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Researcher celebrates Fullbright award
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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
Ronald E. See, Ph.D., a professor and researcher in the Departments of
Neurosciences and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, received a
Fullbright Visiting Scholar grant.
 Dr. Ron See
See was among 11 South Carolina faculty members and professionals named
in 2009-2010 as awardees of a Fullbright Visiting Scholar grant.
The award was announced by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fullbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
See joins colleagues and professionals from the College of Charleston,
the University of South Carolina-Columbia, Clemson University and other
statewide and institutions across the country to conduct research and
lecture across a wide variety of specialties and fields. He is one of
two medical research scientists from the Palmetto State awarded with
Fullbright grants. As a Fullbright grant recipient, See will continue
to conduct research and teach at the School of Medicine at Ljubljana
University in Slovenia.
His research focus is on the neural substrates of drug addiction and
relapse using animal models. His research team also conducts
translational research, studies the sex differences in addiction,
and analyzes antipsychotic drug effects on the brain. Starting in
mid-February, See will travel to Slovenia to reside and collaborate
alongside Marko Zivin, Ph.D., from the Institute of Pathophysiology at
Ljubljana University. Slovenia, located in Central Europe, borders the
Alps and the Adriatic Sea. He said the country is keen on developing
its academic and scientific infrastructure, especially in
neurosciences, and wants to cultivate new opportunities to work with
American researchers to share ideas and develop professional ties.
“Ron’s Fullbright award is a real honor and well-deserved recognition
for a leading educator and scientist,” said Peter Kalivas, Ph.D.,
Distinguished University Professor and chairman, Department of
Neurosciences. “Like the U.S., Slovenia has a serious problem with
cocaine addiction, and Ron will be providing both research advancements
to Slovenian biomedical students and education about addiction to
students.”
During his absence, See plans to continue with his current research
work, thanks to Internet communications and interaction with his
15-member team. Upon his return in mid-June, he will submit a report
about his Fullbright experience and hopes to emerge with a publishable
paper based on his collaborative research with Zivin.
“I want to encourage fellow MUSC faculty to consider the Fullbright and
other programs as a special opportunity that makes academics a unique
profession,” said See. “Programs like this allow faculty to work, plus
travel, teach and collaborate with others on an international level.”
See joined MUSC in 1999. He previously worked in the Department of
Psychology at Washington State University and was a visiting professor
at Kuwait University, Oxford University and Universidad de Valencia in
Spain. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology and German
from the University of California at Berkeley and his masters and
doctoral degrees in Psychobiology from the University of California at
Los Angeles in 1989.
Fullbright award recipients are selected based on academic and
professional achievement including demonstrated leadership. The program
presented approximately 1,100 awards to individuals in 2009-2010 who
will travel abroad to 155 participating countries which support the
Fullbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Friday, Feb. 5, 2010
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