Grantee

Lucia Buscemi graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, earning a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Anthropology. As a Fulbright researcher in Nepal, Lucia focuses on investigating the impacts of climate change on mountain tourism and traditional migration patterns in Kathmandu and the Khumbu Valley in collaboration with ICIMOD. This research builds upon her prior experiences in Nepal, including her internship at Sagarmatha Next in Kathmandu during the summer of 2023, where she developed a pioneering sustainability certification program designed specifically for lodges and hotels in the Himalayas. Her Fulbright project is poised to offer valuable insights into the intricate interplay between climate change, tourism dynamics, and cultural heritage in the Himalayan region.

Throughout her career, Lucia’s commitment to environmental research and advocacy has been unwavering. As a Halle Institute Undergraduate Fellow at Emory University, she received a grant to conduct research for her honors thesis in the Khumbu region in 2022, further enriching her understanding of local environmental challenges. Beyond academia, Lucia has actively contributed to community service and sustainable practices. She served with AmeriCorps VISTA at the International Rescue Committee in Sacramento, focusing on community development and refugee resettlement. Additionally, she interned as a Zero Waste and Sustainable Events intern at Emory’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives, where she promoted and implemented sustainable practices within educational institutions.

Shaun T. Ranadé, a third-year medical student originally from New York, holds three degrees from Carnegie Mellon University: an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, a B.S. in Biological Sciences, and a B.A. in Japanese Studies. With a strong background in biology and bioengineering, Shaun is focused on pursuing a career in internal medicine.

Shaun has been awarded the Fulbright-Fogarty Public Health Fellowship to Kathmandu, Nepal, a collaborative effort between the Fulbright Program and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His project aims to investigate continuous glucose monitoring in gestational diabetes within rural and resource-limited settings. Given the substantial health risks associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) for both mothers and infants, Shaun recognizes the urgency of addressing this issue, especially in Nepal where rapid urbanization has led to heightened obesity rates and insulin resistance.

Shaun’s interest in global public health emerged during his undergraduate years, during which he played a key role in founding CMU’s chapter of Global Public Health Brigades and organizing successful trips to Honduras with a student team. Prior to his medical studies, Shaun gained valuable experience working in corporate R&D, focusing on cell therapy research, biotechnology intellectual property prosecution for the U.S. government, as well as engagements in life science investment banking and consulting.

Ashwin Ram Reddy, a medical student at Johns Hopkins University (Class of 2026), holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from Stanford University (Class of 2020). During his undergraduate years, Ashwin conducted health systems improvement research with Stanford Emergency Medicine International, focusing on assessing critical care capacity and referral systems for newborns in public health facilities in Uttar Pradesh, India. At Johns Hopkins, he is committed to addressing global surgical care disparities.

Recipient of the Fulbright-Fogarty Scholarship for public health research in Nepal, Ashwin’s proposed study aims to evaluate the hearing status of Nepali brick kiln workers and understand how various occupational risk factors impact their hearing health. Collaborating with the Nepal Brick Kiln Project, a partnership between Johns Hopkins University and the Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Ashwin aims to contribute to hearing loss prevention practices and advocate for the health and rights of brick kiln workers in Nepal.

Ashwin’s diverse endeavors include conducting epidemiological studies on surgical issues among refugees in Tanzania, leading initiatives to repurpose unused medical supplies from Johns Hopkins operating rooms for the benefit of Ukraine and contributing to the development of an online residency curriculum for head and neck surgeons in Haiti.

Ronan Wallace, a research engineer, and project lead at Engineers for Exploration (E4E) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), graduated summa cum laude from Macalester College in 2022. During his undergraduate studies as a QuestBridge Scholar, he earned a Bachelor’s degree with departmental honors in Computer Science, a minor in Data Science, and concentrated in Cognitive Science.

As a Fulbright Research Scholar in Nepal, Ronan will investigate Himalayan flooding impacts using a combination of 3D modeling and ethnographic interviewing within affected communities in collaboration with Kagbeni Inhabitants Resettlement & Conservation Committee. By integrating firsthand communal experiences with 3D models of flood damages, he aims to produce data-driven reports to guide local policy, relief aid requests, and cultural heritage preservation efforts.

Ronan’s research journey began with E4E at UCSD through the NSF-REU Scholarship. He furthered his experience by interning with the Neurorobotics Research Lab at Berliner Hochschule für Technik through the DAAD RISE Germany Scholarship. Ronan initiated his research in Nepal through the School for International Training’s (SIT) study abroad program, establishing his project with E4E at UCSD in 2022.

Independently funding his work through the Jan Serie Research Fellowship and the Alice Rowan Swanson Fellowship, Ronan has presented his research at various conferences, including the Human Development Conference at the University of Notre Dame and the Sustainable AI Conference at the University of Bonn. His research on “Relocating Lubra Village and Visualizing Himalayan Flood Damages with Remote Sensing” was published in the Journal of Critical Global Issues. Recognized for his academic achievements abroad, Ronan received an institutional nomination from SIT for The Forum’s Award For Academic Achievement Abroad and was selected as a Changemaker of 2023.

Mika Ulmet, a graduate of Cornell University with a master’s degree in Global Development focusing on food and nutritional security, has a rich background in sustainable agriculture and community development. Before her studies at Cornell, Mika dedicated herself as a Peace Corps Volunteer in western Nepal from 2019 to 2020. During her service, she collaborated with women and children on initiatives ranging from sustainable farming to promoting healthy nutrition, including projects such as oyster mushroom cultivation, diversified vegetable production, cover cropping, and cooking demonstrations.

Inspired by her experiences in Nepal, Mika’s research interests have centered on building resilient value-added grain systems. Her dedication to this field was recognized with a Fulbright scholarship for Nepal (2024-2025). In collaboration with her partner affiliation, the Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research, and Development (LI-BIRD), Mika aims to advocate for the preservation and consumption of Nepal’s diverse indigenous grains and pseudocereals. Her research involves documenting the stories and recipes of farmers from various ethnic communities who have historically cultivated and consumed barley, millet, and buckwheat. By raising awareness of the social, ecological, and cultural significance of these crops, Mika seeks to contribute to their revival from farm to plate, thereby enriching Nepal’s food culture.

Recently, Mika completed the Rodale Institute Farmer Training Program, furthering her expertise in sustainable practices in organic farming and grain production. Her passion for sourdough has inspired her culinary explorations with various ancient and heirloom grains. With a vision for transformative change in local food systems, Mika aspires to leverage her farming and baking skills to support community livelihoods and foster sustainable food practice.

Ava, a recent graduate of Pitzer College, holds a degree in Political Studies with a minor in Economics. As a Fulbright researcher at National Kidney center she will focus on dialysis accessibility, under the project titled “Politics of Care: Life for Returnee Migrants with Chronic Kidney Disease.” Drawing from her previous academic experience in Nepal through the Pitzer in Nepal program, Ava aims to leverage her background in social policy and public health to analyze the impact of adverse health effects on returnee migrants and their communities.

Her research primarily concentrates on assessing the utilization of Nepal’s dialysis infrastructure and developing additional care systems tailored for returnee migrants. The growing trend of young migrants returning with chronic kidney disease, often due to harsh working conditions abroad and rising temperatures, highlights the urgency of her investigation.

Ava intends to conduct thorough research across all five branches of the National Kidney Center, aiming to illuminate the multifaceted journeys—personal, economic, and health-related—undertaken by returnee migrants with chronic kidney disease in accessing both physical and emotional care. Through her endeavors, she aspires to raise awareness of the challenges confronted by this vulnerable population and contribute to the improvement of support systems and healthcare provisions available to them.

Elizabeth Taber, a 2024 graduate of Cornell University, excelled in Policy Analysis and Management, with minors in demography, inequality studies, and law and society. Her remarkable achievements include being honored as an outstanding senior, a High Roads Fellow, and a Future Leaders in Public Service Fellow during her time at Cornell.

With a Fulbright Research Grant, Elizabeth will embark on research into waste management policy in Nepal starting in July of this year. Collaborating with Tribhuvan University, Rural Reconstruction Nepal, and Partnership for Sustainable Development Nepal, she aims to make significant contributions to this crucial area of development.

Elizabeth’s commitment to environmental policy is evident in her diverse research pursuits. She has delved into topics such as Nepali government intervention in irrigation systems and conducted a thesis on organic waste policy in New York State. Her involvement in social science and waste management research at Cornell University, coupled with her work for various nonprofits and engagement in legal and policy research for the U.S. government, has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues and policy frameworks. Elizabeth’s extensive background positions her well to tackle waste management challenges in Nepal as a Fulbright scholar.