Moikka ja terveiset Jyväskylästä, Suomestä (Hello and welcome from Jyväskylä, Finland)! My name is Dana Caldwell, and I am 25 years old. I grew up in the great state of Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia - Go Birds! - in a small suburb called Garnet Valley. Since I loved living in Pennsylvania so much, I decided to stay close to home and study Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Bryn Mawr College. There, I discovered my passion for working in a lab and contributing to the chemistry research field. After graduating, I wanted hands-on experience in professional labs before applying to graduate school, so I spent three years working for pharmaceutical companies in Princeton, New Jersey.
I had always wanted to live outside of the U.S., but never had the opportunity to study abroad at Bryn Mawr due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When I applied for graduate school, I also applied for a Fulbright - University of Jyväskylä Graduate Award in Finland that would fully fund a two-year master's degree. My program - Chemistry and Analytics for Circular Economy - is a perfect fit for pivoting my chemistry research career towards sustainability. Jyväskylä, which is in central Finland, is the unofficial sports capital of the country. Since I love participating in outdoor activities like hiking, biking, running, and other sports, I knew I'd enjoy living there for a couple of years.
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!
