OSU biology professor named Fulbright U.S. Scholar to study animal communication behavior
Monday, July 20, 2026
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An Oklahoma State University professor will be traveling to Portugal in August to study animal communication behaviors after being named a Fulbright Scholar for 2026-27.
Dr. Michael Reichert, an associate professor with the Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, will spend four months in Porto, Portugal, at the Centro de Investigaçåo em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources) in their Behavioral Ecology research group.
“I think the biggest learning opportunity is just to be exposed to a whole new group of researchers and ideas,” Reichert said. “In my current department, I have built a lot of collaborations and exciting new research directions that I wouldn’t have expected just because of conversations with my colleagues. Being able to spend time in another institute will bring a whole new set of opportunities.”
Over the course of his nearly eight years at OSU, Reichert’s research has focused on animal communication and animal cognition, specifically studying acoustic communication in frogs. Right now, his major project is looking at the relationship between metabolic rate and acoustic signaling in gray treefrogs.
While in Porto, Reichert will work closely with Dr. Gonçalo Cardoso, who also researches animal communication behaviors. Their common research interests include understanding how animals produce high-performance signals and what the impacts of variation in signal traits are on communication.
He hopes this partnership will be the beginning of a long-term relationship with the Portuguese researchers.
“There is an opportunity to connect researchers at one of Portugal’s leading biological research institutes to the great programs we have at OSU,” Reichert said. “Collaboration is now essential in science, and research is absolutely an international effort. There are groups all around the world trying to solve the same challenges. My participation in the Fulbright program will help to build connections to research groups that ultimately will improve the field.”
Dr. Andrew Dzialowski, head of the Department of Biology, said Reichert’s accomplishments elevate the department’s reputation for impactful research and global engagement.
“We are extremely proud of Dr. Michael Reichert for earning a Fulbright Fellowship,” Dzialowski said. “This prestigious award recognizes his excellence as a scholar while showcasing the extraordinary faculty in the Department of Biology and College of Arts and Sciences.”
The Fulbright Scholar Program is among the most competitive academic fellowships in the world. Administered by the Institute of International Education, its alumni have earned 63 Nobel Prizes, 98 Pulitzer Prizes and 83 MacArthur Fellowships. Research has consistently shown that Fulbright experiences lead to greater international co-publication and sustained scholarly exchange.
“I am grateful to the Fulbright Commission for supporting my stay in Portugal and for their work to advance research, education and cultural exchange between the U.S. and the rest of the world,” Reichert said.