By: Jehiely Balabarca
Southern Adventist University alumnus John Hargy will spend 10 months conducting biomedical research in Türkiye after receiving a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Research Award.
Hargy, who graduated in 2026 with a B.S. degree in biophysics, will conduct research at Ege University in İzmir, where he will study how fasting and refeeding affect intestinal stem cells and their health.
For Hargy, the opportunity is also a chance to experience science outside the United States.
“Science is an inherently global endeavor,” Hargy stated. “I wanted the opportunity to work in a completely new cultural environment, because understanding how research is conducted and communicated internationally will help me to become a better scientist.”
Hargy learned in April that he had received the award. He said he was thrilled and reminded of God’s promise of guidance in Proverbs 16:9.
“Regardless of the outcome, I trusted that God has a definitive will and direction for my life,” Hargy said.
The Fulbright Program is the United States’ premier international exchange program, designed to promote mutual understanding between the United States and more than 160 countries through opportunities such as teaching and research. Hargy received a research award and will work in a translational research laboratory during his time in Türkiye.
Beyond the laboratory, Hargy said he is looking forward to experiencing a new culture.
“I am most excited to completely immerse myself in a new culture and learn Turkish,” he said. “I look forward to building connections with my local colleagues and integrating myself into the daily life of İzmir.”
Hargy said his experiences at Southern helped prepare him for the transition. Teaching and mentoring in the physics department strengthened his communication skills, while serving as Student Association (SA) president taught him to be adaptable.
Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, worked with Hargy through the SA, first while Hargy served as a senator and later as SA president.
“John proved to be a man of action,” Negrón said. “He wanted to use his role as a senator and president to make Southern a better place.”
Hargy credited professors Michael Hasel and Donald Laing, who wrote recommendation letters for his Fulbright application, with contributing to his achievements.
“Behind every success is a multitude of people who have offered their support,” he said.
After completing his research in Turkey, Hargy plans to move to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to begin a doctoral program in biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He hopes to continue studying intestinal stem cells and their relationship to cancer.
For Southern students considering similar opportunities, Hargy encouraged them to apply despite the competitive reputation of programs such as Fulbright.
“Although my particular Fulbright grant is for research, most student recipients teach English,” he said. “Do not let the prestige of the award deter you from applying. Start the application early, ask your faculty mentors for feedback, and view the process itself as a valuable exercise in defining your career and personal goals.”
