and conservation research.
Sumer Moudgill, SEAS’26
India, Independent Research
Sumer Moudgill, an Applied Physics major and East Asian Studies minor, will conduct research in India next year as a Fulbright grantee. His work as an undergraduate focused on analyzing data from large international gravitational-wave observatories, including research conducted under Professor Zsuzsanna Marka. Drawing on this experience, Sumer’s work will contribute to the development of INDIGO, a gravitational-wave detector currently under construction in India, where his Fulbright project will focus on understanding and seeking to reduce sources of measurement noise to improve the instrument’s sensitivity. Beyond his scientific research at Columbia, Sumer served as an undergraduate Teaching Assistant and was engaged in a range of interests across campus, including Tae Kwon Do, ballroom dance, and astronomy. He looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for science, education, athletics, and the arts with his host community in India.
Cassidy Murray, GS’26
Palestinian Territories, English Teaching Assistantship
Cassidy Murray is a recent graduate of the Dual BA Program between Columbia University and Trinity College Dublin, where she studied Political Science at Columbia and Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures at Trinity. Her academic work focused on international security and political violence, complemented by extensive language study and a regional focus on the Middle East and Russia. At Columbia’s Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, Cassidy served as a scholar and research assistant, supporting both public-facing programming and faculty research. Prior to her undergraduate studies, she worked with refugee communities across Greece and Turkey, and gained public service and policy communications experience in the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in the Palestinian Territories, Cassidy hopes to contribute to a school community while gaining practical experience that will support her long-term commitment to human rights and public service.
Kiet Nguyen, GS’26
Vietnam, Independent Research
A recent graduate of Columbia University’s Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program in the School of General Studies, Kiet Nguyen has been awarded a Fulbright research grant to Vietnam, where he will examine community health resilience in the Mekong River Delta. More specifically, his project will explore how wearable health technologies and AI-enabled clinical decision support systems may improve early detection, triage, and response in resource-constrained and disaster-prone health systems, with the goal of identifying scalable approaches to strengthen care delivery. At Columbia, Kiet conducted research at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and led wellness initiatives as a certified yoga and meditation instructor. His commitment to the community was recognized with the School of General Studies Change Agent Student Leadership Award. Kiet’s background includes military service as a US Marine Corps officer, management consulting, and graduate training at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, further informing his interest in how data-driven tools can support more resilient health systems globally. Following his time as a Fulbrighter in Vietnam, Kiet plans to pursue a career in medicine, with interests in emergency care and global public health.
Daisy Nuñez Torres, CC’26
South Korea, English Teaching Assistantship
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Daisy Nuñez Torres studied Political Science and Human Rights and complemented her studies with coursework in East Asian Studies. Raised in a bilingual, immigrant household, she developed a keen awareness of the intersection of language, migration, and access, and how these forces shape opportunity. Throughout her time at Columbia, Daisy sought to expand educational access for students from underrepresented backgrounds through multiple mentorship roles. To that end, she served as a Returning Advising Fellow with the Matriculate college advising program, and as a Peer Mentor with Columbia’s Academic Success Programs. She was also a College Advising Intern with SEO Scholars (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity). As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in South Korea, Daisy looks forward to fostering cultural exchange among her students while supporting language development through interactive and student-centered learning. Following her Fulbright year, she plans to pursue graduate studies and a career at the intersection of law, immigration, and human rights.
2026 - 2027 Fulbright Awardees, clockwise from top left: Asha Roberson, CC'25; Shreyas Shridharan, CC’26; Juliet Tochterman-Farias, CC’22; Ruby Topalian, GS'26; Lolita Vasquez, CC’2; Sophia Wang, CC'26. Not pictured: Skylar Gluck, GS'26; Tara Zia, CC'26.
South Korea, English Teaching Assistantship
Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Asha Roberson majored in Environmental Biology at Columbia College. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant at Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory under Dr. Luca Telesca, studying how climate change affects oyster reef restoration in the Hudson River Estuary in partnership with New York City’s Billion Oyster Project.Asha also conducted research at the American Museum of Natural History under Dr. Jessica Goodheart, and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program. In addition to her focused research and involvement with the Columbia Science Review, she collaborated with the Office of Undergraduate Student Life to help create meaningful experiences for incoming students as part of the New Student Orientation Program and worked as an environmental science teacher in the Bronx, experiences that strengthened her commitment to making science accessible to broader audiences and sparked her interest in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program. In South Korea, Asha looks forward to supporting English language learning, deepening her understanding of international education policy, and continuing to develop her Korean language skills.
Shreyas Shridharan, CC’26
Norway, Independent Research
Originally from Plano, Texas, Shreyas Shridharan graduated with a major in Neuroscience and Behavior. As an I.I. Rabi Scholar and Amgen Scholar, his research as an undergraduate spanned multiple laboratories across a range of institutions. At Columbia, Shreyas worked under Dr. Ai Yamamoto, investigating how the brain clears damaged proteins and how protein buildup may affect people with Huntington's disease. He presented this work at the Amgen Scholars North America Symposium and multiple Columbia Undergraduate Research Symposia, and has contributed to three manuscripts in preparation. Beyond the bench, Shreyas founded the Columbia Physician Scientist Association, co-led the Columbia chapter of the American Red Cross, and volunteered with the Dementia Art Therapy Alliance. In Norway, Shreyas will join the laboratory of Dr. Anne Simonsen at the University of Oslo to study how neural development and degeneration are linked. Upon return to the US, he plans to pursue an MD/PhD with the goal of developing preventive therapeutics for neurological diseases.
Juliet Tochterman-Farias, CC’22
Mexico, Binational Business Program
Originally from Sacramento, California, Juliet Tochterman-Farias studied environmental science as a Columbia undergraduate and subsequently completed a master's in Climate and Society from The Columbia Climate School. As an undergraduate, she wrote for the Columbia Daily Spectator and conducted paleoclimate research at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. As a graduate student, Juliet traveled to Cartagena, Colombia and contributed to a published volume on housing resilience and climate. Juliet spent the past three years in Brazil and Chile working first at the local NGO Filha do Sol, and then subsequently at the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean. She is currently working at the California Environmental Protection Agency on innovative sustainable development policy. She looks forward to continuing to develop skills at the intersection of sustainability and economic development as a Fulbright grantee within the Binational Business Program in Mexico City. Ultimately, Juliet seeks to combine a rigorous scientific understanding of climate change, with policy and community work in international and state governments across the US and Latin America.
Ruby Topalian, GS’26
Germany, Independent Research
Ruby Topalian graduated from the Dual BA Program between Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University, where her studies focused on 20th century international history and Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures. An avid writer, Ruby served as the features editor of Trinity News at Trinity College Dublin, and as deputy editor of The Eye, the long-form magazine of the Columbia Daily Spectator. She also held investigative internships at Oklahoma Watch, as a Scripps Howard Fund intern, and at the NBC News Investigative Unit. Her investigative work has exposed issues ranging from an Oklahoma prison extortion scheme to eating disorder treatment failures, with freelance stories placed in NBC News and The Guardian. This fall, Ruby will take up a Fulbright Young Professional Journalist Scholarship in Munich, Germany, where she will research hate crime networks targeting German journalists who cover the Middle East. Long term, she aims to work as an investigative reporter in the Middle East.
Lolita Vasquez, CC’26
Colombia, English Teaching Assistantship
Lolita Vasquez, a first-generation Mexican-American raised in rural Arizona, graduated with a major in Political Science and a minor in Hispanic Studies. At Columbia, Lolita was involved with the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) as an Operating Committee Member and served as Vice-President of Columbia Women in Law and Politics (CUWILP). Additionally, as Co-President of IGNITE she helped launch a mentorship program that connects undergraduates with women in law school. Her professional experience included work as a bilingual research assistant for Columbia’s Sociology Department. In this position, she conducted interviews in Washington Heights on critical issues like education, housing, and public safety. She also worked at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP where she supported recruitment efforts and led a cohort of summer associates. Through the Fulbright, Lolita seeks to deepen her understanding of bilingual education, engage with her local Colombian community, and gain experience that will be vital to her future work at the intersection of law, education policy, and reform.
Sophia Wang, CC’26
Mongolia, English Teaching Assistantship
Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Sophia Wang graduated with a major in Political Science and Economics, as well as a minor in East Asian Studies. She spent her four years at Columbia University competing with the Columbia Women's Tennis team, volunteering with and leading Columbia's UNICEF chapter, and working as a TA for economic classes. In Mongolia, Sophia will be teaching English at a local university and, following her time in Mongolia, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career in humanitarian work.
Tara Zia, CC’26
Spain, English Teaching Assistantship
Tara Zia graduated from Columbia with a major in English and a minor in political science, further cultivating her interests in education, cross-cultural exchange, and storytelling. As an undergraduate, she worked with Project Turquoise and KindWorks, two nonprofits in the Washington, DC area, to support refugee and immigrant communities through educational, resettlement, and food security initiatives. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, she looks forward to promoting language learning and cultural understanding, while engaging with her local Spanish community. Tara aspires to a career in journalism, where she hopes to foster greater cross-cultural understanding and empathy through her reporting and writing.
At-Large awardee: Lili Boenigk, SEAS'24
URF also extends its warmest congratulations to the following Fulbright grantees affiliated with Columbia’s graduate programs, whose achievements further reflect the University’s tradition of excellence and global engagement: Radiante de Beaulieu, GSAS’23, who will conduct research in Spain through the Fulbright; Andrew Kahn, GSAS doctoral student who will research in Japan; Ye-Jae Lee, GSAS doctoral student who will travel to South Korea; Hazel Richards, GSAS doctoral student who will research in France; Urja Joshi, GSAS’26, awarded a Nehru Research Award to India; Mason Leath, Journalism’25, who will teach English in the Slovak Republic; Emilia Topp-Johnson, SEAS graduate student, who will conduct research in Namibia; Madison Moore, CUIMC’25, to research in Brazil, and Max Tweedale, CUIMC’26, who has accepted a grant to conduct research in the Czech Republic next year.