On Thursday, September 25, 2025, in the Šafárik Chamber in the UPJŠ Rectorate building, the Vice-Rector for International Relations Dr. h. c. prof. Mgr. Slávka Tomaščíková, PhD. received the Fulbright scholarship holder Andersen Herman, accompanied by RNDr. Andrej Mirossay, PhD., Director of the UPJŠ Technology and Innovation Park, where the young researcher will spend the academic year 2025/2026.
The meeting was also attended by prof. RNDr. Erik Sedlák, DrSc., Head of the Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences TIP-UPJŠ, and RNDr. Veronika Huntošová, PhD., Head of the Confocal Microscopy and Time-Resolved Microscopy Laboratories at the CIB TIP-UPJŠ.
During the meeting, the following were discussed:
- the conditions and organizational arrangements for Andersen Herman’s work at UPJŠ,
- his involvement in ongoing projects in the field of protein engineering and biomedical research at CIB TIP-UPJŠ,
- possibilities for further cooperation with the Fulbright Commission and expansion of the program for additional foreign students and postdoctoral fellows,
- support for UPJŠ activities aimed at internationalization and building international research networks.
Andersen Herman will spend the upcoming academic year in Slovakia at the TIP-UPJŠ Interdisciplinary Biosciences Center in Košice, where he will conduct cutting-edge research in the field of antibacterial photodynamic therapy using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). This innovative approach promises new possibilities in the fight against antibiotic resistance and cancer, two of the most serious global health threats.
He is a proud graduate of Salisbury University in the USA, where he majored in Chemistry with a minor in Biology and received several academic awards. He has already established himself as a leader and change agent during his studies – serving on the Henson Student Leadership Advisory Council, receiving the Global Issues Fellowship and Millennium Fellowship, and being awarded the Presidential Citizen Scholar title. His dedication to community service has also been demonstrated through ShoreCorps AmeriCorps and the TRIO program. He is also a member of the prestigious Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.
Born in Haiti, Andersen immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 12. Resilience and perseverance have shaped his life journey since childhood. As a child, he overcame a battle with malaria, which inspired him to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a medical scientist who would dedicate his career to researching infectious diseases and improving the quality of life for people around the world.
Through the Fulbright Scholarship, Andersen will have the opportunity to gain new scientific knowledge and advance his career, build bridges between cultures, share his experiences, and mentor the next generation of young scientists.
