Hola! My name is Will and I’m a microbiologist from Lancaster, Pennsylvania––and a few months ago, I moved to Perú to do research as part of a Fulbright research grant!
Perú is a Spanish-speaking country in South America that is home to the enormous Amazon rainforest. I am living in a town on the edge of that rainforest called Tingo María, where I am working together with researchers at a local university to study cacao trees, the species of tree that produces the cocoa beans that chocolate is made from. These trees are native to Perú, and they are very important for the farmers living here, who earn most of their money selling cocoa beans. The goal of my research is to study the tiny organisms, like bacteria, that grow on the cacao trees. Learning more about them will help us keep the trees safe from the diseases that make them sick so that Peruvian cacao farmers can continue to make a good living.
So far, living in Perú has been a great adventure. The country has an extremely varied geography, diverse cultures, and amazing biodiversity, and there is so much to explore! I have also been enjoying exploring the jungle that surrounds us here and seeing the amazing diversity of life that it holds, from bright-colored toucans to enormous rainforest trees. I'm excited to see what other adventures await me here!
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!
