Fulbright Grantees

We present the Fulbright grantees for academic year 2024-25. See the networking opportunities of the Fulbright Alumni, too.

Grantees from Bulgaria

Grantees from the USA

Resources for U.S. grantees

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Special care for all Fulbright grantees

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Assistance with application processes

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Assistance with on site integration

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Events and networking opportunities

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Academic and professional growth

Grantees from the U.S.

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Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Bulgaria

Scholars

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Dr. Viktoria Basham

Field of Specialization: Anthropology, Folklore
Home Institution: Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD
Host Institution in Bulgaria: University of Library Studies and Information Technologies and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia

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Dora Fichter

Field of Specialization: Law, Criminal Law
Home Institution: Missouri Attorney General, Jefferson City, MO
Host Institution in Bulgaria: National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Sofia

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Dr. Damla Isik

Field of Specialization: Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology
Home Institution: Regis University, Denver, CO
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, Plovdiv

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Dr. Andrew Knighton

Field of Specialization: Literature, American Literature
Home Institution: California State University, Los Angeles, CA
Host Institution in Bulgaria: American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad

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Clint Margrave

Field of Specialization: Writing
Home Institution: California State University, Long Beach, CA
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia

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Dr. Petia Yanchulova Merica-Jones

Field of Specialization: Physics, Astronomy
Home Institution: Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia

GRADUATE STUDENTS

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Kyla Baal

Field of Specialization: Museum Studies
Project Title: The Politics of Subsidiary Symbols on Amphorae and Currency Between Thrace and Greece
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Balkan Heritage Foundation, Sofia

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Nathan Bernacki

Field of Specialization: Ethnomusicology
Project Title: A Musical and Political Analysis of Contemporary Bulgarian Folk Music
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts, Plovdiv

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Eleonora Edreva

Field of Specialization: Art
Project Title: Rewilding Textiles: Passing Down Ecological Knowledge Through Natural Dyes
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia

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Jolie Greer

Field of Specialization: Ancient Studies
Project Title: The Presence of Equine Preference in Bulgaria and Romania in the 2nd Century BCE
Host Institution in Bulgaria: National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia

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Jordan Halpern

Field of Specialization: International Studies
Project Title: Local Insights, Global Implications: Bulgaria’s NCS Development and Impact
Host Institution in Bulgaria: University of National and World Economy, Sofia

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Stuart Williamson

Field of Specialization: Economics
Project Title: Building Bulgaria’s Trade Infrastructure Capacity on the TCITR
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Varna University of Economics, Varna

ENGLISH TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Sylvie Antal

Field of Specialization: Information Science

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Veda Balaji

Field of Specialization: Neuroscience

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Samokov, Bulgaria

Eva Basile

Field of Specialization: Educational Leadership and Policy

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Burgas, Bulgaria

Lauren Buddie

Field of Specialization: Elementary Education

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria

Caroline Cassell

Field of Specialization: Sociology, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Theatre

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Smolyan, Bulgaria

Margaret Cavanaugh

Field of Specialization:  Environmental Science

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Shumen, Bulgaria

Lillian Dammann

Field of Specialization: International Affairs and Spanish

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Ruse, Bulgaria

Annabelle Fortine

Field of Specialization: Education

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Galabovo, Bulgaria

Kyla Gates

Field of Specialization: Psychology; Christian Community Development

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Mia Griffin

Field of Specialization: Economics

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Sofia, Bulgaria

Beatrice Handlin

Field of Specialization: English, Creative Writing

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Razgrad, Bulgaria

Zunayra Hemani

Field of Specialization: Public Health, Political Science

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Lovech, Bulgaria

Allyson Hom

Field of Specialization: Marketing, Film and Media Management

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Pravets, Bulgaria

Mercedes Janis

Field of Specialization: Theater, Politics

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Pernik, Bulgaria

Joseph Johnson

Field of Specialization: Anthropology, Sociology

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Vidin, Bulgaria

Emma Joswiak-McLaughlin

Field of Specialization: Secondary Education

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Yambol, Bulgaria

Soraya Keiser

Field of Specialization: Journalism, International Relations

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Sliven, Bulgaria

Joya Kumar

Field of Specialization: History, Music

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Kardzhali, Bulgaria

Naeman Mahmood

Field of Specialization: Political Science, Middle Eastern Studies

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Varna, Bulgaria

Devon Nielsen

Field of Specialization: Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Maya O'Boyle

Field of Specialization: Applied Linguistics

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Ruse, Bulgaria

Jonathan Phalen

Field of Specialization:  English

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Sofia, Bulgaria

Adelaide Randall

Field of Specialization: Psychology, Nonprofit Management

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Gabrovo, Bulgaria

Suzy Schlosberg

Field of Specialization: International Studies, East Asian Studies

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Silistra, Bulgaria

Gabrielle Shell

Field of Specialization: Middle Eastern Studies, Peace and Justice Studies

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Varna, Bulgaria

Prachi Soni

Field of Specialization: Political Science, Global and International Studies

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Haskovo, Bulgaria

Haley Strom

Field of Specialization: Psychology, Journalism

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Burgas, Bulgaria

Lillian Tzanev

Field of Specialization: Religious Studies, Russian Studies

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Montana, Bulgaria

Leo Williams

Field of Specialization: Creative Writing

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Ariana Wheeler

Field of Specialization: World Politics

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Dobrich, Bulgaria

Sindhu Yegappan

Field of Specialization: Psychology, Global Health Studies

Project Title: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Dobrich, Bulgaria

Resources for US grantees

Fulbright Bulgaria Grantees at Rila Monastery

Join Fulbright Alumni Network Facebook group for ETAs & students

Grantees from Bulgaria

Graduate Students

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Maria Atanasova

Thanks to Scandinavia Award

Degree Objective: MA in Public Administration

University of Maryland – College Park

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Ashod Derandonyan

Thanks to Scandinavia Award

Degree objective: MA in Public Policy

Gallaudet University

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Evangelia Gkaravela

Degree objective: MA in Aerospace Engineering

Stevens Institute of Technology

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Ivan Shopov

Bulgarian Leaders

Degree objective: MSc. in Education
Harvard University

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Ekaterina Fakirova

Bulgarian Leaders

Degree objective: LLM

University of Pennsylvania, Carey Law School

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Rukiye-Ayshe Egeli

Bulgarian Leaders

Degree objective: MA in Material Science and Engineering

Cornell University

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Lexi Fleurs

Bulgarian Leaders

Degree objective: MA in Visual Arts

School of Visual Arts New York

Visiting Researchers

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Nia Toshkova

Evolutionary Biology

Home Institution: National Museum of Natural History, BAS

Host Institution: University of California-Los Angeles

Spring 2024

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Gyulten Huseinova

Neuropsychology

Home Institution: Koç University

Host Institution: University of Pennsylvania

Fall 2023

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Diana Manchorova

Reproductive Biology

Home Institution: Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, BAS

Host Institution: Wayne State University

Fall 2023

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Veselina Dzhumbeva

East European Languages and Literature

Home Institution: Queen Mary University of London

Host Institution: Columbia University

Fall 2023

Visiting Scholars

Tsvetoslav Koynarski

Veterinary Medicine

Home Institution: Trakia University

Host Institution: Kansas University

Fall, 2023

Atanas Gotchev

Computer Science/Optics

Home Institution: Tampere U Finland

Host Institution: University of Utah

Fall 2023

Katerina Zlatkova-Doncheva

Special Education L/R

Home Institution: Veliko Turnovo University

Host University: Michigan State University

Spring 2024

Aneta Vasileva

Architecture

Home Institution: UACG

Host Institution: University of Georgia

Fall 2023

Gergana Yordanova

National Security

Home Institution: Rakovski Defense College

Host Institution: George Washington University

Spring 2024

Radostina Angelova

Entrepreneurship

Home Institution: Sofia University/Applied

Host Institution: Bentley University, Boston

Fall 2023

Angela Popivanova

Applied Math

Home Institution: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Host Institutions: Texas A&M

Fall 2023

Albena Bakratcheva

Literature L/R

Home Institution: New Bulgarian University

Host Institution: Harvard University

Spring 2024

Civil Society Researchers

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Stefan Krastev

Home Institution: Anti-Corruption Fund

Host Institution: ProPublica

Fall 2023

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Veneta Novakova

Home Institution: Façade Engineering Association

Host institution: Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat

Fall 2023

Visiting Scholar Award in Mathematics at the University of Miami

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Dimitar Kodjabashev

Mathematics (Algebraic Topology)

Home Institution: Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, BAS

Host Institution: University of Miami,

Spring 2024

You can find some photos of the Bulgarian Fulbright cohort for AY 2023-24 here:

Browse album

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Grants for Bulgarians citizens

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All programs which can be used by American citizens to apply for a grant and collaborate with prominent Bulgarian institutions.

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