Physics Ph.D. candidate Arabi Seshappan added two prestigious fellowships to her curriculum vitae: the Chateaubriand Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics & Biology-Health and the UC President's Pre-Professoriate Fellowship.
During her graduate studies journey, the Fremont native has applied for more than 20 fellowships, and has now earned three major ones, as well as being named an Eugene-Cota Robles Fellow in 2019 and ARCS Fellow in 2023.
Seshappan, who works with Professor David Strubbe, recently wrapped up 10 months in Orsay, France, as part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program's Fulbright-Université Paris-Saclay Doctoral Research Award.
“I'm really grateful to have spent this year here because it felt like an introduction,” she said about acclimating to France as a Fulbright Fellow. “Now, I'm hoping to focus on more of the research collaborations and strengthening connections.”
Seshappan has her sights set on becoming a research professor at a historically Black college or Hispanic-serving undergraduate institution and believes the connections she is building now with peers and mentors will serve her and her future students.
“I can reach out to them in five years and say, ‘I have an undergrad student I would love to have do some summer research with you. Can I send them your way?’” she said.
