The majority of candidates for the Fulbright Program apply with the goal of studying overseas. However, for Diana Lopez, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University, her goal was to return to her native Colombia.
As a dual national, Lopez was born in Colombia but sought higher education in the United States. Over the past few years, she has been involved in research as an FSU postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in the Republic of Panama, examining the various mechanisms that allow corals to flourish and adapt to stressors associated with climate change. Now, Lopez is transferring her research efforts to the shores of Colombia through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Fulbright U.S. Scholars consist of faculty members, researchers, administrative personnel, and established professionals engaged in teaching or conducting research in conjunction with international institutions. These scholars participate in pioneering research and broaden their professional connections, frequently continuing research collaborations initiated abroad and establishing foundations for future partnerships among institutions. Upon returning to their home nations, universities, laboratories, and classrooms, they share their experiences and often become enthusiastic advocates for international exchange, welcoming foreign scholars to their campuses and motivating colleagues and students to explore opportunities abroad.
“I’ve always dreamed of returning home and conducting research while connecting with local researchers,” Lopez stated. “We engage in such fascinating science, and it’s valuable to establish connections with global partners.”
Her initiative has taken her to Colombia’s Pacific coastline, specifically to Gorgona Island, a national park recognized in the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) green list of protected territories, which historically functioned as a prison. There, Lopez is investigating how coral composition reacts to fluctuating environmental conditions.
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