RIT graduate Sammy Deol won a yearlong Fulbright Scholarship to attend graduate school in England. He will earn a master’s degree in public health in preparation for medical school.   Deol, who is from Ithaca, N.Y., graduated from RIT this year with a BS degree in biomedical sciences. He plans to become a medical doctor and welcomes the chance to conduct epidemiology and social science research in a foreign country. “Even though I want to practice medicine in the United States one day, I want to have exposure to that aspect of medicine and to have the perspective of a different healthcare system,” Deol said. He enrolled in the University of Birmingham for its proximity to one of the largest Sikh communities in England. Deol, who belongs to the Sikh tradition, is looking to contribute to research interventions addressing high rates of alcohol and drug use among the Sikh population in Birmingham. Deol became interested in the impact of addictive behaviors within a family on children’s emotional-social development and health from working in the research lab led by Stephanie Godleski, RIT associate professor of psychology. Godleski’s addiction research inspired the focus of his graduate work. “I also want to explore my culture more,” Deol said. “I am curious to see the differences between American and British Sikhism, and I think that would be a good opportunity do that, as well.” (While on the staff of the student-run Reporter Magazine, Deol wrote “A Sikh Society,” about the population in Rochester and the gurdwara, or temple, near RIT.) In addition to working with Godleski, Deol attributes his success to professors in the College of Health Sciences and Technology, and the RIT Honors Program for his personal growth and development. Deol took courses in parasitology and human immunology from Bolaji Thomas, professor of biomedical sciences. “He made sure that we strove for excellence and pushed us to go as hard as we could, which I really appreciate. He would remind us that it’s not going to be easy to get where we want to be.” Elizabeth Perry, a senior lecturer in biomedical sciences, stressed the human aspect of medicine in all of her courses, but especially in Biomedical Ethics.  “Dr. Perry would talk about the need for people who go into medicine and healthcare professions to have humility and to be able to understand patients’ problems and where they’re coming from , which I think is really important to consider,” Deol said. The RIT Honors program also shaped Deol’s time at RIT through advanced coursework, complementary learning experiences, travel money to present his research at a conference, and required service work. Volunteering at a local hospice home allowed him to see the patients as people facing their own mortality. “The Honors program encouraged me to pursue those types of opportunities and I think it made me someone who will be a stronger practitioner going into the future.”

Quang “Neo” Bui, an associate professor in the Department of MIS, Marketing, and Analytics in Saunders College of Business, has been awarded a Fulbright-University of Vaasa Scholar Award. The prestigious award is administered through the U.S. Department of State and jointly funded by the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the University of Vaasa. Bui will head to Vassa, Finland, a city often referred to as the “Nordic Energy Capital” to study cybersecurity best practices. A drastic increase in cybersecurity attacks in the United States over the last few years inspired Bui’s research that will examine how energy firms in Finland build cybersecurity resilience as part of its broader security plans. After interviewing and researching the best practices by Fortune 500 companies in the United States, he plans to interview and survey energy companies in Finland to understand how leadership, culture, and policy contributes to effective cyber defenses. “My initial analysis is that awareness and attention to digital transformations and cybersecurity tends to be lacking at the highest levels here,” said Bui. “The $10 million question is, ‘how to change it?’ I hope to find those solutions in Finland.” This award carries a personal meaning for Bui, who continues to receive inspiration from his family and fellow educators. Bui was born in Vietnam to a family of teachers: his mother currently teaches chemistry, his father, now retired, taught math and physics, and his brother is also a university professor. “My parents were role models who not only inspired me to pursue knowledge, but they also taught me to serve my community,” Bui said. “All of those experiences gave me early exposure on what it means to teach and guide young learners on their growth process. It really inspired me to decide to become a professor.” Coming to the United States in 2003, he eventually found his way to RIT. He has found inspiration and guidance from fellow professors Sean Hansen, Vic Perotti, and Emi Moriuchi. Moriuchi, whose office is next to Bui’s, is a Fulbright alumna whose experience provided the spark for Bui to pursue the award. His patient, methodical teaching style has helped students achieve in his rigorous classes. Annie Hong, a recent MIS graduate from Oradell, N.J., said his mentorship helped her find her footing in the MIS program. Now a business analyst at JPMorgan Chase, she noted that Bui’s teaching gave her practical tools at a crucial point in her life. “He helped me find my vocational identity,” Hong said. “Through his classes, I realized that data can be fun; you can use your own tools and techniques to dissect that data and turn it into a story. It grounded me and completely changed the way I saw my career.” Now a U.S. citizen, Bui said the opportunity to represent the country as a cultural ambassador through the Fulbright program is deeply humbling. “To be able to receive this award is a huge honor,” said Bui. “This is something that I take seriously to fulfill my responsibility, to represent this great country and the cultures and values we have.” Bui will travel to Finland with his wife and young son this August. His wife, who offered invaluable support and feedback throughout the application process, is especially excited about the region’s nature-focused lifestyle—and particularly the famed “sauna culture” in Finland. Their son is eagerly looking forward to visiting the Santa Claus Village. Bui plans to write frequent updates on his experiences on his LinkedIn’s blog articles.