Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Associate Professor of PhysicsRabindra Bajracharya, PhD, has bee selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, a program of the U.S. Department of State, for the 2025-2026 academic year. He will represent the university and the United States in Nepal through this international academic exchange program.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program provides faculty, researchers, and professionals with the opportunity to teach and conduct research abroad. According to the program, alumni have gone on to receive 63 Nobel Prizes, 98 Pulitzer Prizes, and 82 MacArthur Fellowships.
“This is a wonderful opportunity and MSSU is proud to have Dr. Bajracharya represent the university globally,” said Dr. Dean Van Galen, MSSU president. “The award selection really demonstrates his commitment to academic excellence and international education.”
“I believe this opportunity will reinforce MSSU’s international mission and enhance its reputation in the global academic community,” said Bajracharya.
He will study the effects of mindfulness practices on the self-efficacy of mathematics and physics pre-service teachers. It will be conducted in two phases, with the first from July 15 to August 14, and the second in the summer 2026.
“Despite completing higher education and training, pre-service teachers often begin their careers with low self-efficacy. Mindfulness, a practice that promotes awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of the present moment, has been extensively studied in psychology and medicine for its effects on the mind-body connection,” Bajracharya explained. “Our research aims to explore the underlying causes of low self-efficacy among pre-service teachers and how regular mindfulness practices influence their self-efficacy.”
Bajracharya has an extensive background, spending time among Tibetan monks to teach physics. He was also selected by the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative to teach monastics, a program established at the Dalai Lama’s request to create a science education program for Tibetan Buddhist monastic universities.
His work abroad offers valuable opportunities not only for his own research and teaching, but also for MSSU to build international partnerships, expand its global reach, and inspire future applicants and alumni connections in Nepal and beyond.
About Missouri Southern State University:
Founded in 1937, Missouri Southern State University has provided educational opportunities for Southwest Missouri and beyond. The university serves nearly 4,300 students in more than 140 academic programs and boasts outstanding NCAA Division II athletics programs. The university’s mission is to educate and graduate knowledgeable, responsible, successful global citizens. For nearly 90 years, MSSU has developed exceptional, state and nationally accredited programs that prepare their students for the competitive and changing 21st century society.
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