Dr. Jennifer Weiser, associate professor of chemical engineering at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in biomedical sciences from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. She will join the faculty of Graz Technical University (TU Graz) in Austria as a visiting professor in the Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Biobased Systems (IBioSys) for the 2024-2025 academic year.

IBioSys is based on the amalgamation of basic research (chemistry) and applied research (technology) of biobased systems. Its primary goal is to embed interdisciplinary research in combination with knowledge and technology transfer to teaching, research, industry, and society at local, regional, and international levels.

"We are very pleased about Professor Weiser staying at our Institute. Her experience in innovative engineering education methods as well as in the newest research tools for the development of drug formulation, delivery, and biomaterials will be complementary to ennoble our academic environment," says Dr. Karin Stana Kleinschek, vice head of IBioSys at TU Graz.

Dr. Weiser will introduce innovative engineering education methods to broaden IBioSys’ course offerings with classes in Drug Formulation and Delivery and Biomaterials-Tissue Interactions while at TU Graz. She also plans to expand research collaborations with IBioSys members to develop biobased, polymeric biomaterials for the 3D bioprinting of tissues. Dr. Weiser’s aim is to establish new connections and collaborations to enhance the communities of both Cooper Union and TU Graz by providing access to new and diverse opportunities.

After earning a B.S. in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Dr. Weiser completed an M.S. and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Cornell University. She worked in industry for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and iFyber before pursuing postdoctoral work in biomedical engineering at Yale University. Dr. Weiser has previously held roles as a visiting professor of surgery at The Yale School of Medicine and a visiting professor of clinical medical sciences at Columbia University Medical Center. She joined the Chemical Engineering Department of Cooper Union in 2017 and has been instrumental in advancing research and education in drug delivery, wound healing, and polymeric biomaterials for medical applications.

"Professor Weiser has made amazing contributions to the field and is incredibly deserving of this recognition. She is an exemplar of the quality of our talented faculty in the School of Engineering. I cannot wait to see what comes next,” says Dr. Barry Shoop, Dean of the Albert Nerken School of Engineering at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.  

Fulbright U.S. Scholars encompass faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations initiated abroad and laying the groundwork for future institutional partnerships. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their experiences and frequently become active supporters of international exchange, hosting foreign scholars on campus and encouraging colleagues and students to pursue opportunities abroad.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished individuals with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, foster people-to-people connections, and tackle complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Annually, over 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, and over 2,000 participate in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, engaging in study/research exchanges or serving as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad.

The Fulbright Program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, receives funding from the U.S. Government. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations worldwide also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries.

In the United States, the Institute of International Education administers 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 https://fulbrightprogram.org.