Vikas Buchemmavari

India. Physics

India native Vikas Buchemmavari was always interested in physics, and thanks to UNM’s innovative program in quantum that prepared him to be a leader in the field, he’s receiving his Ph.D. this spring and immediately heading into a new job as a theoretical physicist at a company called Atom Computing in Berkeley, Calif.

Buchemmavari completed his undergraduate work in physics at IIT-Madras, working with his UNM advisor Ivan Deutsch’s previous Ph.D. student for his senior project before moving to UNM to pursue to his graduate degree. He left his home country to study at UNM because he heard great things about the quantum physics program, in addition to the possibility of collaborating with national laboratories, which he was able to do.

“I have been very lucky to collaborate with excellent researchers at both Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratory. In a recent project with Sandia, we addressed atom-loss errors, where the atoms held by optical tweezers might be lost over the course of a computational cycle.” More about that project can be found here.

Buchemmavari’s Ph.D. dissertation is titled “Neutral Atom Quantum Computation,” where he explains “qubits (quantum versions of bits) are stored in individual atoms (similar to transistors) held in place and manipulated using focused laser beams known as optical tweezers. I am working on the theory of how to control them more efficiently and more effectively.”

 His work as a research assistant was key in his success. “My main duty is to generate novel research. This includes keeping up with the state-of-the-art research by reading recent papers. … We also discuss these topics with my advisor and other students and postdocs. When an idea presents promise, we consider it a ‘project’ and set goals and work toward achieving them and writing a paper about the results.”

He praises the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as well as the Center for Quantum Information and Control (CQuIC), for inspiring him both personally and professionally. “They made me feel a part of a real community. The leaders of the center also provide us guidance on how to give good research talks, how to network, and be a better part of the scientific community.”

Delia Bradley

United States . History

Meet Delia Bradley, the 2025 undergraduate recipient of the Globally Engaged Research Awarde from the Department of History.

Delia Bradley’s undergraduate research focused on gender, ideology, and daily life under East Germany’s state socialism. Her Honors thesis, "Divorced from the Fatherland: The lila offensive and the Women’s Question in the German Democratic Republic," examined how the feminist group lila offensive challenged the East German state's narrative of women's liberation following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Guided by Dr. Melissa Bokovoy and enriched by coursework with Dr. Tiffany Florvil, Delia explored women’s everyday resistance to systemic sexism within a regime that publicly endorsed gender equality but perpetuated patriarchal norms. Her research relied heavily on archival materials, including oral histories from the FFBIZ “Berlin in Movement” series, and was grounded in frameworks such as “everyday socialism” and the “quotidian intellectual.”

To better engage with German-language sources, she studied German throughout the project, overcoming challenges in translation and interpretation of politically sensitive material.

Chip Shearer

USA. Earth & Planetary Sciences

Dr. Charles “Chip” Shearer is a Research Scientist at the Institute of Meteoritics and a Research Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He is also a leader in the Sustainable Space Research Grand Challenge and the lead scientist for NASA’s CASA Moon research group, based at UNM. He is believed to be only the second member of his department to receive this distinction.

Dr. Shearer served as co-science lead for NASA’s Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program, which involved over 100 scientists, engineers, ESA astronauts, and students in the study of previously unopened Apollo lunar samples to support Artemis mission planning. He led the recruitment of international collaborators—over 20% of the team—including scientists from the University of Manchester, Open University, ESA, and others. Many were trained in lunar sample handling at NASA Johnson Space Center, and ESA was engaged to develop instruments for opening 50-year-sealed samples.

As lead scientist of CASA-Moon, part of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), Dr. Shearer coordinates collaborative research across institutions in Australia, Europe, and North America. He also organizes an international hybrid seminar series on planetary samples, bringing together speakers from around the world.

Donovan Roberts

Hungary. Psychology

Donovan Roberts graduated from UNM in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. He is currently a researcher at the Mind Research Network. Soon he will work with Professor Istvan Gyteryan at Semmelweis Egyetem, Budapest, Hungary. There, he will participate in pre-clinical trials, aiming to contribute to the improvement of pharmacological interventions for neurobiological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

“Fulbright combines every interest my younger self would have wanted me to explore. It’s an honor to be among many other distinguished award winners. I will cherish every moment and encourage others to take on similar journeys,” said Roberts.

Roberts would also like to thank Dr. Kiyoko Simmons, Dr. Julia Stephen, Dr. Lorna Joachim and Dr. Michael Candelaria.

William Burris

Japan. Biology

William Burris just graduated from UNM with a Bachelor of Science in biology with honors, minors in math and Japanese, and a certificate in honors interdisciplinary liberal arts. He has had a long-standing interest in Japanese culture and studied abroad there in the spring of 2023. He felt that one semester in Japan was not enough, and he is excited to attend graduate school at the University of Tokyo with the MEXT scholarship. Burris hopes to make discoveries through his research of neural stem cells that help contribute to our understanding of brain aging and treatment. He also hopes to be an active member of the University of Tokyo and the local community when he moves there.

“I am extremely grateful and honored to be a recipient of the Fulbright in Japan. Conducting research in Japan has been my dream since my sophomore year in high school. Not only to have my dream come true, but also to have the many years of hard work it took to get here be acknowledged, is an indescribable feeling. It would not have been possible without all the incredible supporters I have had along the way. I am greatly touched by this opportunity to connect more with Japan, and I hope to contribute to the international relations of Japan and the US, which have done so much for me,” said Burris.

At The University of New Mexico, Burris would like to thank Dr. Kiyoko Simmons, Dr. Aaron Neumann, Dr. Diana Northup and Dr. Amy Farnbach Pearson, and at the University of Tokyo, he would like to thank Dr. Taeko Kobayashi, who has supported me in this endeavor.

Chris Dellesin

Poland. Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies

Chris Dollesin graduated from UNM in 2025 with a master's degree in Wind Conducting. He was awarded a Fulbright to Poland to explore the intersection of Polish theatre, mime, and conducting. He is a conductor and saxophonist based in Albuquerque, N.M., and began his conducting journey in Boston, Mass., as a student conductor with the Charles River Wind Ensemble. He studied conducting with Professor Emily Moss, Ph.D., and saxophone with Ashley Kelly, Ph.D., and Professor Jamie Warren at UNM.

In 2023, Dollesin was selected as one of 24 semifinalists in the Warsaw Wind Band Conducting Competition in Warsaw, Poland. In 2024, he performed with the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Youth Wind Orchestra in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Dollesin participates in conducting symposia nationwide, working with renowned conductors such as Eugene Corporon, Craig Kirchhoff, Allan McMurray, and Ray Cramer. He has also guest-conducted the Santa Fe-based Endless Summer Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his musical pursuits, Dollesin serves in the U.S. Air Force and actively explores the intersection of science, technology and the arts.

“Receiving a Fulbright to Poland is an incredible opportunity for me to connect the worlds of theatre and mime with classical music. I am always exploring new ways to approach my work as a conductor. Poland has a rich and long theatrical tradition, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn from the leading minds of the Polish arts community. I am also thrilled to get the chance to connect the musical cultures of the US and Poland and am looking forward to connecting with my Polish musical counterparts," said Dollesin.

Madeline Griffin

Brazil. Latin American Studies

Madeline Griffin is a recent UNM graduate, recently completing her master’s in Latin American Studies with a concentration in Conflict, Peace, and Rights. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Emory & Henry College, where she completed majors in International Studies, Hispanic Studies, and History. Since finishing her studies, Griffin works as an International student advisor at Maryville College in East Tennessee. She began studying Portuguese last summer through the Critical Language Scholarship Program in Rio de Janeiro, continued learning through CLS refresh lessons, and is thrilled to return and learn about a new region of Brazil. Griffin was selected as one of 10 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant finalists to support students and faculty in universities/post-secondary institutions. She looks forward to fostering intercultural exchange, learning, and support while working with students.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to continue learning and engaging while contributing to my surrounding community as an English Teaching Assistant in Brazil. The younger version of myself who first dared to chase my passion for intercultural exchange and language learning is beaming at this turn of events. A lot of hard work, mentorship, and good timing has gone behind this opportunity. I look forward to using this platform to create a meaningful learning atmosphere for my students as we work together.

“I am privileged to learn from the many mentors and professors throughout my life who encourage me to push outside my comfort zones and dedicate my time to what I am passionate about. Thank you to all those who continue to support students chasing their passions. None of us would be here without you. I hope I can bring some of what you’ve taught me to benefit students as an ETA,” said Griffin.

Griffin especially thanks those at the LAII, including Dr. Kathryn McKnight, Dr. Lenny Valerio and Rosa Prada Vivas, for their support and care throughout her studies. She thanks Laura Bunn, and her CLS Portuguese Professor Claudia Bello Winter for her passion in sharing her language and culture. She also thanks her Emory & Henry community including Professor Claudia Vestal, Dr. Sarah Fisher, Dr. Gaia and Dr. Boltwood.

Isela Rendon

South Korea. Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies and Latin American Studies

Isela Rendón is pursuing a dual master’s degree in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies and Latin American Studies at The University of New Mexico, which she expects to complete by December 2025. For the past three years, she has worked as a secondary public-school teacher in Albuquerque, following previous experience leading educational programs abroad.

With her Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award, Rendón will travel to South Korea, where she will support English language education and continue to grow as an educator committed to global engagement.

“I’m honored to be a Fulbright recipient and look forward to continuing my journey as a global educator,” Rendón said. “It has been quite a journey, and I’m eager to embrace this opportunity and excel in its greatness.”

Rendón hopes to continue exploring how educational programs worldwide recognize and leverage students’ literacies as assets to learning. “I hope to carry what I learn in South Korea into every experience that follows, with the goal of better serving students and communities in the future,” she said.

She would like to thank her mentors and Dr. Kiyoko Simmons for their support throughout the application process.

Lexi Baca

United States . Evolution and Ecology Lab

Lexi Baca is a PhD student in Dr. Joseph Cook’s Molecular Evolution and Ecology Lab. In the final semester of her undergraduate studies, she took a Mammalogy course with Dr. Cook, which sparked her interest in evolutionary biology. After excelling in the course, she was offered a postbaccalaureate position, gaining hands-on experience in museum, lab, and field work.

As part of this role, she joined a seven-week field expedition in rural Mongolia with collaborators, including Dr. Batsaikhan Ookhnoi. This experience laid the foundation for her current dissertation research on Orientallactaga, a genus of bipedal, desert-adapted rodents from Central Asia. These syntopic species offer a rare opportunity to study genetic divergence, morphological differences, and ecological niche dynamics.

Baca also contributed to the Mammals of Mongolia book, DNA barcoding over 600 animals to aid in species identification and build a molecular reference library. She has since expanded her research through collaborations in Uruguay—working with Dr. Enrique Lessa on resolving rodent phylogenies using Ultra Conserved Elements (UCEs), and with Dr. Ivanna Tomasco on describing a new species of tuco-tuco.

Her work centers on phylogenetics, using evolutionary relationships to better understand biodiversity and support conservation in a rapidly changing world.