THREE University lecturers are among seven people awarded Fullbright scholarships to study in the United States of America under the 2006 Fullbright/LASPAU (Latin American Scholarship Programme of American Universities).

The scholars will leave at the end of July to begin their programme. At a briefing session for the awardees at the US embassy in Kingston yesterday, Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson wished them a successful and rewarding course of study. Sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, since 1975, the programme brings 150 students from the Caribbean and Latin America annually to study at US universities.

Sonia Richards-Malcolm, university lecturer and research co-ordinator, who will pursue a masters degree in immunohaematology at Kentucky university, said she was gateful for the award as there are no graduate programmes in Jamaica for immunohaematology, and there is limited research in this science. Richards-Malcolm said on her return she will set up a medical technology course at the University of Technology (Utech) so that degrees will be offered in this science, which is not currently available in Jamaica.