As a Fulbright Scholar at Rochester, Alexis Sparapani delved into groundbreaking research on nonlinear effects in optical fibers and optical solitons, collaborating with Prof. Agrawal’s group at the Institute of Optics.

Alexis Sparapani, a Ph.D. candidate from the CONICET Research Center in Argentina, spent three months as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Rochester. His primary focus during this period was the “All-Optical Switching Using Spatio-Temporal Analogies in Media with Arbitrary Nonlinear Profiles” project at the Institute of Optics, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

We had the opportunity to ask Alexis about his experience at the University:

Why did you choose to apply to this program, and what led you to select Rochester?

Since I started my PhD, I have been learning optics and communication systems from Prof. Agrawal’s books and papers. Thus, I realized how prestigious he is and also became aware of the University of Rochester and the Institute of Optics as world-class institutions with many highly recognized professors such as Prof. Agrawal. Since my advisor in Argentina, Dr. Diego F. Grosz, was at The University of Rochester in the 1990s with Prof. Agrawal, he invited Prof. Agrawal to Instituto Balseiro, Argentina, in 2019 to give seminars and participate in some meetings, which gave me the chance to meet him. Furthermore, I previously knew about the prestige and impact of the Fulbright Program, so I was interested in applying to improve my research and professional career, and also to have a cultural experience in the United States. Fortunately, I was selected for the Fulbright – Ministry of Education of Argentina scholarship for a doctoral research stay at University of Rochester with Prof. Agrawal. It was an excellent opportunity to conduct research in the framework of my doctoral thesis, on closely related topics in my field.

What valuable insights have you gained from your research work at the Institute of Optics, Hajim School?

I have to say that my experience at Rochester was excellent! Firstly, I would like to highlight the kindness, support and willingness of Prof. Agrawal in every moment. He and his group gave me a nice reception from the first day, and we were able to work well together to develop the research project. During the experience, I learned a lot from the technical discussions, presentations and lessons. Moreover, the opportunities that both the University of Rochester and the Institute of Optics continuously provided were invaluable for me. These opportunities included participating in seminars and technical events, interacting with faculty members, professors, and other colleagues, and accessing scientific materials, to cite a few examples. I felt really good working there, and I am grateful to everybody at the Institute of Optics and the University of Rochester for making me feel comfortable during my stay and for integrating me into activities and groups nicely.  Further, I would like to recognize the collaboration that we could establish between my group in Argentina and Prof. Agrawal’s group. I am sure that this partnership will continue in the future.

Beyond your research, what opportunities has your Fulbright experience enabled you to explore?

Apart from the possibility of developing my research at a very prestigious university with the world-class Prof. Agrawal, the Fulbright experience allowed me to interact with people from everywhere in the world. This leads to respect and mutual understanding between people and countries, and it allows collaborations between people from different fields, countries, and backgrounds. The cultural experience as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Rochester was amazing; I have learned a lot from people I met, from their cultures and fields, and I could share part of my culture and background too. Moreover, I have participated in many interesting events, such as the Meliora Weekend, the International Education Week, and the Global Fair, to name a few. The Fulbright experience allowed me to be part of those amazing events, giving me the possibility to interact and share with people in different environments, to experience the University of Rochester campus life, and to have an international experience, too.

What are some of your favorite things about Rochester?

Without any doubt, I enjoyed Rochester so much, in particular the activities on campus such as Meliora Weekend, International Education Week, sports games, and different kinds of events that I participated in during my stay. Also, I liked to be part of the local community, which allowed me to know more about customs, traditions, people, and different interesting places in the city. In the same way, it was amazing that I interacted with people from different parts of the world, which was a very enriching experience.

Alexis – Feel free to share anything else about your Fulbright experience.

I would like to thank Prof. Agrawal, his research group, the Institute of Optics, and the University of Rochester community. Everybody included me wonderfully, both academically and humanly, making me feel at home in every moment. I learned a lot in many respects, and I came back to my country convinced that these cultural exchange experiences are enriching.