The University of Iowa is delighted to announce that Professor Marian Muste, a research engineer and adjunct professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Hungary for the 2021-22 academic year.
Winning a fourth Fulbright award, one of the most prestigious fellowships in the world, marks a new benchmark of achievement for Muste.
Muste is one of more than 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, conduct research, or provide expertise abroad for the 2021-2022 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected based on academic and professional achievement as well as a record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields.
Muste's fellowship will be carried out at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BEM) in Budapest, Hungary, in the spring of the 2021-22 academic year, and will entail research and teaching activities related to modern instrumentation used in the measurement of river and water resources.
"The research outcomes of this project have potential to transform river science and engineering by enabling rapid acquisition of high-resolution accurate data for documenting river characteristics," says Muste. "Broadly speaking, the project will advance the knowledge and state of practice in the critical societal area of water resources that are currently affected by multiple crises (floods, pollution, and loss of habitat), hence directly contributing to the improvement of our nation’s lives and those of other countries."
Field visit to a water conservation project in Maha Sarakham province in Thailand
"My career has greatly benefited from the 10 in-residence international visits and the 10 study-abroad courses that I led in the past. I enjoy working in other countries, and my extensive experiences abroad have made me a more well-rounded and seasoned researcher and teacher."
Muste sees combining international research, teaching, outreach, and service to the community as being crucial to shaping his professional and personal goals.
"My career has greatly benefited from the 10 in-residence international visits and the 10 study abroad courses that I led in the past. I enjoy working in other countries, and my extensive experiences abroad have made me a more well-rounded and seasoned researcher and teacher. I also believe that the international visits contributed to my scholarship visibility."
On the Rhine riverbank in Germany
Muste hopes his Fulbright story will inspire and motivate fellow colleagues to apply for Fulbright fellowships in their own disciplines. There is no longer a lifetime limit for holding Fulbright Scholar Awards, and applying for multiple awards during an academic career is strongly encouraged.
"I have benefited immensely from my previous Fulbright Senior Scholar and two short-term Senior Specialist Awards," says Muste. "They have not only been essential to my professional growth, but made me a confident 'ambassador' of my country at the same time. These visits allowed me to focus on emerging concepts in my area of expertise that could have not been tackled during my work at home. I am certain that my teaching and mentoring career will gain new dimensions from this new international visit, and that, after returning to my home institution, I will have a further positive impact on my students and colleagues."
Learn more about the UI resources for applying to the Fulbright Scholar Program
University faculty members at all stages of their careers can apply to become Fulbright Scholars. Grant recipients can teach, do research abroad, or a combination of both for flexible time periods ranging from 2-6 weeks to a semester or entire academic year.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to forge lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has enabled more than 390,000 dedicated and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and find solutions to shared international concerns.