ALUMNI
STUDIO TERHO PHOTOGRAPHY
In the photo (l-r): 2022-23 Fulbright-VTT Scholar Jie Zhang, CEO of VTT Antti Vasara, 2022-23 Fulbright-VTT Scholar William Collins, former Senior Advisor at VTT and Fulbright Finland alum Matti Kokkala, and Senior Scientist at VTT Sebastian Lindqvist at the Fulbright Finland Foundation Award Ceremony in May 2023.
Connecting Researchers in Science and Technology
A
fter their grant terms, Foundation grant-
of international collaboration. Reaping these bene-
ees play a key role as alumni, continuing
fits myself while working at VTT and recognizing the
their research collaboration, sharing their
many synergies that exist between research being
networks, and forging further connections between
done at KU and at VTT, it seemed only natural to
Finnish and U.S. researchers and their institutions.
help make more of these connections. Hopefully the
After returning to the U.S. from his grant term
seminar will be the start of many conversations that
in Finland, William Collins (2022-23 Fulbright-VTT
will lead to collaborations and partnerships moving
Award in Science, Technology, and Innovation)
forward,” William says.
organized a joint seminar between his home and
The seminar was a concrete example of the many
host institutions, the University of Kansas and VTT
ways in which Fulbrighters build on their individ-
Technical Research Centre of Finland.
ual grant experience with the goal of broadening the
During the two-day seminar, over 70 scholars
linkages and collaboration between the home and
and faculty from the two institutions got together
host institutions. The Foundation also offers grant
virtually to present their research, and discuss joint
programs that are specifically designed to support
research interests and possible future collaboration.
the development of cooperation between Finnish
“After spending time with other Fulbrighters
and U.S. institutions, for instance the Fulbright
during my time in Finland, I was inspired by the
Finland Travel Grant for Institutional Partnership
amazing work they were doing and I saw the benefits
Building.
www.fulbright.fi/ travel-grant-research www.fulbright.fi/ travel-grant-partnerships
COMPETITION FOR THE 2025-26 FULBRIGHT-VTT AWARD IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION OPENS SOON fulbright.fi/vtt-scholar Innovation vs. Happiness Podcast If you’re interested in learning more about life and working as a researcher in Finland, listen to a recent podcast episode with Erika Holt. Erika came to Finland from the U.S. on a Fulbright U.S. Student grant in 1998. After completing her PhD, she has worked at VTT in Finland and is currently VTT’s Customer Account Lead in the Nuclear Energy Sector. Erika is a Board Member of the Fulbright Finland Foundation and pictured (right) giving a tour of the VTT Centre for Nuclear Safety for the Board. www.espoo.fi/en/articles/innovation-vs-happinesshow-unleash-creativity-through-self-care
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