Joseph Douglass had never designed a scientific study before he became a U.S. Fulbright student. He studied classical guitar for years, focusing his attention on mastering the instrument and developing his musical expertise at the USC Thornton School of Music.
After graduating with a Doctor of Musical Arts in classical guitar performance in 2025, he arrived in São Paulo, Brazil, in September to study neuroscience, an area of interest that he believes he could not have explored without the grant.
“I’m a little shocked they let me do this, but I’m so glad they did,” Douglass said.
He is one of 19 USC students and alumni in the 2025-2026 Fulbright U.S. Student Program, pursuing research across a wide variety of studies such as music, film, anthropology, biology and political science, according to USC Today.
USC has been named a top producer of Fulbright students for 13 total years, according to the Director of USC Academic Honors and Fellowships, Katie Capra.
The program provides international research grants to graduating college seniors and graduate students to explore their professional and academic interests, and to facilitate a worldwide “cross-cultural dialogue,” according to The Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Through the program, run by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, students have the opportunity to pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.
Provost Andrew T. Guzman told USC Today that Fulbright students represent USC’s culture of promoting academic excellence and intellectual curiosity.
“These top students and alumni are not only having great impact, they are also global ambassadors demonstrating the value of a USC education,” Guzman said.
According to Capra, the program allows students to work on an independent research project in a new environment and is an opportunity for students to broaden their worldview, helping them to develop their “maturity, flexibility [and] resourcefulness.”
“Global mindset is something that the University values, and we have such a robust Fulbright Trojan community,” Capra said. “Students are coming to our office now because a friend of theirs won a Fulbright or a faculty member tapped them to say, ‘Hey, have you considered applying for something like the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.’”
While Douglass is in Brazil, he is working on research at a university in the “neuro music” department. In the study, elementary school students are given musical and visual “games” designed by Douglass to test their computational thinking skills.
In addition to the academic opportunity, Douglass said the Fulbright program is “a great time to discover yourself” and to gain a new perspective, as his experience in Brazil thus far has “revolutionized” the way that he thinks about the world.
“Being in São Paulo, Brazil’s a diverse place, but being able to be part of the community... It’s making me a more humble person, a more understanding person,” Douglass said.
Douglass said he encourages USC students to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship. He has worked as an application reviewer for the 2026-2027 application process with USC Academic Honors and Fellowships to help other students gain similar opportunities to pursue their research internationally.
“Despite the climates and the situations in the world and the things that we have to navigate culturally, it’s an incredible experience to just grow as a human being,” Douglass said.