Hi! My name is Ananya, and I grew up in Lansdale, a suburb of Philadelphia. My family is from India, and many of my mentors were Spanish teachers, so I grew up hearing Tamil, Hindi, Spanish, and English. Growing up around so many languages and traditions made me love learning how people in different places understand the world!
In college, I learned how to do scientific research, which means asking questions nobody has answered yet. I use computer models to study molecules, the tiny building blocks that make up everything around us. Because they’re so small, they are hard to see in a lab, so computer simulations help me visualize how they might move. One question I wonder about is why some things mix while others separate. You may have seen this with oil and water. Even after you stir them together, they separate into layers. Inside living cells, groups of molecules can separate in much the same way. Scientists think that this process may be connected to how some diseases work. I study how and why that happens!
I decided to travel to Heidelberg, Germany, because scientists in different places think about the same problems in different ways. I'm excited to learn how they think about molecules, and just as excited to share my own ideas with them.
Heidelberg is a small city with a very old university, and I’m so excited to explore it. When I'm not working, you can usually find me practicing clarinet, watching football (which means something different in Germany!), or volunteering at events. I also love trying local restaurants and meeting new people! During my year in Germany, I'll share my research, my travels, and my (hopefully improving) attempts at speaking German. I can't wait to hear what you're curious about and what you notice along the way!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
