Aomawa Shields receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for 2026-27

“Irvine, Calif., May 11, 2026 — Aomawa Shields, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Irvine, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to teach and conduct research in Italy for the 2026–27 academic year. The awards are granted annually by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Shields will have a three-month lectureship in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Bologna. As an astronomer and astrobiologist, Shields uses computer modeling to explore the potential habitability of planets orbiting stars other than our Sun. She will design special coursework to provide students with insight into planetary environments and habitability. Shields will also lead mindful rest workshops for students and faculty, as she has done at UC Irvine. During her lectureship, Shields will collaborate with astrophysicist Leonardo Testi to study the effects of the interactions between different types of starlight and ice mixtures that may exist on planets and moons orbiting within and beyond our Solar System. As part of their collaboration, they plan to prepare a proposal to take observations of Europa, Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon and widely considered a strong candidate for harboring life. “I am deeply honored to be among those selected to represent the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar,” Shields said. “To be able to incorporate my research into the teaching of new courses, learn from colleagues with observational expertise, and contribute to the health and wellbeing of the University of Bologna community, all while being in a country I love with my family, means I can bring all of myself to this opportunity. For that I am especially grateful.” Fulbright U.S. Scholars are accomplished faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Through these affiliations, they expand their professional networks and often seed future research, innovation and institutional partnerships. When they return to their home campuses, labs and classrooms, Fulbright Scholars share their experiences and insights, becoming champions of international collaboration. Many go on to host visiting scholars and inspire colleagues and students to pursue transformative opportunities abroad. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 as an investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange. The Fulbright Program is marking its 80 th anniversary in 2026, which coincides with the U.S. 250 th anniversary celebration. Fulbrighters have included 46 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders in all sectors and industries across the United States and around the world. In addition, recent college graduates, graduate students and early career professionals pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English in schools abroad each year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program . The deadline to apply for 2027-2028 Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards is September 15, 2026. Learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards and eligibility . For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org . About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report . The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu . Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus studio with a Comrex IP audio codec to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu . Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources .

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