UF International Center Welcomes 2026 Global Fellows with Campus-Wide Research Resource Showcase
The University of Florida International Center (UFIC) welcomed the 2026 Global Fellows cohort with an orientation session themed “International Research Resources at UF.”The event launched a new year of programming for UFIC’s Global Fellows Program, one of UFIC’s signature faculty development initiatives designed to help early-career faculty advance international research and build sustainable global partnerships.
The orientation opened with welcome remarks from UFIC’s Office for Global Research Engagement (OGRE) and featured a panel of UF leaders who highlighted pathways for fellows to access campus expertise and expand their global networks. Speakers included:Jaime Ahlberg (Director) and Sara Agnelli (Associate Director), Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere (CHPS); Jasmeet Judge, Director, Center for Remote Sensing (CRS);Gopal Kakani, Associate Director of Research, Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI);Luis Felipe Gómez Lomelí, Associate Director for Academic Programs, Center for Latin American Studies (LAS);Bogdan Dumitru, Associate Director, Center for European Studies (CES); and Miles Larmer, Director, Center for African Studies (CAS).
Throughout the session, center and institute leaders shared how fellows can connect with UF’s international research ecosystem by becoming affiliates, leveraging regional and thematic expertise, accessing foreign-language resources, and identifying additional research funding opportunities that strengthen international projects. The session concluded with fellow introductions, Q&A, and networking, setting the tone for a cohort experience that emphasizes connection, collaboration, and interdisciplinary exchange.
Following a competitive review process, UFIC awarded 18 seed grants to outstanding faculty proposals selected for their originality and potential impact. Each fellowship includes a $5,000 seed grant to help fellows lay the groundwork for international research, supporting activities such as exploratory fieldwork, collaborative meetings with international partners, data collection, and access to resources not available at UF.
The Global Fellows Program includes an orientation session, a six-part workshop series, and a final symposium where faculty fellows present their international research proposals, followed by an expert panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of international research. In the months ahead, fellows will engage with UF leaders and specialists to learn best practices for international research, navigate compliance considerations, and build partnerships that support long-term global engagement.
Learn more about the Global Fellows Program and follow UFIC for upcoming workshop highlights and cohort milestones.
