St Andrews to welcome first Fulbright Scholars under new partnership awards

The University is set to welcome two leading US researchers during the 2026-2027 academic year as part of the first cohort of the new Fulbright-University of St Andrews Scholar and Distinguished Scholar awards.

Dr Samantha Allen of Tennessee Technological University,  and Professor Manuel (Manolo) Díaz-Ríos of Bowdoin College  in Maine will join the University for extended research visits, bringing expertise in environmental science and neuroscience while helping to deepen academic links between St Andrews and the United States.

Established in 2025, the awards are designed to attract outstanding US-based researchers to St Andrews, foster new collaborations and strengthen connections between academic communities in the UK and the United States. The Scholar Award is open to academics at all career stages for research or teaching visits, while the Distinguished Scholar Award recognises senior academics who contribute to the intellectual life of the University through research, seminars and public lectures.

The programme builds on a long-standing relationship between St Andrews and the US-UK Fulbright Commission, which has included postgraduate awards, the Fulbright-St Andrews Summer Institute, and the hosting of all visiting Fulbright scholars to St Andrews for the Commission’s annual debrief event in 2025.

Exploring environmental change in island ecosystems

Dr Samantha Allen, Assistant Professor at Tennessee Technological University, will be hosted by the School of Geography and Sustainable Development from September to December 2026 as the University’s first Fulbright-University of St Andrews Scholar.

An environmental scientist, Dr Allen studies how landscapes and freshwater ecosystems respond to environmental change. During her time at St Andrews, she will collaborate with colleagues in the School, across Scotland and with the Carbon Neutral Islands project on the Isle of Raasay.

Her research focuses on biogeochemical cycling in streams and the ways land-use change influences carbon dynamics in island environments. She is particularly interested in combining field-based observations with geospatial technologies and environmental storytelling to better understand and communicate environmental challenges. Alongside her research, Dr Allen is committed to student mentorship and building lasting partnerships between universities, communities and environmental organisations.

Investigating how environmental stressors affects the nervous system

Professor Manuel (Manolo) Díaz-Ríos will be hosted by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences (IBANS) from January to May 2027 as the University’s first Fulbright-University of St Andrews Distinguished Scholar.

Professor Díaz-Ríos is Professor of Neuroscience and Biology at Bowdoin College. His research explores how environmental stressors, including rising temperatures and plastic pollution, affect the nervous system, with a particular focus on the cellular and molecular processes that shape neuron function. His work combines electrophysiological and molecular approaches, and he is also recognised for his published writing and commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

At St Andrews, Professor Díaz-Ríos will collaborate with colleagues across the School of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences (IBANS) to investigate the combined effects of plastic pollution and elevated temperatures, two significant environmental pressures whose interaction remains relatively unexplored. Using Drosophila larvae as a model system, his project will examine how these stressors influence the ability of neurons involved in movement to adapt and respond to stimuli, drawing on advanced imaging and neural recording techniques.

Reflecting on the University’s first cohort of Fulbright awardees, Professor Tom Brown, Vice-Principal (Research, Collections and Innovation), said: “As St Andrews continues to build its world-leading research activity, attracting outstanding researchers from around the globe remains central to our ambitions. We are delighted to welcome Dr Allen and Professor Díaz-Ríos to St Andrews and look forward to the new collaborations, research insights and long-term partnerships their visits will help to foster.

“Our partnership with the US-UK Fulbright Commission plays an important role in expanding the University’s already extensive research and teaching relationships across the United States.”

Applications for the next round of the Fulbright-University of St Andrews Scholar and the Fulbright-University of St Andrews Distinguished Scholar awards are now open for visits during the 2027-2028 academic year. The application deadline is 15 September.