Eirini Nomikou-Lazarou is a Ph.D. candidate under the supervision of Professor Anastasios Xepapadeas in the Department of Economics at Athens University of Economics and Business, where in 2019 she also earned an M.Sc. in Economic Theory. She completed her undergraduate studies in 2017 at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, obtaining a B.Sc. in Economics and Regional Development, and since 2023 holds an M.Sc. in Data Science from The American College of Greece. She is a Research Associate at The Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (FEIR), where she is involved in sectoral studies focusing on Green Transition, Environmental Sustainability, Green Entrepreneurship, and Regional Development. Channeling her academic interests into environmental economics research, Eirini’s doctoral dissertation explores climate risk management strategies, and the impact of climate-related extreme natural incidents on the insurance sector.

As a Fulbright Visiting Research Student during her six-month academic visit, she will collaborate with the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia Climate School. Her research will focus on the social and economic impact of extreme floods and wildfires in western United States, investigating complex natural disaster patterns related to climate change and optimal adaptation measures. This project aims to produce a comprehensive comparative case study of California's response to floods and wildfires compared with Greece's response, studying optimal premium pricing models in the infrastructure insurance sector. This exploration seeks to uncover innovative solutions and provide a nuanced understanding of how optimal climate change adaptation measures can mitigate risk for economic damage extremes. The ultimate goal is to contribute not only to the insurance sector but also to the broader local society by fostering resilience and adaptive strategies in response to the rising frequency of catastrophic incidents that are here to stay.

Eleni Gkrinia, a resident doctor at the Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department of the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece, with a profound interest in Auditory Neuroscience. Eleni's journey into the intricate world of auditory research has been defined by her unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of knowledge. Her academic prowess is underscored by her dual Master's degrees in the field of Otolaryngology. These academic achievements, coupled with her invaluable hands-on experience as a trainee physician, have equipped her with a nuanced understanding of the auditory system and its various pathologies. With a keen focus on Neurotology, Eleni is poised to embark on a transformative academic endeavor as a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Foundation scholarship. Her forthcoming research project at the Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, USA, under the esteemed mentorship of Professor Thanos Tzounopoulos, promises to unravel the complexities of noise-induced tinnitus, an area of paramount importance in auditory sciences. The Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center, renowned for its pioneering contributions to auditory sciences, serves as the perfect crucible for Eleni's groundbreaking research. Immersed in a collaborative milieu and fortified by cutting-edge facilities, she is poised to make significant strides in her quest to explore the therapeutic potential of KCNQ2/3 channel activators in mitigating noise-induced tinnitus. Through her endeavors, she aspires to not only expand the frontiers of Auditory Neuroscience but also to make tangible contributions to the well-being of individuals affected by auditory disorders.

Maria Papavasilopoulou is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Music Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. The title of her research is Music and memory among the Sephardic Jews of Rhodes: from the "homeland" to the diaspora and the internet, under the supervision of Professor Panagiotis C. Poulos. During her research at the University of Washington in the context of the Fulbright Program, she will focus on the ethnographic research of the diasporic community of Seattle, formed upon immigration during the beginning of the 20th century by Sephardic Jews from Rhodes. Moreover, she will focus on the history of the formation of The Sephardic Studies Digital Collection (based in the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies) as the first major digital repository related to the Sephardic Jews from the Mediterranean. Maria holds an Integrated Master in Music Studies, with a specialization in ethnomusicology and cultural anthropology, a M.Ed. in Technology of Education, and a B.A. in Classical Philology. Maria is also a poet; she has published two collections of poetry.

Nikoletta Triantopoulou holds a B.Sc. in Biology and an M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Patras, Greece. She is currently an HFRI fellow as a Ph.D. candidate under the supervision of Ass. Professor Marina Vidaki at the University of Crete Medical School, tackling a question with profound medical and societal implications: “Why do mature CNS axons fail to regenerate after injury?”. Driven by the hypotheses that the distinct molecular properties of axons are pivotal for their response to injury and facilitate their differential regenerative abilities, her aim is to construct a high-resolution map of molecular similarities and differences between mature CNS axons, their -capable of regeneration- developing counterparts, and mature peripheral nervous system (PNS) axons, which regain full functionality after trauma. To date, her findings, presented at local and international conferences, have revealed remarkable differences correlated with each axonal population’s capacity for regeneration, shedding light on specific intrinsic challenges that mature CNS axons seem to face in orchestrating crucial pro-regenerative processes. These observations have sparked her curiosity regarding the innate structural characteristics that may contribute to the inability of CNS axons to regenerate.

As a Visiting Research Student, Nikoletta will spend six months at Dr. Naoko Mizuno’s laboratory at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI – NIH). Her goal is to gain insights into the innate architecture of axons through the application of Cryo-Electron Tomography, a state-of-the-art microscopy method that allows for the visualization of subcellular structures at the nanoscale and under the closest-to-life conditions possible. This opportunity will not only enhance her understanding of axon regeneration through an additional viewpoint but also facilitate significant academic and cultural exchange. Upon returning to Greece, she is committed to integrating the data gathered during her Fulbright experience with her ongoing molecular studies. Through collaborative efforts and the combination of diverse perspectives, Nikoletta aspires to make meaningful contributions to the field of axon biology and help to address the complex issues surrounding CNS regeneration.