Dr. Jun Kim, an internationally recognized expert on advanced water treatment processes, has been selected to join an elite community of Fulbright Specialists by the U.S. State Department. Kim is an assistant professor of environmental engineering at Florida Polytechnic University.
The Fulbright Specialist Roster provides a unique opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in project-based exchanges at host institutions around the world.
“It’s a great honor because I’m representing both Florida Poly and the United States,” Kim said. “I was born in South Korea but I’m now a U.S. citizen, so it’s very meaningful for me and my family to have the opportunity to visit other countries and bring knowledge back while building academic bridges between the United States and other nations.”
As a Fulbright Specialist, Kim is able to collaborate on specialized projects at institutions in more than 150 countries over the next three years. He said participating in the program will also allow him to visit water treatment facilities during his work, further enriching his research and overall experience.
Next summer, Kim plans to travel to Brazil to partner with faculty from the Institute of Hydraulic Research (IPH) within the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on education and research relating to water and wastewater systems.
“Brazil has the largest rainforest and a very different environment, topography and landscape – directly related to every water system,” he said. “I can bring the information I learn to further develop our environmental engineering program, and enhance our water, wastewater treatment and environmental engineering core courses.”
For Florida Poly, Kim’s Fulbright appointment underscores the institution’s growing global engagement and the value of faculty expertise that drives real-world environmental solutions.
“Dr. Kim’s recognition highlights the exceptional caliber of faculty that our University proudly possesses,” said Mustapha Achoubane, the University’s senior global affairs officer. “It also reinforces our enduring commitment to fostering American excellence and advancing applied research on a global scale – a commitment that lies at the very heart of our strategic mission.”
Florida Poly’s Fulbright Program was launched in 2018 and has steadily gained momentum. In February 2025, the University was recognized by the U.S. State Department as a top producer of U.S. Fulbright STEM scholars. It was one of only 5% of the nation’s four-year institutions to earn the distinction.
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