MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University Buchanan Transfer Fellow Jake Salter was awarded the Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship, which will take place this summer. 

Salter is a senior majoring in computer science and minoring in mathematics and Honors. He has a prior degree in music performance from Indiana University and he currently plays bassoon in the MTSU Symphony Orchestra.

“I am sincerely grateful to the Honors College for their guidance and letting me know about the internship,” said Salter, a native of Cookeville, Tennessee. “I am excited to use my field of study in computer science to help make the world a better place.” 

Fulbright is the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange programs in the world, supported for more than half a century by the American people through an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress and by the people of partner nations. 

The Mitacs program provides exceptional undergraduate students from universities in the United States with the opportunity to be part of a 10- to 12-week research internship under the supervision of Canadian university faculty members in a variety of academic disciplines, from science, engineering and mathematics to the humanities and social sciences. 

Salter will be conducting research on a project titled “Bloom Vault: A Database for Pollen Research” at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Projects are drawn from a broad cross-section of research topics covering all academic disciplines. Students are given the opportunity to take part in professional training and extensive opportunities for cultural, social and recreational experiences.

“For my part of the project, I will use data analysis of 50 years of pollen data to understand the rising global temperature’s effect on ecology,” explained Salter. “Pollen data reflects parts of ecology in plants and insects, which ripples throughout the rest of the food chain. I don’t know what I’ll find, but I think it will be insightful. If there is a dramatic change, it reflects a more serious problem and another reason to address carbon pollution.”

Salter’s thesis advisor Letian Zhang, an assistant professor in MTSU’s Computer Science Department, applauded Salter’s achievement.

“Jake Salter’s journey from a music major to excelling in computer science exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary thinking and the capacity for individuals to adapt and thrive in new fields,” said Zhang.

“His transition underscores the importance of following one’s passions and embracing opportunities for growth and exploration. His success serves as an inspiration for students everywhere, demonstrating that with determination and dedication, one can forge a path toward excellence in any field.”

In addition to having access to a prestigious worldwide network of Fulbright and to Canada’s top research facilities, participants will also enjoy the following benefits:

• A chance to gain international experience in Canada.
• A rewarding experience combining academic research at top Canadian universities, professional skills development workshops and social activities.
• The opportunity to connect with potential graduate supervisors should you be interested in returning to Canada for graduate studies with a Graduate Fellowship.
• Total grant of $7,500 in Canadian dollars is equivalent to more than $5,500 U.S. dollars.

For more information about scholarship opportunities aboard, visit MTSU’s Undergraduate Fellowships Office online at mtsu.edu/honors/ufo.

About Mitacs

The Canada–U.S. Fulbright Program (aka Fulbright Canada) was introduced in 1990. Since that time, it has supported more than 1,000 outstanding students and scholars. The Fulbright Canada is a binational, treaty-based, nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization with a mandate to identify the best and brightest minds in both countries and engage them in residential academic exchange.

Mitacs was founded in 1999 as a Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence, dedicated to supporting applied and industrial research in mathematical sciences and associated disciplines. Previously, Mitacs was known as “The Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems, (MITACS NCE).” The acronym referred to the organization’s original mandate to connect mathematics researchers to industry and professional development opportunities. In 2011, the acronym was phased out.

— Robin E. Lee (Robin.E.Lee@mtsu.edu)