For immediate release: 18/06/16

University of Glasgow Doctorate Receives a Prestigious Fulbright Award to the US

Arun Sood, a recent PhD graduate at the University of Glasgow has received a Scottish Studies Fulbright Award to enable him to research at Georgetown University on one of the most prestigious and selective scholarship programmes operating world-wide.

As a participant, Arun has been selected to research and write a book on the reception and cultural influence of Robert Burns in the United States of America during the nineteenth century.

Arun and the other 46 British grantees of the 2016-17 Fulbright cohort celebrated their success as they met US Ambassador Matthew Barzun at his official London residence, Winfield House during a reception to celebrate US-UK exchange programmes on Wednesday, 15 June.

Commenting on receiving the award, Arun said: “I feel very lucky to have been granted this opportunity, particularly because I am a firm believer in transcultural initiatives and exchange programmes.  As a Fulbright scholar working on literary studies, I hope to establish a wider understanding of Scotland and America’s interconnected histories through both my book and also meeting and working with colleagues and students in the United States.

Penny Egan, Executive Director, US-UK Fulbright Commission said: “I know our 2016 cohort will do us great credit during their time in the US and beyond. Only exceptional scholars and students win Fulbright awards: one of the world’s most competitive merit-based international scholarships. In the 70th year of the Special Relationship, we are proud to send the best of British academia to the US.”

Amy Moore, Director of the Fulbright Awards Programme, added: “It's very rewarding seeing a group of talented, inspirational and very deserving individuals, embark on a life changing trip to the US. This year's cohort are no exception, and have been carefully selected for their impressive accomplishments, academic excellence, and a genuine desire to delve into US culture and collaborate with new people and experience new ideas.”

The US-UK Fulbright Commission is the only bi-lateral, transatlantic scholarship programme, offering awards for study or research in any field, at any accredited US or UK university. The Commission is part of the Fulbright programme conceived by Senator J William Fulbright in the aftermath of World War II to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange. Award recipients and summer programme participants will be the future leaders for tomorrow and support the “special relationship” between the US and UK.

The Commission selects scholars through a rigorous application and interview process. In making these awards the Commission looks not only for academic excellence but a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills, a desire to further the Fulbright Programme and a plan to give back to the recipient’s home country upon returning.

Typical grants include a maintenance allowance and a contribution towards tuition fees where applicable. In addition, Fulbright scholars receive a distinctive support and cultural education programme including: visa processing, a comprehensive pre-departure orientation, enrichment opportunities in country, a re-entry session and opportunity to join our alumni networks.

Scholar Bio:

Arun Sood is an academic researcher and journalist with an interest in transnational literary histories. After completing a Masters in American Literature at the University of Amsterdam in 2009, he took a break from scholarly research and worked as a travel journalist for several publications including The Guardian, Time Out and Lonely Planet. Having written in and about several countries, Arun returned to his homeland of Scotland in 2012 after being awarded an AHRC-grant to undertake a PhD in Scottish Literature at The University of Glasgow, completed in 2015. As the Fulbright scholar in Scottish Studies, Arun will research and write a book on the reception and influence of Robert Burns in the United States between 1786 and 1866. When not immersed in archives, he hopes to travel around vast and varied American landscapes: The Shenandoah Mountains; Glacier Park and the Yosemite Valley remain top of an ambitious bucket list.

 

For press enquiries, contact:

Amy Moore
Director Awards Programme
0207 498 4016
amy@fulbright.org.uk

David Mannion
Manager, Advising and Marketing
0207 498 4020
press@fulbright.org.uk

Notes to Editors: Full details regarding the awards, including the selection criteria, benefits and awards categories, can be found on our website. For information about past scholars please visit the Meet Our Fulbrighters section of the website.

About the US-UK Fulbright Commission: The US-UK Fulbright Commission was created by treaty on 22 September 1948. The Fulbright Commission offers grants at postgraduate and postdoctoral level for study in any discipline and at any accredited institution in the US and UK, as well as a number of special exchanges programmes for shorter projects or for younger scholars. During the last six decades, approximately 15,000 UK nationals have studied in the US and 12,000 US nationals in the UK as part of the Fulbright Programme. Prominent alumni of the Fulbright Programme include poet Sylvia Plath; Charles Kennedy MP; journalist, author and Fulbright Commissioner Toby Young; and the economist and noble prize winner Milton Friedman.

About the Fulbright Awards Programme: Each year, the Commission supports around UK and US citizens to study, lecture, conduct research or focus on professional development at leading institutions in the US and UK respectively. Nearly 325,000 extraordinary women and men from all over the world have had their lives changed as participants in the Fulbright Programme. Of these alumni, approximately 15,000 UK nationals have studied in the US and nearly 12,000 US nationals in the UK on our educational exchange programmes. 

About the Fulbright Advisory Service: The US-UK Fulbright Commission also supports US-UK exchange through its Advisory Service. The Fulbright Advising Team provides a wide range of information and hosts events for individuals interested in any level of US study.  The Fulbright Advisory Service is the UK’s only official source of information on educational opportunities in the US and is part of the EducationUSA network of over 400 US advising centres worldwide.

First published: 21 June 2016

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