For years, East Tennessee State University’s Dr. Aruna Kilaru has explored ways plants can help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, from food insecurity and clean energy to sustainable biotechnology.

Now, Kilaru been selected for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, one of the nation's most prestigious international academic exchange programs.

Dr. Aruna Kilaru

Kilaru, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biological Sciences, will travel to India during the 2026-27 academic year as part of the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Program to collaborate with scientists at the National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute in Mohali.

Together, they will advance research on plant cell biomanufacturing, exploring how plants can sustainably produce valuable natural compounds used in medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. In addition to research, Kilaru will teach short courses, lead hands-on workshops and mentor students and early-career scientists. Ultimately, the collaboration aims to foster research partnerships between ETSU and leading biotechnology organizations in India.

"Fulbright provides a unique opportunity to build international collaborations that advance both science and education," said Kilaru. "I am excited to work with colleagues in India to explore innovative approaches to plant-based biomanufacturing while creating new opportunities for students and researchers in both countries."

Since joining ETSU in 2011, Kilaru has built an internationally recognized research program focused on plant metabolism, synthetic biology and biomanufacturing. Her work has attracted more than $3 million in external research funding from agencies that include the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture and BioMADE, while helping advance solutions to challenges in agriculture, biotechnology and sustainable manufacturing.

She serves as a faculty fellow for interdisciplinary innovation in the biosciences in ETSU’s Office of the Provost, where she leads efforts to develop interdisciplinary programs in synthetic biology and bioengineering.

Kilaru has also earned some of ETSU’s highest faculty honors, including the Distinguished Faculty Award in Research and a Notable Women of ETSU Award. Last year, she was also named a Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists, and currently serves on the organization’s board of directors.

With more than 400,000 alumni since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange, supporting groundbreaking work in over 160 countries.  

The award recognizes accomplished faculty and professionals who combine research, teaching and international collaboration to address global challenges while fostering mutual understanding between nations.

Kilaru – ETSU’s first Fulbright Scholar to India – is one of four from ETSU to earn Fulbright Scholar honors this year. That list includes:

• Franklin Acosta, first-generation student and TRIO McNair Scholar – Open Study/Research Award, Hungary 

• Steven Efremov, senior lecturer in economics – Open Study/Research Award, Moldova 

• Elizabeth Davis – English Teaching Assistant Award, Slovak Republic 

"Dr. Kilaru's work exemplifies the spirit of the Fulbright Program," said Dr. Carson Medley, director of ETSU's Office of Prestigious Awards. "She is an outstanding scientist whose research transcends borders, and this opportunity not only strengthens collaborations that benefit students, researchers and communities in both the United States and India, but also elevates ETSU's growing partnership with India into a strategic ecosystem for global engagement.

“Building on our collaborations with partners across India, this Fulbright creates new pathways for future Fulbright awards, the Critical Language Scholarship for Hindi, collaborative research, internships and sustained academic exchange that will benefit ETSU students and faculty for years to come,” Medley continued. “Dr. Kilaru has paved the way for this development."

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