(February 2026) Applied Chemistry PhD student Michael Dooley knew he wanted to conduct some of his doctoral research abroad, and applied to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in the Fall of 2023.
After being initially turned down for the Fulbright grant, Michael didn’t get discouraged – he got creative. He decided to adapt his proposed Fulbright research for a 6-month graduate research grant through the American Scandinavian Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting international understanding through cultural and educational exchange between the United States and the five Nordic nations. Preserving the heart of his proposed research, as well as his proposed affiliate research mentor, Michael submitted his application a year later for the American Scandinavian Foundation grant, and was accepted.
Michael set out for Norway in the summer of 2025. Over the course of his 6 month tenure in Oslo, Michael researched pollutants at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, working towards the goal of achieving zero persistent and mobile substances in the environment.
“I had the honor of conducting research at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute in Oslo, Norway,” said Michael. “I had the amazing opportunity to work with Dr. Hans Peter Arp on simulating some critical missing data for environmental risk assessment. I expected the Scandinavian culture to be different from Mines, but I was surprised by cultural differences in their approach to research as well. This is due to both different regulatory frameworks that the science needs to be tailored for, but also the differences in working culture. Overall, I had a very productive time in Norway. I learned a lot, got a chance to do excellent research, and had a lot of fun new experiences. I am grateful to the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships for all the help with my applications, and the American Scandinavian Foundation for making this possible.”
Michael recently defended his doctoral dissertation in applied chemistry and now has his sights set on Japan, where he will soon be headed to complete a postdoctoral research position funded through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
Colorado School of Mines students who wish to apply to the Fulbright U.S Student Program or the American Scandinavian Foundation grants may seek advising and support from the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, nationalscholarships.mines.edu. For more information, please contact Ashley Weibel, in Mines’ Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships: ashley.weibel@mines.edu