Two U of I professors earn Fulbright awards for research abroad

MOSCOW, Idaho — One University of Idaho professor will study how Ukrainian refugees adapt to life in Europe while another will investigate how microbes can help clean up toxic pollution after both received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards for the 2026-27 academic year.

Leontina Hormel, professor of sociology in U of I’s Department of Culture, Society and Justice, and Christopher Marx, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, will conduct research abroad through the prestigious international exchange program.

“The Fulbright Scholar Program creates opportunities for our faculty to build global partnerships while advancing research that addresses complex international challenges,” Vice President for Research and Economic Development Christopher Nomura said. “These awards reflect the high caliber of scholarship at University of Idaho and the impact our researchers are making around the world.”

Hormel will travel to Brno, Czech Republic, to teach at Masaryk University and study how war and displacement shape work and daily life for Ukrainian refugees and immigrants. Her project examines how people navigate economic instability and migration during times of conflict.

The work builds on decades of work focused on Eastern Europe and post-Soviet societies, including a forthcoming book examining informal economies before and after revolution and war in Ukraine. During her Fulbright appointment, Hormel will conduct interviews and ethnographic research while exploring how immigration narratives shape public policy and community response in the Czech Republic.

“In moments of disruption, people find ways to support themselves and their families,” Hormel said. “By studying these everyday strategies, we can better understand how communities and policies can respond in ways that support both newcomers and the societies that receive them.”

Marx will travel to Strasbourg, France, where he will work with world-leading researchers studying microbes that can break down toxic industrial pollutants.

The project combines Marx’s research with ongoing research at the University of Strasbourg to better understand how microbial communities respond to contamination. By tracking individual microbes within a community, researchers hope to identify the organisms most effective at breaking down pollutants and improve future environmental cleanup efforts.

“Some microbes can take toxic pollutants and use them as food,” Marx said. “By understanding how microbial communities respond to contamination, we can learn how to better harness their natural ability to clean up polluted environments.”

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty members, researchers and professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Participants return with new perspectives, international collaborations and expanded research networks that enrich their campuses and communities.

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious international exchange programs in the world. Fulbright alumni include Nobel Prize recipients, Pulitzer Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows and heads of state.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit fulbrightprogram.org.

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Leigh Cooper
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