This isn’t a vacation — though it might just be the adventure of a lifetime. The application isn’t easy, but the reward is absolutely worth it. Becoming a Fulbrighter is a tremendous honor – and a serious responsibility. A commitment to rigorous work. To practicing Science with integrity in the world’s leading institutions.
I’m a speech-language pathologist with very niche research interests. I went to Washington, D.C. to conduct a study on the voices of transgender women, under the guidance of Professor Adrienne Hancock. Only a Fulbright grant could have made it possible for me to work with the top U.S. expert in this field. Professor Hancock is the Noam Chomsky of speech-language pathology. The Judith Butler of affirming voice therapy.
So ask yourself: Which scholar would you like to work with? What do you want to learn? Because a Fulbright can open doors to the Very Best.
That said…Taking part in this program isn’t simple. The application takes effort and preparation. To score highly, your proposal must be thoughtful and meaningful. Unique. Strong. Let your motivation be the satisfaction of executing an ambitious plan. Standing out from the crowd. Gaining respect within the Polish academic community.
I know this firsthand. I observed how speech-language studies are structured in an outstanding academic environment. I learned how to conduct research in line with the highest scientific and ethical standards — thoroughly, with no shortcuts. I honed my academic writing skills.
There’s also another layer. A personal one. An emotional one. For eight months, I focused solely on my research. What a luxury! No job to distract me. No daily noise. Just me and Science. It’s a great privilege, but also a sacrifice — I went a long time without seeing my loved ones.
Are you ready for that? How much time will you spend in the lab? In the library? On campus? And how much will you use to explore America? Because travel is also part of the experience. And you’ll be the one managing your time. It’s up to you how you use it.
In eight months, I completed my planned study, wrote two articles, and in addition to a deep dive along the East Coast, I also visited Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona — and made it to Houston and San Francisco.
And finally — the joker card. The best part: the People. Other Fulbrighters, from Poland and around the world. They changed how I see Science. They taught me not to feel inferior. That knowledge and experience should be shared freely. That there’s still so much to discover.
That collaboration is better than competition.
Joanna Stempień is a recipient of the Fulbright Junior Research Award 2024-25 at George Washington University.
