Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte of Clemson University is starting to plan a four-month visit to Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden after learning that he has been selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar.
Martinez-Duarte, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, said the visit is part of a broader effort to build strategic international partnerships that could benefit South Carolina. He aims to strengthen ties with companies such as Volvo, SKF and Enviro, all based in Sweden and active in South Carolina.
“International research collaboration is essential,” Martinez-Duarte said. “We can’t solve today’s global problems with just one lab’s tools or expertise. We need to build bridges between disciplines, between countries and between people.”
Martinez-Duarte’s research focuses on turning renewable materials, such as cellulose, paper and bacterial fibers, into carbon structures that serve as electrodes and structural components for potential use in batteries and other carbon-based technologies.
He is believed to be the first faculty member in Clemson’s Department of Mechanical Engineering to selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar and the first from Clemson University to Sweden. Martinez-Duarte expects to leave for Sweden in March 2026.
Alexander Leonessa, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said Martinez-Duarte’s Fulbright award is a testament to the caliber of research and global engagement in the department.
“His work at Chalmers not only advances materials research but also helps build meaningful international partnerships that benefit our students, faculty and industry collaborators,” Leonessa said.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar award comes from the U.S. Department of State and is regarded as one of the nation’s most prestigious grants for international research and academic exchange.
Martinez-Duarte’s visit will mark his second trip to Chalmers. He conducted research there in fall 2024 through a separate initiative and sent two Clemson students this past summer.
During that first trip, he began forging collaborations with Chalmers researchers, including Samuel Lara-Avila, Christian Müller and Maria Asplund. All three will be part of his work during the Fulbright stay, and Lara-Avila is expected to visit Clemson this fall.
Among those congratulating Martinez-Duarte was Laine Mears, director of the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering.
“His Fulbright award reflects the school’s commitment to innovative research, international collaboration and developing solutions that directly support industry and real-world applications,” Mears said.
