Guyanese selected for US scholarship in forensic science
Renea Douglas, tutor within the Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Guyana (UG), was announced on Thursday as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Fulbright Scholarship Award.
Within this United States (US) Government-led programme, Douglas will pursue a Master of Science degree in Forensic Studies at Syracuse University, New York, through the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme.
This will add to her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology that she previously received from UG, where she was also awarded the Vice-Chancellor special award and best graduating student, Bachelor of Science Biology Programme 2021.
Douglas is a mystery and investigative stories enthusiast, whose passion for forensic studies is aimed towards supporting Guyana’s judicial services by delivering justice to families of victims.
During a luncheon last week, US Embassy in Guyana’s Public Affairs Officer, Kelly McCray reiterated the US Government’s continued support to Guyana’s development by building local capacity through higher education and contributing to improving the lives of Guyanese.
Launched in 2019, the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme and its related scholarship administered by the US Embassy, gives Guyanese the chance to complete a Master’s or PhD at a US-based higher education institution.
It further seeks to develop cultural understanding between the two countries and as such, preference is given to applicants who do not have extensive experience in the US.
Covered within the scholarship are visa, travel, accommodation and university tuition costs, as well as Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) testing and medical insurance.
Last year, two Guyanese scholars were selected for the Fulbright Scholarship – Educator Keesha St John and civil engineer Bayeeshmaal Ramsundar.
St John went on to pursue a Master of Science in Agribusiness Economics at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, while Ramsundar sought a Master of Science in Construction Management at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering.