Seven Fulbright Scholarships awarded to Monash alumni
Ms Laura Williams will use her Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States.
The Australian Fulbright Scholars for 2011 were announced at a gala dinner in Adelaide last night, with seven of the 26 prestigious scholarships being awarded to Monash alumni, four of whom are research staff with the University.
Laura Williams, who completed bachelor degrees in Arts and Science, with honours in ecology, is one of only two Australian recipients of the International Fulbright Science and Technology Awards, the most prestigious and valuable scholarships offered.
The scholarship will allow Ms Williams, currently a research assistant in the School of Biological Sciences, to undertake a three year graduate program in ecology in the United States. Ms William’s full tuition, stipend and living expenses will be covered by her Fulbright scholarship.
Ms Williams is thrilled to have the opportunity to study abroad and plans to apply the skills she acquires in the Australian context.
“This will complement my current education and research experience, including monitoring the effects of riparian restoration in south-eastern Australia and testing theories of community assembly in tropical rain forest,” she said.
Postgraduate Research Scholarships were awarded to Kelly Tsang (BSc/BEng (Hons)), and Daniel Duke (BE (Hons)/BTech (Aero)), of the Faculty of Engineering to advance their PhD research at US institutions such at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr Tsang researches in the multidisciplinary field of tissue engineering, while Mr Duke is completing his PhD in liquid sprays.
A Postdoctorate Scholarship was awarded to Dr David Nisbet (BEng (Hons) & PhD in Engineering), an adjunct research fellow, who has spent the past several years developing novel ways to regenerate damaged central nervous system tissues at Monash. Dr Nisbet will spend time at UC Berkeley.
A Postgraduate Scholarship was also awarded to Lashi Bandara (BSc (Hons) & BCompSc), who is currently completing his PhD in mathematics, combining differential geometry and harmonic analysis, at the Australian National University. Mr Bandara will spend time at Stanford and the University of Missouri.
Professional Scholarships were awarded to Monash alumni Elizabeth Maynard (BA/LLB) and Dr Sharon Davis (BA (Hons) & PhD (Hydrology)).
Ms Maynard aims to promote policy development to assist families experiencing domestic violence and will visit think tanks and non-profit organisations in the US. Dr Davis is General Manager with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and will share Australian experience in sustainable water resource management with colleagues at Harvard.
Monash University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ed Byrne AO congratulated the scholars.
"On behalf of the entire Monash community, I wish to congratulate all six 2011 Scholars. The Fulbright program represents an incredibly high level of achievement."
The prestigious Fulbright program is the largest educational scholarship of its kind, created by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright and the U.S. Government in 1946. Aimed at promoting mutual understanding through educational exchange, it operates between the U.S. and 155 countries.
For further information see Monash University media releases.