Home Institution: Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, Prague, Czech Republic
Host Institution: Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida
Fulbright Project Focus: Tumor Microenvironment Research
Karolína is a PhD candidate at Charles University, where she studies how the tumor microenvironment, particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts, influences pancreatic cancer progression. During her Fulbright grant at Mayo Clinic, she will investigate how fibroblast populations contribute to the earliest stages of breast cancer development, extending this research to cancer initiation and generating insights that may inform future strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.
Home Institution: Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, Prague, Czech Republic
Host Institution: Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida
Fulbright Project Focus: Tumor Microenvironment Research
Soňa is a PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague, where she researches brain cancer. Her work focuses on cancer-associated fibroblasts in the brain tumor microenvironment and their role in tumor progression and tissue remodeling. As a Fulbright Grantee at Mayo Clinic, she will study early fibroblast changes in benign breast disease to better understand the earliest stages of cancer development and contribute to improved early cancer risk assessment and prevention.
Home Institution: Slovak University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Bratislava
Host Institution: Columbia University, New York
Fulbright Project Focus: From Erasure to Reuse: Intervening in Postwar Architecture
Andrea Londáková is an architect and PhD researcher exploring how adaptive reuse can reposition postwar architecture as a cultural, environmental, and economic resource. She studied in Bratislava, with a term at the Bartlett, UCL, and a master's at KTH in Stockholm, later working on energy-efficient public buildings. Back in Slovakia, she co-initiated a campaign to save the modernist landmark Istropolis, shaping her doctoral research. Through Fulbright at Columbia, she looks forward to studying interdisciplinary heritage approaches and bringing them home.
Home Institution: University of California, Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Host Institution: Comenius University Bratislava, Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology
Fulbright Project Focus: Circadian Disruption by Prenatal Hypoxia and Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) Alters Cardiovascular Development
Harshita graduated with honors from UC Berkeley. There, she researched the circadian rhythms of malaria for her undergraduate thesis. Building off her past research, she will be studying the impact of circadian disruption in-utero on cardiovascular growth in mice. She hopes to pursue a career as a physician, and is excited to build on her research skills with this grant. Beyond her passion for science and medicine, she is excited to experience new hikes, food, and culture while in Slovakia.
Home Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Host Institution: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University
Fulbright Project Focus: Nuclear Energy and the Aarhus Convention
Isabelle graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Environmental Economics and Policy, focusing her coursework on the energy transition. She interned with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on decarbonizing long-haul freight, then served as an Energy Innovator Fellow with the Department of Energy at the U.S. Virgin Islands Public Services Commission. She has also worked on utility justice and energy affordability with the Maine-based nonprofit Our Power, and designed an energy democracy toolkit for New England as part of Slingshot's Fix the Grid campaign. Her Fulbright research examines Slovak nuclear governance through the lens of international law.
Home Institution: Harvard University, USA
Major & Minor: Art and Education
Host Institution: Ján Adam Rayman Grammar School, Prešov
Grace is a recent graduate of Harvard where she studied Art, Film, and Visual Studies and Education Studies. Her work has explored the intersection of design, learning, and arts, using co-design and empathy-based approaches to reimagine learning spaces within and beyond traditional classroom settings as collaborative, culturally responsive, and accessible for diverse communities. She is passionate about using art and creativity as universal connectors to challenge traditional systems of learning and create more accepting, community-centered learning environments. Through her Fulbright experience in Slovakia, Grace looks forward to learning from local educators, artists, and communities.
Home Institution: Clemson University, South Carolina, USA
Major & Minor: English and Criminal Justice
Host Institution: Spojená škola, Stará Ľubovňa
Carsyn discovered a passion for international exchange after her study abroad experience in Scotland. Upon her return, she began interning with Clemson's study abroad office while volunteering with English conversation practice programs in-person and online. Carsyn looks forward to her time in Stará Ľubovňa and hopes to explore the country's national parks while forming lasting connections with her students and fellow staff members.
Home Institution: Trinity College, Connecticut, USA
Majors & Minor: Computer Science
Host Institution: Stredná odborná škola, Handlová
Mia graduated from Trinity College in 2025 with a major in computer science, working during her schooling as a teaching assistant and tutor. This past year, she has worked at an electronic health record company as a system engineer with a focus on new hire education. She hopes her corporate experience enriches English lessons in her host school's bilingual business program. She looks forward to connecting with the staff and students at her school, and exploring Handlová's scenic surroundings.
Home Institution: East Tennessee State University, Tennessee, USA
Major & Minor: Bachelor of Science in Human Services & Old-Time Music Studies
Host Institution: Stredná priemyselná škola, Dubnica nad Váhom
Ellie holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a minor in Old-Time Music Studies. Growing up in Olympia, Washington, she began playing traditional Appalachian fiddle music at a young age and was drawn to Southern Appalachia to study it academically. There, her passion for teaching music deepened through her work with the nonprofit organization JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians). Ellie loves to cook, read, and go to concerts, and is excited to explore Slovakia’s natural beauty, music, and culture.
Home Institution: Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
Major & Minor: Social Studies Education & History
Host Institution: Grammar school, Tvrdošín
Matthew is a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame, through which he researched authoritarianism, human trafficking, and flood prevention with Notre Dame’s Student Policy Network. For his political science senior capstone project, he traveled to New York to interview an imam and authored a paper on political bias against religious outgroups. As an Italian major, he studied in Sorrento, Rome, and Bologna. Matthew also taught English to migrants in Rome last summer and hopes to have a similar impact on his students in Tvrdosin. He loves the outdoors and looks forward to hiking and running around Slovakia’s beautiful landscape.
Home Institution: Denison University, Ohio, USA
Majors & Minor: Politics and Public Affairs & Earth and Environmental Sciences
Host Institution: Stredná odborná škola obchodu a služieb, Rimavská Sobota
Jack is originally from Dallas, Texas, and recently graduated from Denison University in Ohio. He learned of his interest in Slovakia while writing a college essay, leading to a research interest in the country’s politics and energy policy. He is thrilled to serve as an ETA at Stredná odborná škola obchodu a služieb in Rimavská Sobota for the 2026-2027 school year. Jack enjoys working with students, photography, and trying new foods, all of which he is excited to explore more in Slovakia.
Home Institution: St. Olaf College, Minnesota, USA
Major & Minor: Political Science & History, with a concentration in Education-TEFL
Host Institution: Stredná športová škola, Banská Bystrica
Dori is a recent graduate of St. Olaf College with background in social science research and experience teaching in U.S. classrooms. Dori intends to attend law school and believes Fulbright is a valuable program that will give her applicable, experiential knowledge. While in Slovakia, she is eager to immerse herself in the community of Banská Bystrica; enjoy nature through hiking and skiing; and engage with students through teaching English and assisting with the volleyball program.
Home Institution: Moravian University, Pennsylvania, USA
Major & Minor: English and Political Science
Host Institution: Spojená škola, Pezinok
Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude with honors from Moravian University. She served as Editor-in-Chief of her college newspaper, worked as a Writing Fellow and Writing Consultant, an America Reads tutor for elementary-aged students, and served two terms in student government, including as Vice President of Internal Operations. Her senior Honors project examined the “madwoman” archetype in Jane Eyre, analyzing literary representations of madness, identity, and narrative perspective. She plans to pursue a career in law following her Fulbright grant. She enjoys writing poetry and creative nonfiction, reading, painting, traveling, and looks forward to hiking new trails throughout Slovakia.
Home Institution: American University School of International Service, Washington D.C., USA
Major & Minor: Global Governance and Multilateral Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs
Host Institution: Stredná priemyselná škola technická, Spišská Nová Ves
Ryan Kamrani is a recent Master's graduate from Virginia, United States, and is excited to undertake his role as an English Teaching Assistant in Kosice region. Interested in global issues and aspiring to join the diplomatic service in the future, he hopes to immerse in the Slovak community and learn about the culture, cuisine, sports, and other fascinating aspects. In his free time, Ryan enjoys traveling, visiting museums, playing sports, and competing in trivia games.
Home Institution: Columbia University, New York, USA
Major & Minor: Journalism
Host Institution: Stredná priemyselná škola stavebná Dušana Samuela Jurkoviča, Trnava
Mason Leath is an Emmy-nominated producer, who has worked at the Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal. He was born in Charleston, SC, and also grew up in Telluride, CO, before graduating from Columbia University in 2025. Mason is looking forward to traveling in Slovakia, teaching English, and meeting new friends. He speaks French and is excited to learn Slovak.
Home Institution: University of Portland, Oregon, USA
Major & Minor: Economics & Political Science
Host Institution: GObchodná akadémia, Trebišov
Jonah is originally from Denver, Colorado but graduated from the University of Portland where he studied economics, political science and global affairs. He worked as an English Teaching Assistant last year at the gymnazium and business academy in Trebišov, and he is extremely excited to be returning for the coming school year. He looks forward to further developing relationships with his students and colleagues, as well as exploring more of Eastern Slovakia!
Home Institution: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
Majors & Minor: International Relations (Global Business) and Applied Analytics
Host Institution: Stredná športová škola, Žilina
Kira recently graduated from USC with departmental honors. She has done research on global grand strategy, the cost of war, and fertility policy. She organized Model UN conferences for high schoolers and college students and taught ELA to elementary schoolers through Teach for America. In her free time, she enjoys bouldering, testing out recipes, and trying new cuisines. Kira is excited to connect with her students and explore the beautiful nature and rich culture of Slovakia.
Home Institution: University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
Major & Minor: English, Child Psychology
Host Institution: Stredná zdravotnícka škola, Nitra
Bernadette is a recent university graduate interested in education and education policy. In college, she wrote an honors thesis about the relationship between executive function skills and writing ability in children. She also helped develop curriculum for freshman orientation courses, tutored children in reading, choreographed for a nonprofit dance organization, and assisted with data collection in the developmental social cognitive neuroscience lab. Bernadette hopes to connect with Slovak literature, dance, and people while in Nitra.
Home Institution: The University of Texas at El Paso, Texas, USA
Major & Minor: International Business & Economics
Host Institution: Janko Kráľ Grammar School, Zlaté Moravce
Mina graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a B.B.A. in International Business and a minor in Economics. There, she researched the effects of international relations on the U.S. stock market, recieved the Skov Ethics Prize, and served as a teaching assistant for the Global Business course. Mina plans to pursue graduate studies with the long-term goal of contributing to international research and education. She enjoys hiking, reading, and is excited to connect with her students in Slovakia!
Home Institution: Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport
Host Institution: University of California San Diego, Center for Microbiome Innovation, California, USA
Fulbright Project Focus: Bridging Exercise Metabolism and Gut Microbiome Function in Vulnerable Cancer Populations
Viktor Bielik is Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports at Comenius University Bratislava. Over the past decade, his research has focused on the relationships among physical activity, metabolic health, and the gut microbiome, with particular emphasis on obesity, cancer populations, and other vulnerable groups. He has worked with several Olympic medalists, providing expertise in exercise training, nutrition, and dietary strategies to optimize health and performance.
Home Institution: Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Host Institution: University of Arizona, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Fulbright Project Focus: Hands-On Engineering Education for Advanced Control
Martin Gulan is a researcher and educator at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. His research focuses on advanced control methods based on optimization and machine learning, as well as engineering education. He co-founded AutomationShield, an open-source initiative that helps students learn control engineering through hands-on experiments. During his fellowship at the University of Arizona he looks forward to sharing tools and teaching practices while bringing new insights back to Slovakia.
Home Institution: University of Žilina, Faculty of Management Science and Informatics, Department of Software Technologies
Host Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Fulbright Project Focus: Development, Validation, and Application of Microfluidic Models and Digital Twins for Cell Cluster Separation
Michal Mulík is a dedicated educator and researcher at the University of Žilina, focusing on numerical simulations within microfluidic environments. Selected as a 2026-2027 Fulbright Scholar, he will conduct research at MIT to bridge standard computational models with experimental validations. He greatly anticipates exploring Cambridge's vibrant academic ecosystem and collaborating with international peers. Outside the lab, Michal stays active through fitness, plays the guitar, and enjoys PC gaming.
Home Institution: Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, Department of Environmental Hygiene and Health
Host Institution: University at Buffalo, School of Public Health and Health professions, Buffalo, New York, USA
Fulbright Project Focus: Human Biomonitoring
Nina is an environmental epidemiologist who studies how chemical exposures in our environment affect human health. She focuses on human biomonitoring, a method which uses a few drops of blood or urine to understand what people are exposed to in everyday life. During her Fulbright scholarship at the University at Buffalo, she will develop a framework for Slovakia’s first national human biomonitoring study, helping to build a tool for better public health protection and evidence-based environmental policy.
Home Institution: National Cancer Institute, Bratislava; Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine, 2nd Department of Oncology
Host Institution: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
Fulbright Project Focus: Research on High-Dose Chemotherapy for Relapsed Germ Cell Tumors and Its Implementation in Slovakia
Assoc. Prof. Katarina Rejlekova, MD, PhD, is a clinical oncologist and physicianscientist at the National Cancer Institute and Comenius University in Bratislava. Her work focuses on germ cell tumors, high-dose chemotherapy, treatment toxicities, and lifethreatening complications. As a Fulbright Scholar at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she will research outcomes and toxicity of high-dose chemotherapy for relapsed germ cell tumors. Her goal is to translate these findings into improved curative care in Slovakia and strengthen international scientific collaboration.
Home Institution: New York University, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York, USA
Host Institution: Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of social and economic sciences
Fulbright Project Focus: Public Policy Analysis & AI Innovation
Kristina is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Service at NYU. She is a long-time New Yorker who has worked for over a decade in the public and nonprofit sectors on health and human services. She holds an A.B. in Philosophy from Harvard College, an M.A. in European & Russian Studies from Yale University, an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Oxford, and an MPH from the University of Edinburgh.
Home Institution: Hartwick College, Department of Sociology, Criminology and Human Services, NY, USA
Host Institution: Comenius University, Bratislava. Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences
Fulbright Project Focus: From Arrival to Inclusion: Migration and Integration in the U.S. and Slovakia
Elena is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Hartwick College, where her teaching and scholarship focus on gender, culture, and migration. At Comenius University, her work will explore how immigrants and refugees build new lives in Slovakia and how policies, community support, public attitudes, and everyday experiences shape this process. She looks forward to working with Slovak colleagues and community partners while also experiencing Slovakia through its cities, museums, parks, and cultural life.
Home Institution: GUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service, Vermont, USA
Host Institution: WWF Slovakia
Fulbright Project Focus: Wetland Restoration in Slovakia: Interdisciplinary Collaboration to Achieve Conservation Goals
Ryan Crehan is a Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the state of Vermont where his work focuses on designing and implementing wetland restoration projects. He is a Senior Professional Wetland Scientist and an instructor for the Service's Wetland Assessment, Management and Restoration training course. He is excited to collaborate with Slovak scientists and practitioners on wetland restoration projects. He enjoys cycling, skiing and playing banjo in a band with his wife.
Home Institution: The University of Alabama, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Alabama, USA
Host Institution: Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrology, Bratislava
Fulbright Project Focus: Improved Drought Planning in the Slovak Republic
Dr. Glenn Tootle's research focuses on hydrology, drought, and climate variability. A previous Fulbright Scholar at the University of Trento in Italy (2021), he has received multiple National Science Foundation awards supporting his research. As a 2027 Fulbright Scholar to Slovakia, he looks forward to collaborating on drought management research and strengthening international partnerships. He also enjoys European travel with his wife and four children and is excited to experience Slovak culture.
Home Institution: 1 st Department of Surgery, L. Pasteur University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice
Host Institution: Division of Transplantation, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Fulbright Project Focus: Advanced Kidney Graft Preservation: Vitrification and Nanowarming
David Adandedjan is a surgical resident and PhD researcher at Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Košice. His research focuses on hypothermic machine perfusion and ex vivo antibiotic treatment of infected donor kidneys to expand the organ pool. During his Fulbright stay at the University of Minnesota, he will study kidney vitrification and nanowarming for long-term subzero preservation. He aims to develop experimental transplant research in Slovakia and translate these methods into clinical practice.
Home Institution: Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Bratislava
Host Institution: College of Pharmacy, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Personalized Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Fulbright Project Focus: Pharmacogenomics - Translational Significance of Genetic Predictors of Statin-Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms
Natalia is a PhD candidate in Clinical Pharmacy specializing in pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. Her work focuses on how genetic variants influence patients' responses to medications, aiming to optimize pharmacotherapy. Her master's research received the Rector's Award of Comenius University. She studied abroad and co-leads a nationwide interdisciplinary project that brings together medical and pharmacy students. She enjoys tennis, art, and exploring new cultures.
Home Institution: BEXPERA (online education platform), BE-DNA (Employee Experience consulting company), and Lumus Investment Collective – international female angel club; Bratislava, Slovakia
Host Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Program Focus: Technology and Policy
Zuzana Zamborská is a Slovak entrepreneur and founder of BEXPERA, an online course platform, and Lumus Investment Collective, an international female angel investor club. She previously built BE-DNA, a consulting company helping firms strategically grasp Employee Experience (EX). Her work centers on EX, women in investing, startup ecosystems, and the intersection of technology and public policy. As a Humphrey Fellow at MIT's Technology and Policy Program, she looks forward to exploring how emerging technology, especially AI, is reshaping Employee Experience.
Home Institution: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Arts, Department of History
Host Institution: The University of Louisiana at Monroe, Lousiana, USA
Program Focus: History - European Studies/Civilization
Maroš Melichárek is an Associate Professor of History at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Slovakia. His research focuses on modern Eastern and Southeastern Europe, particularly Yugoslavia, World War II, nationalism, and memory politics. A Royal Historical Society Associate Fellow, he enjoys combining archival research with innovative teaching. During his Fulbright at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, he looks forward to exchanging ideas with colleagues and students while exploring American history and culture.
Home Institution: Gymnázium, Poštová 9, Košice,
Host Institution: University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Eva is an English and Biology teacher at a grammar school in Košice, where she bridges the language and science departments. Her passion lies in experiential learning and 21st-century soft skills, which she fosters through classroom teaching, participation in Erasmus+ program, and mentoring students in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Through the FTEA program, her goal is to explore new STEM methodologies and together with colleagues from Fulbright international community she would like to share best practices to enrich her teaching back home. On a personal note, when she is not mentoring students, Eva is a keen long-distance trekker who loves tackling mountain trails.