June 4, 2025
Three recent Brandeis University graduates have received Fulbright awards to teach or conduct research abroad.
Floriesha Bastien ’24 won an English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea, where she will teach English and foster cultural exchange. Gauri Gajeshwar ’25 was awarded a Chile Science Initiative grant to study embryogenesis in South American annual killifish. Dalya Koller ’25 has been awarded a research grant to Israel, where she will conduct a cross-cultural biblical literary study, working alongside scholars specializing in biblical studies and comparative literature.
“Floriesha, Gauri and Dalya each made meaningful contributions to the Brandeis community during their time here, and they will be wonderful ambassadors of the United States during their time abroad,” said Meredith Monaghan, executive director of academic fellowships at Brandeis. “It has been an honor to work with each of them throughout the Fulbright process.”
“I’m excited about connecting with people whose lives and perspectives may differ from mine,” said Bastien. “I’m especially excited to fully immerse myself in Korean society and culture, and in doing so, help cultivate a more interconnected, empathetic world.”
Bastien served as a peer mentor, teaching assistant and study abroad ambassador at Brandeis. After her Fulbright year, she plans to pursue a career in global brand marketing, bringing Korean and American markets closer by creating culturally resonant marketing strategies.
Conducting research at the Universidad de Chile, Gajeshwar will use in vivo imaging in killifish to study the mechanisms behind similar phase transitions that occur in human development and cancer metastasis, with the goal of preventing developmental diseases and cancer progression. After completing her Fulbright year, Gajeshwar will begin a PhD in bioengineering at Stanford University.
“I am looking forward to all the learning I will do in Chile. It is a huge opportunity for academic and personal growth,” said Gajeshwar. “As an Indian American, I am excited to share food, stories and dancing to promote cultural exchange and form a strong connection between myself, my communities in the United States and India and the community I will be a part of in Chile.”
Koller’s project explores the intertextual relationship between the Song of Songs and Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass.” Following her Fulbright year, Koller plans to pursue a doctorate in comparative literature, including studying Egyptian poetry and works by Milton, Keats and Shakespeare.
The Fulbrighters said Brandeis provided critical support, mentorship and feedback throughout the application process.
“Brandeis’ fellowships office offered invaluable, hands-on guidance throughout my Fulbright journey,” said Bastien.
Gajeshwar echoed that sentiment. “I am truly thankful for the community at Brandeis for their support and for how involved and invested everyone always was in my future.”
Koller noted how Brandeis helped her develop the skills for career success after graduation. “Brandeis nurtured my intellectual curiosity and pushed me to think in interdisciplinary and nuanced ways,” she said. “Most importantly, Brandeis instilled in me a sense of purpose — a belief that thoughtful engagement with the world can lead to meaningful change.”
In a sweeping address at Brandeis University’s Heller School, University Professor and legal scholar Anita Hill delivered a forceful defense of the federal judiciary as the primary guardian of American democracy during a constitutional crisis created by the Trump administration.
Every graduating class leaves its mark — but the Brandeis Class of 2025 has done so with resilience, creativity and a deep sense of purpose. Meet six students who share how Brandeis shaped their paths.
More than 570 Brandeis students showcased their scholarly and creative work at the fifth annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations Symposium, marking the highest participation in the event’s history.
Want to receive Brandeis Stories in your inbox?
Subscribe
Office of Marketing Communications
Gryzmish Building
MS 136
Brandeis University
415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02453
781-736-4200
Contact Us
