Saman Aryana, professor and Occidental Chair in Energy and Environmental Technologies, and director of the University of Wyoming’s Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for Australia. He will collaborate with the University of New South Wales, investigating and exchanging ideas about the energy transition.
“I feel privileged to have been afforded such an incredible opportunity to expand my work globally by developing strong ties and fostering collaborative relationships with Australian colleagues who have deep, complementary expertise,” Aryana goes on to say. “Australia and the United States, particularly the state of Wyoming, have substantial similarities in the economic importance of their subsurface resources and agriculture sectors. Given its energy policies and the importance of its mining and agriculture sectors, Australia is an excellent place for establishing purposeful cooperation focused on subsurface engineering.”
Aryana is one of 800 US citizens selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program to do study or teach overseas during the 2024-25 school year. Fulbright Scholars conduct cutting-edge research and broaden their professional networks, frequently extending research collaborations that began abroad and setting the framework for future institutional relationships.
“I am delighted to see Saman chosen for this well-deserved chance and honor. “He has certainly earned it,” says Cameron Wright, Carrell Family Dean of the University of Washington’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “To put this in more context, past Fulbright Scholars include 62 Nobel laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and thousands of leaders and world-renowned experts in academia and many other fields across the private, public and nonprofit sectors.”
Aryana joined the UW faculty in 2013, where he has made important contributions to his field and provided educational opportunities for students.
“Dr. Aryana’s Fulbright Scholar recognition brings honor to UW and contributes significantly to our reputation as a world-class research university,” says Kevin Carman, provost and executive vice president.
Congress established the Fulbright Program, the US government’s flagship program for foreign educational and cultural exchange, in 1946. The program provides passionate and outstanding students and intellectuals from over 160 countries with the chance to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, contribute to mutual understanding, and solve common global challenges.
Since its establishment, the Fulbright Program has supported over 400,000 devoted and brilliant students, academics, artists, teachers, and professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Scholars have improved their skills and relationships, received priceless foreign views, gone home to share their experiences with their students and colleagues, and given their local communities a broader perspective.
