U-M Students Find Generous Support for Research Overseas

By Kirstin Olmstead
Published: 5/12/2009

ANN ARBOR, MICH., May 12, 2009–The University of Michigan International Institute (II) announced  the names of 41 U-M students today who have received nearly $170,000 in funding to participate in an internship abroad or conduct research overseas.

“We are very proud of this fellowship program,” said Mark Tessler, director of U-M’s International Institute and vice provost for international affairs. “Students today have fewer financial resources for overseas study making it more important than ever for universities to provide funding for internships and research abroad.”

Students apply from a number of disciplines such as the humanities, social and natural sciences, medicine, law, and architecture. Projects range in scope from examination of medieval manuscripts in Europe to analysis of the effects of mercury use in gold mining in Ghana.

“The International Institute Individual Fellowship will allow me to conduct intensive field work in Thailand that will enrich the master's thesis I plan to write next year,” said Joshua Monthei, a graduate student pursuing a dual degree in Southeast Asian studies and urban planning. “Without it, I would not be able to spend three months abroad this summer.”

The highly competitive, merit-based program is open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a degree program at the University of Michigan. Approximately 200 students applied for the prestigious competition, which awards individual fellowships of up to $5,000.

The year’s fellowship grantees and their research projects include:

Ismail Fajrie Alatas, Indonesia – $5,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in anthropology and history
Examining the Hadrami diaspora in post-colonial Indonesia and identity formation among Indonesians embarking on religious pilgrimage to Hadramaut, Yemen

Nadia Baadj, The Netherlands – $3,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in art history
Researching the art and career of the Flemish painter Jan van Kessel I

Amanda Bednarz, Dominican Republic – $5,000
Pursuing M.S., School of Natural Resources and Environment
Examining the role of local institutions in rural territorial development and enhancing adaptive capacity to climate change

Katie Behrmann, Germany – $2,700
Pursuing B.A. and B.S., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Interning at the Saxon Switzerland National Park working with children and environmentalism

Jeannine Bessette, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia – $5,000
Pursuing M.L.A., School of Natural Resources and Environment
Investigating “everyday” urban forms and processes in colonial and modern/industrial cities across the Andes

Jennifer Bowles, Argentina – $5,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in social work and anthropology
Examining strategies used by small farmers in northeast Argentina to combat neoliberal reform and rural exodus

David Boyle, United Kingdom – $5,000 
Pursing B.A. and B.S., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Analyzing archival and oral history research related to the Polish émigré community in England

Eric Brown, Cape Verde – $3,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in linguistics
Conducting linguistic research regarding Cape Verdean Creole and the ideological and public policy issues arising from its introduction into the school system in Cape Verde

Sidney Brown, Senegal and Niger – $5,000
Pursuing M.P.P., Ford School of Public Policy and M.S., School of Natural Resources and Environment
Researching institutional support capacity and climate change adaptation in West Africa

Frank Castiglione, Turkey – $2,800
Pursuing Ph.D. in near eastern studies
Researching the role of nationalism in Turkish political debates regarding integration into the European Union

Jie Chen, China – $3,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in psychology
Comparing linguistic acquisition between English- and Mandarin-speaking children

Yiwei Chen, China – $5,000
Pursing M.P.P., Ford School of Public Policy and M.S.W., School of Social Work
Interning in the Mayoral Training Program and the China Energy Blueprint at the Joint US-China Cooperation on Clean Energy

Marie Comiskey, Canada – $5,000
Pursuing J.D., U-M Law School
Researching the translation of criminal law concepts into jury instructions

Madeline Fiore, Nicaragua – $5,000
Pursuing B.S., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Evaluating household-level water intervention using Bio-Sand Filters in Nicaraguan communities

Sarah Hamilton, Spain – $1,500
Pursuing Ph.D. in history
Conducting archival research on the environmental legacy of the Franco dictatorship and examining the integration of European environmental norms in Spain

Jonathan Hill, Malawi – $5,000
Pursuing B.A., Ford School of Public Policy
Researching issues of transportation and isolation in rural Malawi

Jeremy Johnson, Russia, Armenia and Georgia – $5,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in anthropology and history
Researching gender and literacy policies for minorities within Russia, Armenia and Georgia during the early Soviet period

Andrea Kussman, Switzerland – $5,000
Pursuing M.D., U-M Medical School
Interning at the World Health Organization in Geneva

Katherine Langer, South Africa – $3,000
Pursuing M.P.P., Ford School of Public Policy
Examining the impact of the Civil Society Index, a diagnostic tool implemented in 53 countries to assess the state of civil society at the country level

Lani Leuthvilay, United Kingdom – $3,300
Pursuing M.L.A., School of Natural Resources and Environment
Participating in a horticultural internship at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Kristin Maher, Switzerland – $5,000
Pursuing M.D., U-M Medical School
Interning at the World Health Organization in Geneva

Daniel Miller, France, Belgium and Switzerland – $4,800
Pursuing Ph.D., School of Natural Resources and Environment
Examining European donor perspectives on biodiversity conservation and adaptive capacity regarding climate change in the “W” transboundary biosphere reserve

Joshua Monthei, Thailand – $3,500
Pursuing M.A., Center for Southeast Asian Studies and M.U.P., Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Examining the relationship between transportation planning and social inequity in Bangkok

Kristen Munnelly, South Africa – $3,500
Pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. in anthropology and public health
Researching social epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and integration of epidemiology with social science to develop behavior interventions

Massy Mutumba, Ghana – $5,000
Pursuing M.P.H., School of Public Health
Interning with the CHARTER project studying the retention and motivation of health workers

Regev Nathansohn, Israel – $5,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in anthropology
Researching visual and oral memories of Jews and Palestinians in Haifa, Israel, with a focus on the concept of coexistence

Renagh O’Leary, India – $5,000
Pursuing B.A., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Science
Interning with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative’s Delhi office 

Susan Palazzo, Italy – $3,500
Pursuing B.S., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Researching and excavating as part of the Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia

Yasasuii Paruchuri, Ghana – $4,150
Pursuing B.S., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Researching the effects of mercury use in small-scale gold mining in Bolgatanga

Tasha Rijke-Epstein, Madagascar – $5,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in anthropology and history
Researching the historical and socio-political significance of roads and transportation networks in Madagascar

Roberto Robles-Valencia, Spain – $5,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in romance languages and literatures
Examining Spanish nationalism through the analysis of cultural artifacts

Angeline Royall-Kahin, Zambia – $1,100 
Pursuing B.A., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Interning with the ischool.zm project in Lusaka 

Lisa Smith, Bangladesh – $4,000
Pursuing M.P.H., School of Public Health and M.S.W., School of Social Work
Internship at the Grameen Bank in Dhaka 

Darci Sprengel, Egypt – $4,500
Pursuing B.M.A., School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and B.S., College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Working with the Egyptian Center for Culture and Art to conduct ethnographic interviews with rural music musicians living in Cairo

Jessica Steinberg, Democratic Republic of Congo – $5,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in political science
Researching timber revenues in Brazzaville 

Klementina Sula, Switzerland – $5,000
Pursuing M.P.P., Ford School of Public Policy
Interning with the Refugee and Migration Affairs Section at the U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva

Melanie Garcia Sympson, United Kingdom and France – $3,650
Pursuing Ph.D. in art history
Examining Roman de la rose manuscripts in London and Paris

Joseph Viscomi, Egypt and Italy – $3,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in anthropology and history
Conducting oral history research examining issues of masculinity among Egyptian men planning to migrate to Italy

Tamika Weerasingha, Sri Lanka – $5,000
Pursuing J.D., U-M Law School
Focusing on research and advocating for housing rights through Habitat for Humanity internship

Anna Wieck, Spain – $3,000
Pursuing Ph.D. in art history
Interning in the publications department at the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid

Jane Xiao, Cameroon – $4,300
Pursuing M.S.E., College of Engineering
Interning with the Akum Health Center and the Community Partnerships Against AIDS Programme in Bamenda 

University of Michigan International Institute
The University of Michigan International Institute houses 18 centers and programs focused on world regions and global themes. The institute develops and supports international teaching, research, and public affairs programs to promote global understanding across the campus and to build connections with intellectuals and institutions worldwide. For more information, visit www.ii.umich.edu.

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News Category: students
Department: International Institute