ASU-Queretaro student receives Fulbright-COMEXUS scholarship

A student who graduated magna cum laude from Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro in August has been awarded a nationally recognized scholarship to continue her studies.

In August, Ximena Vargas completed her bachelor of science degree in biotechnology. She was notified recently she will receive a Fulbright-COMEXUS scholarship to attend graduate school in the U.S.

“The Fulbright-Garcia Robles scholarship will allow me to advance my career as a scientific investigator, and by extension, one day further the progress of Mexico in human genetic research that looks critically at genomes and diseases that are prominent, or unique, to my home country,” Vargas said.

She first learned about the program from a COMEXUS representative who visited ASU-CQ.

“I really hope to see more A-State CQ students becoming Fulbrighters in future years,” Vargas said.

COMEXUS is the Mexico-United States Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange, a binational body established by the Mexican and U.S. governments. It administers the Fulbright-García Robles scholarship program and is the U.S. Fulbright program’s partner organization in Mexico.

Vargas will be pursuing a graduate degree in human genetics, with a specific interest in complex diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, in a U.S. graduate school. She is still applying to schools and has not decided where she will attend.

“It is a huge honor and privilege to be part of the Fulbright program, a program with outstanding grantees all over the world,” said Vargas, who is from Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.

The Fulbright-García Robles scholarships support students, researchers and teachers — Mexican and American — to carry out postgraduate studies, research stays, teaching and professionalization programs in the U.S. and Mexico.

“I knew that this scholarship would allow me to fulfill my dream of pursuing a graduate program in genetics in the United States, providing the opportunity for me to immerse myself in research related to complex diseases and traits,” Vargas said. “I am most interested in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer genetics now, but I am seeking a graduate program with intensive research in many human genetic topics.”