Minnesota State University, Mankato computer science faculty member Rebecca Bates has been awarded a 2009-2010 Fulbright Scholarship to work and study with colleagues at the University of São Paulo in Brazil.
Bates, an expert on statistical modeling and pattern recognition for speech applications, will conduct her Fulbright research at the University of São Paulo from August 2009 through May 2010.
Her two-part, interdisciplinary project aims to increase her experience in quantitative and qualitative research, with the goal of expanding the number of women professionals in technical fields. Her research, “Exploring Voices: Speech Recognition Applications and Narratives of Brazilian Women in Engineering & Computer Science,” has two objectives:
Bates has taught computer science at Minnesota State Mankato for seven years. She is principal director of the MAX Scholarship Program, funded by the National Science Foundation and benefitting students in Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Science, Engineering & Technology.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Boston University, a master’s in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, a master’s in electrical engineering from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Washington.
In addition to research in the field of natural language processing, Bates studies learning styles and community and professional development of science, technology, engineering and mathematics students.
She is a faculty affiliate for Project Lead the Way, a national not-for-profit organization that promotes pre-engineering courses for middle school and high school students.
Her Fulbright school, the University of São Paulo, was established in 1934 and is Brazil’s largest higher education and research institution, with 86,187 students in 2008-2009.
The Fulbright Scholars Program, America’s flagship international educational exchange activity, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with additional funding by participating governments and host institutions. The program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Its purpose is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.
Each year the program sponsors about 1,100 U.S. scholars and professionals to teach and to research in more than 130 countries. Scholar awards are based on academic or professional achievement and demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 14,700 students and two satellite sites, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which comprises 32 state universities, community colleges, technical colleges and combined community and technical colleges across the state.
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