Georgia Southern Biologist Selected as Fulbright U.S. Scholar

Advancing Science Education and Research in Vietnam

Biology Professor Stephen Greiman, Ph.D., can remember the “pure excitement” he felt upon learning he had received the coveted Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award.

“I was standing in the boarding line for a flight to Mongolia for fieldwork when I learned the news,” he said. “I immediately emailed my dean, Michael Huggins, Ph.D., (College of Science and Mathematics) and my mentor, David Weindorf, Ph.D., the vice president for research and economic development, to share the news,” he said. “Their enthusiastic responses reflected the strong support system at Georgia Southern University.”

Greiman is among a distinguished group of scholars nationwide chosen to receive the highly competitive award. This opportunity as a Fulbright Scholar allows him to teach and conduct research abroad during the 2025-26 academic year. Currently in Vietnam, he is teaching parasitology at Hai Duong Medical Technical University, where he leads two lecture sections of approximately 60 students each and one laboratory section of about 20 students. His research focuses on the diversity of parasites in bats.

“Vietnam’s bat fauna is extraordinarily diverse, yet its parasite biodiversity remains understudied,” noted Greiman, who has been a Georgia Southern professor for eight years.

In collaboration with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the research team is discovering new parasite species, screening for potential pathogens and investigating the relationships between parasites and their hosts. The fieldwork also provides Vietnamese students and researchers with hands-on training in bat sampling, specimen processing, museum curation, molecular techniques and classical parasitology. Greiman called the fieldwork in the country’s national parks the highlight of his experience.

“Working alongside Vietnamese colleagues and local park rangers, exploring cave systems and experiencing the country’s rich natural landscapes and regional cuisines are deeply rewarding both scientifically and culturally,” Greiman noted. “Vietnam’s remarkable biodiversity, coupled with its public health relevance in parasitology, makes it an ideal place to study parasite diversity and evolution. Equally important, my Vietnamese collaborators and I share a commitment to advancing parasitology education and training for students and early-career researchers.”

Greiman’s wife, Melanie, and their young children, Sophie and Hudson, have joined him in Vietnam, turning the research fellowship into a family affair.

“We’ve embraced the culture and traveled across the country,” he shared. “Our daughter attends an international kindergarten where she has made friends from around the world. Academically and personally, this has been a very meaningful experience.”

In considering the significance of the award, Greiman stated, “It is a tremendous honor to represent Georgia Southern University as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar. This award underscores the strength of our research environment and the University’s commitment to global engagement.”

The Fulbright Scholar added that he looks forward to enriching student learning, mentoring future faculty applicants and helping expand the University’s global research footprint by sharing his experiences when he is back on campus.

— Sandra Bennett