Three alumni from Católica have been awarded the prestigious scholarships from the Fulbright Program for the 2026/2027 academic year. This international recognition of academic merit will allow the researchers to pursue their advanced training and lead high-level scientific projects at leading universities and cultural institutions in the United States.
The award of these scholarships reflects Católica’s ongoing impact on training global leaders and scientists capable of addressing complex challenges across various fields of knowledge. The success of our alumni reinforces the commitment of the donor community and partners within the Give to Católica network, whose support of the research and teaching ecosystem is essential to fostering national talent abroad.
Meet the researchers and their award-winning projects:
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Francisco Garcia (Institute for Political Studies): Completed his Master’s degree in Political Science at Católica and was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship for doctoral studies, with the support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). He will begin his PhD at the University of Notre Dame, focusing his research on political theory and the history of moral and political thought, analyzing the evolution of the concept of political virtue from Antiquity to modern philosophy.
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Cristina Filipe (School of the Arts): Alumna and researcher at Católica’s Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR), she was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship for Professors and Researchers with a PhD, supported by Camões I.P. She will carry out her research at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, with a project centered on contemporary jewelry, curatorial practices, and archival studies.
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Francisco Rodrigues (College of Biotechnology): An alumnus of Católica, he was selected for the Fulbright Research Scholarship, supported by the FCT. His scientific project will be fully developed at the prestigious Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, part of Wake Forest University.
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program stands as one of the primary and oldest instruments for academic cooperation and diplomacy between Portugal and the United States. The continuous success of Católica alumni in this rigorous annual selection process highlights the quality of education and scientific research developed at this institution.
