Professor of Biology Marten Edwards Named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Edwards will investigate tick biology and tick-borne human pathogens in Mexico this fall.Wednesday, April 10, 2024 04:49 PM
Professor Marten Edwards and his 2022 summer student research team, Tessa Barrett ‘23, Meghan Taber ‘23 and Anna Shigo ‘24, conducted field studies in Pennsylvania forested areas to document the prevalence of ticks and their pathogens.Marten Edwards, professor and chair of biology, has been selected for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Mexico for the Fall 2024-2025 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Edwards is among a select group of over 800 U.S. citizens — faculty members, artists and professionals from all backgrounds — who will teach or conduct research abroad next year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. He’s one of three U.S. Scholar award recipients who will be working in Mexico.
Edwards has studied tick diversity and tick-borne human pathogens for the past decade. With climate change and an increasingly interconnected globe, invasive tick populations are spreading. Documenting the current tick biodiversity provides baseline information that may allow for a faster and more effective response to a potentially harmful introduced species.
Edwards will adapt his methods of collecting ticks in Pennsylvania to natural forests and urban parks in Mexico. He plans to lead hands-on workshops for public health workers on how to collect and identify certain ticks that may be of concern.
Ticks are an important part of natural ecosystems, and most don’t transmit diseases to humans or livestock. In addition to tracking problematic ticks, Edwards will document ticks’ natural diversity and habits in some of Mexico’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and learn from tick experts in Morelos, Querétaro, and Jalisco, Mexico.
“I am very excited to have this unique opportunity to spend five months in Mexico, not just learning about ticks but also learning about the fascinating history and culture of this magnificent country and having a chance to get to know people in a more meaningful way than would be possible on a short visit,” says Edwards.
Edwards was the 2023 recipient of Muhlenberg’s Crossette Family Fellowship for International Travel which allowed him to travel to Mexico last summer to plan and structure his research, and do preliminary work necessary for the Fulbright application process.
“Marten's selection for a highly coveted Fulbright award exemplifies the outstanding scholarship of faculty at Muhlenberg,” says Provost Laura Furge. “He is a leader in the state’s research efforts on tick-borne diseases and he has shared his expertise and passion with generations of student research assistants at the College. Marten's fellowship experience will not only directly impact the study of tick research methods and disease control, but he will return to campus with new perspectives and ways to challenge and engage students even further — addressing real-world problems that require deep collaboration and cooperation to solve, which is the heart of the Muhlenberg learning experience.”
Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad. As Fulbright Scholar alumni, their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields.
Notable Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, 78 MacArthur Fellows and 41 who have served as heads of state or government. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world.
