WKU News

Dr. Özkan Özer, an Associate Professor in WKU's Department of Mathematics, was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Research Scholar award to represent Western Kentucky University in France beginning this fall.

“I thought that it was a long shot for me. I was super shocked and honored,” Dr. Özer said.

Dr. Özer’s research, funded by KY NSF EPSCoR, has made progress in the algorithms of smart materials across manufacturing and other fields, enhanced embedded sensor capabilities, and refined power outputs all while supporting 15 students, nine of them undergraduates and six graduates.

“There are so many prominent scientists that apply to the Fulbright award. I was told my type of mathematics was perhaps too theoretical in comparison to super applied fields in Health and Public Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, Fine Arts and Performing Arts, Education and Teaching, and Professional and Applied Sciences. Not many mathematicians are historically supported,” Özer said.

Through KY NSF EPSCoR support, the team of mathematicians published 25 papers, a number that Dr. Özer said is uncommon in the math realm. “The impact is huge because of increased visibility. KY NSF EPSCoR’s funding helped us generate output, get students to conferences, and publish papers,” Dr. Özer said.

The Fulbright Research award is granted with the intent to “actively engage host institutions in a spirit of promoting mutual understanding and sharing knowledge.” Dr. Özer will represent WKU and his team of mathematicians while making connections in applied mathematics at the University of Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France.

Despite Dr. Özer’s belief that the Fulbright award was a long shot, Dr. Cate Webb, Associate Dean for Research with Ogden College of Science and Engineering and Chair of the statewide EPSCoR committee, said he strategically used his seed-funding opportunities from KY NSF EPSCoR to increase research advancements and student involvement, making the award possible. “This is exactly what we hope to achieve with NSF EPSCoR seed funding. Moreover, Dr. Özer actively engages both undergraduate and graduate students in his research. On behalf of the Kentucky Statewide EPSCoR Committee, I congratulate Dr. Özer on this outstanding achievement,” Dr. Webb said.