Hello! My name is Lindsey Martineau. I grew up in the small rural town of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. From a very young age, I have always loved sports and physical activity. I began running track in seventh grade and even earned a scholarship to run at the Division I level in college. My main event was the 400 hurdles.
In college, I also realized how much I loved science. While I initially viewed these two passions separately, I began to see how closely related they were. My nutrition and how I fueled my body, the way in which I stretched and warmed up my muscles before a race, how to build my endurance through workouts could all be explained and broken down by science.
This interest in understanding exercise and science took a new angle when I began working in a local nursing home. I began to see how a resident's mobility and cognitive abilities really affected their independence and quality of life. My interest in exercise reemerged again; could we use exercise to preserve not only mobility but cognitive function? I had a strong desire to find out, but I wasn't sure how.
The US Fulbright Student Program became the perfect way to do this. Through this program, I was able to look across the world and find an institution that focuses specifically on asking and answering these questions. My search brought me to the Hungarian Institute of Sports Science. This gave me not only the resources to explore these questions, but the guidance and collaboration of other scientists interested in investigating the same thing.
While so much of my passion exists in this research, my life outside of the lab is extremely exciting. Living in the capital city of Budapest, with over 1.5 million people, has been a big change from my small hometown. I am constantly learning new things each day, from navigating public transportation, to paying for groceries in a different currency, to exploring local restaurants and new foods.
A little more about me outside of my travels: I have two siblings, a little brother and an older sister, as well as two dogs, Henry and Bowie, who I already miss so much. I love reading and finding a good coffee shop to settle into.
I'm so grateful for this opportunity to chase a question I've cared about for years, in a place I never imagined I'd call home for nine months. I can't wait to see where this adventure takes me, and I'm excited to share the journey 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!
