Highlights:
- Three University of Nebraska–Lincoln students receive Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2025-26 academic year.
- The Fulbright program fosters academic, professional, and cross-cultural exchanges through research, graduate study, or teaching abroad.
- Award recipients include Jillian Kurovski, Carson Haberyan, and Brigid Toomey, each pursuing unique research or teaching opportunities in South Korea, France, and beyond.
- The article also highlights other semifinalists and alternates from Nebraska and across the U.S.
Three University of Nebraska–Lincoln students and a graduate student have been selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2025-26 academic year. These awards, offered in partnership with over 140 countries, provide exceptional opportunities for graduates to conduct research, pursue graduate studies, or teach abroad.
The Fulbright program is designed to enhance mutual understanding between the U.S. and host countries through academic and professional exchanges, and participants are chosen based on academic achievements and leadership potential.
Recipients and Their Research Goals
Jillian Kurovski, a doctoral student in biological sciences from Iowa City, Iowa, will travel to South Korea as part of the U.S.-Korea Presidential STEM Initiative Award. Kurovski’s research on the influence of female choice in the evolution of reproductive anatomy in Dolomedes spiders aims to advance her studies while connecting with her Korean heritage.
She aspires to become a university professor in reproductive biology and evolution.
Carson Haberyan, from St. Joseph, Missouri, has been awarded the Fulbright-French Government English Teaching Assistant Award. A recent graduate with a degree in French and secondary education, Haberyan will serve as a teaching assistant in Bordeaux, France.
His passion for accessible foreign language education and his experiences as a student advocate have driven his desire to bridge cultural gaps through teaching.
Brigid Toomey, from Mooresville, North Carolina, has accepted the Fulbright-Grenoble Alpes University Award in France. A recent graduate in biological sciences with minors in biochemistry and French, Toomey will study cellular and molecular biology at Grenoble Alpes University. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in cancer biology after her Fulbright year.
Additional Awardees and Semifinalists
The University of Nebraska also boasts other finalists, semifinalists, and alternates. These include Evin Rasho, Emma Bitterman, and Elizabeth Herbin, among others, who have been recognized for their academic and professional accomplishments.
Many of these students are still awaiting final decisions on their status, with several others already nominated as semifinalists for the prestigious award.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program remains one of the most distinguished academic exchanges available to American students, promoting global understanding and collaboration in all disciplines.
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