FSU postdoctoral scholar researches coral resilience in the Pacific Ocean through Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Most applicants to the Fulbright Program apply with the intention of going abroad. But for Diana Lopez, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University, her intention was to return to her homeland of Colombia.
As a dual citizen, Lopez was born in Colombia but pursued higher education in the United States. She’s spent the past few years conducting research as an FSU postdoctoral scholar at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in the Republic of Panama investigating the different mechanisms that enable corals to thrive and acclimate to stressors related to climate. Now, Lopez is taking her research to the coast of Colombia through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutions abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.
“I’ve always wanted to come back home and do research and connect with the researchers in this area,” Lopez said. “We get to do such cool science, and it’s good to connect with international partners.”
Her project has taken her to the Pacific coast of Colombia to Gorgona Island, a national park listed in the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) green list of protected and conserved areas, which previously served as a prison. There, Lopez is studying the response of coral composition to dynamic changes in environmental conditions.
The post FSU postdoctoral scholar researches coral resilience in the Pacific Ocean through Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program appeared first on Florida State University News.
Latest FSU News
- New Campaign Urges FSU Students to Keep Their Heads UpThe post New Campaign Urges FSU Students to Keep Their Heads Up appeared first on Florida State University News.
- Behind the Scenes: ACC Inventure PrizeThe post Behind the Scenes: ACC Inventure Prize appeared first on Florida State University News.
- FSU’s Legislative Internship Program Gives Students Unique Access to State PoliticsThe post FSU’s Legislative Internship Program Gives Students Unique Access to State Politics appeared first on Florida State University News.
- Dance Marathon at FSU Raises Money for Children Battling IllnessThe post Dance Marathon at FSU Raises Money for Children Battling Illness appeared first on Florida State University News.
- FSU launches new graduate certificate to equip students with advanced digital tools and ethical frameworksFlorida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP) and College of Communication and Information (CCI) now offer […] The post FSU launches new graduate certificate to equip students with advanced digital tools and ethical frameworks appeared first on Florida State University News.
- Florida State University makes 14th annual Great Give a successFlorida State University celebrated an incredible FSU’s Great Give on March 5, raising more than $2.2 million during its 14th […] The post Florida State University makes 14th annual Great Give a success appeared first on Florida State University News.
