Dr. Karl Jackson, a professor of Chemistry has been listed among the winners of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programme award by the U.S. Department of State. As part of the programme’s package, Dr. Jackson will lecture the academic year 2023–2024 abroad in Ghana.
Around 800 American academics and professionals are sent annually by the programme to roughly 130 different countries to lecture or research in a range of academic and professional sectors.
The American professor will teach a new course alongside associate professors at the University of Ghana, on metal-organic frameworks and conduct research on the synthesis and characterization of metal-organic frameworks for use in water filtration.
He graduated in 2006 from the Virginia State University with a B.S. in Chemistry. And in December 2011 he received a PhD in Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and is now Associate Professor of Chemistry at Virginia Union University (VUU).
At VCU, he carried out research on the design and synthesis of micro- and nanoporous polymers for use in hydrogen storage and clean air applications, and he was able to publish the findings of this work in a number of peer-reviewed publications.
Then he taught chemistry at Appalachian State University before assuming his first tenure-track position at VUU in 2013, where he became a chair of the department of natural sciences. Before Fulbright, he was awarded over $300,000 from the National Science Foundation for his work on the synthesis of porous materials for applications in water purification.
However, through Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programme, Dr. Jackson became one of a small number of American citizens who will instruct or carry out research overseas for the 2023–2024 academic year.
The Fulbright Programme enables gifted and successful leaders to study, teach, and conduct research overseas, where they can help develop solutions to pressing global issues.
Dr. Donald Palm, executive vice president and provost of VSU, stated in the institution’s website that the varsity is incredibly proud of Dr. Karl Jackson for his selection as a Fulbright finalist.
According to him “Fulbright alumni are among the best and brightest in their respective fields,” and Dr. Jackson was “chosen” for his extraordinary academic brilliance and leadership skills.
Fulbright Scholar alumni enjoy a network of thousands of outstanding scholars, many of whom are pioneers in their areas. Among them are 62 Nobel laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows, and 41 former heads of state or governments.
Since 1946, the Fulbright Programme has given more than 400,000 participants from more than 160 nations the chance to share ideas and work towards finding answers to the problems that our communities and the rest of the world face.
Written by Oral Ofori
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
