Romanian lecturer Mihaela Udristioiu, Ph.D., has returned to Georgia Southern University for her second tenure as a Fulbright research scholar fellow, according to a Mar. 25 announcement from the university.
Udristioiu’s return highlights ongoing international collaboration in physics education and environmental science. Her work focuses on air pollution monitoring, modeling, making predictions and forecasting alongside Georgia Southern associate professor of physics Dragos Amarie, Ph.D.
Udristioiu said her curiosity drove her pursuit of scientific research opportunities abroad. “I was always a curious child,” she said. “I love questions. The answers we find help us better understand the beauty of nature and the laws that govern our universe.”
The two first met during a study abroad program in Romania in 2017 as part of the Science and Culture Study Abroad program. Udristioiu expressed particular interest in how American university faculty engage students through active learning environments—a contrast to Romanian universities’ more formal lecture style. “How students understand physics is very important to me,” Udristioiu said. “My American colleagues have shown me how much better teaching is when it is interactive and involves students.”
Amarie also commented on the differences between educational systems: “Romanian universities teach differently than how we do in the States,” he said. “The lectures are formal, and you’re doomed if you miss a single one.” He added, “I prefer a more student-centered approach, especially when it comes to teaching difficult science courses… Having them engage and question what we teach, that’s how a student learns.”
Although Udristioiu initially hoped to join Amarie at Georgia Southern in 2020, those plans were delayed by COVID-19 disruptions. Their academic partnership continued remotely until she received her first Fulbright grant in 2022 and joined him at Georgia Southern University.
“She did such a great job while she was here,” Amarie said. “The Fulbright Romania encouraged Dr. Udristioiu to submit a new application to strengthen the collaboration.”
Now back at Georgia Southern University under another Fulbright grant, Udristioiu continues their joint research project focused on environmental science topics such as air pollution prediction models.
“Science crosses borders, and collaboration helps us open new doors to knowledge,” she said.
