Johns Hopkins among top Fulbright producers for 15th consecutive year

Johns Hopkins University was named a top producer of Fulbright Student grantees for the 15th consecutive year, with 27 grants offered to Hopkins students and alumni in the 2024-25 grants cycle. The university had the second highest acceptance rate for doctoral institutions at 47.4% and was ninth in the category for total number of grants.

Founded in 1946 by the U.S. State Department, the Fulbright program is one of the largest and most prestigious international academic exchange programs in the world. Exchanges are meant to increase cross-cultural understanding and encourage friendly relations between nations. Approximately 2,000 U.S. students are given grants each year, with the full program supporting 9,000 people.

Spanning 16 countries and nine fields of study, this year's Hopkins grantees are making an impact around the globe. The Hub caught up with six participating students and alumni to learn more:

Yuncong 'Toby' Mao

A&S '23, BS in Neuroscience
Field: Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering
Location: University of Cologne, Germany

"My work is based at Krankenhaus Porz am Rhein, a hospital that serves a large refugee population from Syria and Ukraine. Since many marginalized patients lack access to advanced mapping machines and have lost their electronic health records during migration, we're using EKG signals—easily obtainable data—as input for our deep learning model to predict regions of potential disease-causing tissue. This serves as a surrogate for advanced mapping techniques. In addition to my research, I'm also a visiting master's student at the University of Cologne, where I'm studying advanced machine learning and computer vision.

"At first, [being in Germany] was very hilarious. I remember asking the cashier at a grocery store how her day was, and she had a three-minute conversation on her day. The customers before me were laughing. It turned out that Germans do not do small talk. If you ask someone how their day is, they will think it is a very serious question and will tell you honestly whether the day is good or bad.

"One of the things I noticed about German doctors is that they seem to care less about the hospital hierarchy. I was surprised to see the attending physicians roll their patients' beds from the ward to the operating room and accompany them throughout the process. They also helped clean the patients after the procedure along with the supporting staff. As someone who wants to eventually become a physician, I was truly inspired by this and would want to be someone who is approachable and makes my team members around me feel comfortable and supportive."

Mashoud Kaba

BSPH '24, Master's in International Health
Field: Public Health
Location: Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Guinea

"I came to Guinea as a researcher on the topic of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). This is the practice of maiming the female genitalia. It affects over 200 million girls worldwide, and in Guinea, the prevalence rate is 95% among girls and women aged 15 to 49. This is a topic I am very passionate about, and I came to Guinea with the hopes of interviewing cutters to understand their perception of the practice and what they gain from doing it. For my study, I am conducting qualitative interviews with cutters, a population group that is rarely interviewed. ... It has shown me that they, too, are shaped by their environment. Even though they are carrying out something I, and many others, consider harmful, from their perspective, they believe they are preventing harm.

"It has been a worthy endeavor. Little by little women are responding back to us. I want the results of my study to help with the creation of effective interventions that consider the perspectives of those who sustain FGM/C by doing the cutting.

"The most rewarding part has been meeting all the amazing people I've encountered so far. ... I presented my topic to top officials in the country, volunteered with other health projects taking place in Guinea, and even held casual English lessons. For example, my short conversations with the security officers in my building have led to English lessons that I hold for them on Sundays, their day off. I also volunteered to start and lead an English club at the University of Gamal, which has been incredibly fulfilling. Being able to share my knowledge with people who genuinely benefit from it is an amazing experience."

Sophia Berkey

A&S '24, BA in English, French, and Writing Seminars
Field: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Location: Athens College, Greece

"As an English Teaching Assistant, I co-instruct English literature courses at Athens College–Hellenic-American Educational Foundation. In addition to designing lessons, creating materials, and leading in-class discussions, I am conducting a series of oral history interviews in preparation for the school's centennial.

"Living in Athens has been an absolute joy! I live in Chalandri, a northern suburb of Athens, with two other teaching fellows at Athens College. While I had some familiarity with Greek culture before moving here, a lot is still new to me—and my Greek is far from perfect. My neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers have been so gracious to teach me about Greek traditions and explain their origins. From helping to celebrate my name day during the first week of school to saving me leftovers from traditional Greek meals, the people around me are generous with their time and their culture.

"The most rewarding part of my experience has been having vibrant in-class discussions with my students. Whether discussing To Kill a Mockingbird or 'The Yellow Wall-Paper,' my students approach texts with curiosity and enthusiasm. I love analyzing literary devices and teaching students different ways to look at literature, but I especially enjoy hearing how students see themes and ideas manifested in their own lives. While some of their experiences match my own teenage years, some experiences are completely new to me. Exchanging stories in the classroom truly speaks to the reciprocal nature of Fulbright, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to do it every single day."

Rhiannon Clarke

A&S, PhD candidate in Modern Languages and Literatures/Spanish
Field: Literature
Location: Federico García Lorca Center, Spain

"My dissertation is on the Spanish poet and dramatist Federico García Lorca, and I am working on my research and writing at the Federico García Lorca Center in the poet's hometown of Granada, Andalusia. I spend my weekdays at the center's library, and I've also gotten to visit several museums, exhibitions, and art performances related to Lorca's life and work. It's been such a valuable opportunity, both for the quality of my research and for me personally, to get to learn about Lorca and his context experientially.

"My favorite thing to do in my downtime is just walk: Granada is gorgeous, and I love losing myself in the intricate tilework on a little patio or seeing the changing seasons. ... Granada is full to bursting with cultural activities, so there's always something to do in the evenings: go to a contemporary art exhibition, or a lecture at the local library on Spanish Surrealism, or a poetry reading, or a sitar concert with the Alhambra as backdrop, or a street procession with brass bands and huge effigies decked in flowers and candles for a saint's festival. Every week I do an improv acting class and a drawing class through the local university, walk dogs at the animal shelter, and take a class in Flamenco singing and a class in Flamenco dancing. There's always lots of time left over for enjoying good meals with friends!

"I find Spain endlessly inspiring, I get so many ideas and energy and creativity from the landscapes, architecture, music, art. Getting to read and write about literature here and breathe in this beautiful city is a dream come true."

Sondra Rahmeh

Engr '19, BS in Biomedical Engineering; SOM, medical student
Field: Public Health
Location: National Taiwan University, Taiwan

"I live in Taipei, Taiwan, and am in a master's in global health program at National Taiwan University. I am currently working on two research projects; one is in post-operative parity outcomes after uterine artery ligation (TLDR: how many people end up pregnant after fibroid removal with this specific method) and another on right to education for students with disabilities in Taiwan. ... I am also a recipient of the Critical Language Enhancement Award, where I study Mandarin with a one-on-one tutor 8 hours a week. My tutor and I like to have our lessons at different cafes around the city, so it's been a really fun way to explore Taipei.

"Moving to another country is really hard, but I've managed to form friendships with other Fulbrighters, my graduate school classmates, and Taiwanese locals. Taiwan is extremely cute! I am into journaling and sticker collecting, and there are so many stationery stores. I also love going to weekend art markets. The people here are extremely kind and friendly.

"I have really enjoyed my master's program. There is a large focus on Indigenous and migrant health, which I do not think I would've gotten through a public health/global health program in the U.S. One of our introductory courses had various field trips throughout Taiwan, where we learned about weather preparedness (Taiwan has lots of earthquakes and typhoons), health promotion (Taiwan has a rapidly aging population), and zero-waste farming. I just really like Taiwan and Fulbright. If you are interested in a master's abroad, definitely apply."

Wesley Sampias

A&S, PhD candidate in History
Field: History
Location: University of Tokyo, Japan

"I am currently conducting research for my dissertation on the labor of public health in modern Japan. To that end, I have primarily been going to archives and reading through sources from the 1890s–1920s. Fulbright also encourages community and cultural engagement, so I have also been learning an instrument, the koto.

"It has been great living in Japan, but admittedly this is not my first time. I am enjoying exploring Tokyo though, [since] I have not lived in this city before, and engaging with my colleagues at the University of Tokyo.

"On one hand, it has been academically rewarding to take part in seminars, classes, and conferences at the University of Tokyo. On the other, it has been rewarding learning a new skill and experience aspects of the culture that I had not previously, like making Japanese sweets in Kyoto. The most rewarding aspect might be finding interesting sources for my dissertation like satirical cartoons criticizing the public health policies of the time."

At Johns Hopkins, the National Fellowships Program helps students and recent graduates apply for Fulbright Study/Research Awards and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Awards. Representatives from the office closely advise candidates on all parts of the application. Information on Fulbright student grants and the campus advising process is available on the NFP website.