Tennessee Tech’s Samantha Allen receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar award for 2026-27
Samantha Allen, assistant professor of environmental science and geospatial analysis at Tennessee Tech University, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in environmental studies to Scotland for the 2026-27 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
As a Fulbright Scholar at the University of St. Andrews, Allen will collaborate with researchers and community partners on the Isle of Raasay and within Scotland’s Carbon Neutral Islands initiative. Her research will examine carbon cycling across changing land-use systems while advancing field-based techniques for studying biogeochemical processes in remote environments using spatial analysis and modified molecular monitoring protocols.
Beyond the research itself, Allen looks forward to returning to Scotland with her family, spending time outdoors and building continued collaborations through place-based environmental research.
Allen has previously led two student groups to Scotland and formed connections with the Isle of Raasay. She plans to continue ongoing efforts to map invasive Rhododendron ponticum, further develop an interactive online mapping platform for the Isle of Raasay, identify future collaborative research opportunities and deepen her understanding of the island’s landscapes and communities.
“I am deeply honored to serve as a Fulbright Scholar and to represent Tennessee Tech University, the School of Environmental Studies and the United States through the Fulbright Program,” said Allen. “The support of Tech’s School of Environmental Studies, the College of Emerging and Integrative Studies and the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence has been tremendous.”
Allen added, “My hope is that the partnerships and friendships established through this opportunity will continue long after the Fulbright concludes, creating lasting connections that support future research, student opportunities, and collaboration between our institutions and communities.”
Fulbright U.S. Scholars are accomplished faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Through these affiliations, they expand their professional networks and often seed future research, innovation, and institutional partnerships.
When they return home to their campuses, labs, and classrooms, Fulbright Scholars share their experiences and insights, becoming champions of international collaboration. Many go on to host visiting scholars and inspire colleagues and students to pursue transformative opportunities abroad.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 as a bold investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange. The Fulbright Program is marking its 80th anniversary in 2026, which coincides with America's 250th anniversary celebration. This dual milestone provides an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the Fulbright Program's role in America's legacy of leadership, innovation, international collaboration, and American excellence.
Fulbright provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. For eight decades, Fulbrighters have been leaders at the forefront of discovery and innovation, conducting cutting edge research, advancing critical industries, and preparing future generations with new skills and perspectives. Fulbrighters have included 46 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders in all sectors and industries across the United States and around the world.
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.
In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit www.fulbrightprogram.org.
The deadline to apply for 2027-28 Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards is Sept. 15, 2026. To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards and eligibility, click here.