Amanda Bruckstein ‘25 has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award to conduct research in Haifa, Israel, for the 2025-26 academic year. Her research project, “Linking Traditional and Innovative Processing of Emulsions and Nano-Emulsions to Digestion” will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Uri Lesmes, professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Bruckstein will spend nine months beginning October of 2025 conducting research in Dr. Lesmes’s Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Bioactives. Her project aims to address physiological differences in digestion and support the development of individualized nutrition strategies. She will be focusing on nutrient bioavailability and food design investigating how various processing techniques influence the digestive behavior of emulsions and nano-emulsions.
Bruckstein entered the Honors College at App State in the Spring semester 2022 and graduated in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and wellness with a dietetics concentration and a minor in exercise science. For her Honors thesis, “The Effects of Hyperhydration and Menstrual Cycle Phase on Exercise Performance in Aerobically Active Women,” Bruckstein worked with Dr. Caroline Smith, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Public Health. Dr. William Adams, associate director of Sports Medicine Research for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Dr. Mitchell Zaplatosch, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Kennesaw State University, also served on her thesis committee.
Bruckstein reflected that,
my Honors education has been incredibly rewarding and helpful in exposing me to various opportunities that were offered at Appalachian State and beyond.
More specifically, she praised the first Honors College seminar she took during her first semester at App State, HON 1515: Introduction to Research with Dr. Scott Collier as, “the biggest turning point in my college education. Through Dr. Collier, I was connected with my brilliant thesis advisor, Dr. Caroline Smith, whom I worked with for three years in her lab. Both of these professors were very influential in my college career and were amazing mentors. Introduction to Research also introduced me to Fulbright and showed me a world of possibilities in the field of research, both of which impacted and influenced my career path.”
Bruckstein further explained that in Introduction to Research, Dr. Collier had someone come in to speak about the Fulbright program, and that inspired her to apply. After that, she made it her goal to receive a Fulbright grant. She wasn’t sure at that point which Fulbright award she would apply for, but that seminar also motivated her to get involved in a research lab. Working in Dr. Smith’s lab, she found a passion for research. She shared, “This is ultimately what drove me to apply for a research award.”
For current Honors College students interested in pursuing a Fulbright Research Award, Bruckstein advised, “Reach out to the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. They were so helpful in assisting me when I was putting my application together and providing insight throughout the lengthy process.” Also, she added, “Conversation is key! It is a great idea to reach out to others in the field you are in or with similar goals to yours to gain their perspectives. I reached out to a Fulbright recipient before I applied, and we were able to chat about the application process. It was incredibly insightful and assisted me when I was writing my application.”
After her year with Fulbright in Israel, Bruckstein plans to return to the U.S. to pursue a Master of Science in Food Science and Technology. Her current aspiration is to conduct research for food product development. In addition to that, she stated,
I also hope to be able to mentor students one day. The mentors I found through the Honors College were so helpful throughout my college career and assisted me in finding a path that felt right for me for my future career, so I really hope I can help others in this way in the future.
Top photo features Amanda Bruckstein in December of 2024 in Haifa, Israel, the city where she will be living and conducting Fulbright Research. Photo submitted
