Baylor Cancer Researcher Selected for Fulbright Specialist Program
Molecular biologist Jonathan Kelber, Ph.D., leads scientific outreach in Slovakia through State Department initiative
Fulbright Specialist Jonathan Kelber, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and cancer researcher at Baylor University.
Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-709-5959
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Baylor University cancer researcher and molecular biologist Jonathan Kelber, Ph.D., has been named to the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program, a U.S. Department of State initiative that connects American scholars with international institutions to share expertise, strengthen institutional linkages and advance collaborative research.
Kelber is an associate professor of biology at Baylor who researches the most aggressive forms of breast and pancreatic cancers. As a Fulbright Specialist, he is serving in Slovakia to advance interest in science and scientific research opportunities in the Central European nation. His appointment supports a partnership with the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University in Martin, Slovakia, where he is working with longtime collaborator Dr. Jan Strnádel at the university’s Biomedical Research Center.
“This opportunity is both professionally exciting and personally meaningful,” Kelber said. “Fulbright has been a catalyst for some of the most impactful collaborations of my career, and I’m honored to continue that work by partnering with colleagues who share a deep commitment to improving cancer outcomes worldwide.”
“Fulbright has been a catalyst for some of the most impactful collaborations of my career, and I’m honored to continue that work by partnering with colleagues who share a deep commitment to improving cancer outcomes worldwide.” - Jonathan Kelber, Ph.D.
Over a two-week span, Kelber is speaking in high schools and university settings across Slovakia, including schools in Martin and the capital city of Bratislava, to stimulate interest in the STEM fields and build international pipelines between the U.S. and Slovakian students.
His schedule includes programs at seven high schools, scientific lectures for Jessenius Faculty of Medicine and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, visits to local medical centers and engagement with leading scientists, pharmacists and biotechnology experts in the region.
“Placement on the Fulbright Specialist Roster is an honor reserved for academic professionals who are able to make significant contributions overseas to their fields of study,” said Lee Nordt, Ph.D., Dean of Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. “I am pleased that Dr. Kelber’s important cancer research will be recognized and furthered by the opportunities provided him through this program of international cooperation.”
Cancer researcher, Fulbright history
Kelber, who came to Baylor in 2023 from Cal State University, Northridge, has a history with Fulbright dating back over six years. He earned a 2019-2020 Fulbright UK Scholar Award, which supported international research at the University of Manchester. That opportunity led to expanded collaborations launched at a prior partnership at Harvard Medical School, ultimately producing a 2021 publication on a gene Kelber first discovered as a postdoctoral researcher.
“These experiences showed me how transformative international scientific exchange can be,” he said. “When administrators and fellow researchers see tangible advances come from these partnerships, it reinforces the promise of Fulbright’s mission.”
Now at Baylor, Kelber brought his cancer research program – developed over a decade – and his National Institutes of Health-funded Developmental Oncogene Laboratory to the University. His lab integrates cell biology, genetics and molecular biology to understand how cancer cells change their behavior during tumor progression and tissue regeneration, supported by clinical collaborations at the University of Pennsylvania, UT Southwestern and Baylor College of Medicine. Strnadel is a longtime research collaborator, focused with Kelber on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive pancreatic and breast cancer progression.
“Cancer touches every community, every family,” Kelber said. “We feel privileged to contribute knowledge that may one day make a difference for patients facing the most difficult diagnoses.”
“Cancer touches every community, every family. We feel privileged to contribute knowledge that may one day make a difference for patients facing the most difficult diagnoses.” - Jonathan Kelber, Ph.D.
Global footprint
Baylor University continues to be a leading producer of Fulbright Scholars among students and faculty, with Kelber adding to the University’s roster of Fulbrights in the specialist role.
In 2026 – for the fourth consecutive year, Baylor was recognized as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for students and recent alums, and the top producer of Fulbright students in Texas. Additionally, numerous Baylor faculty have been selected as Fulbright Scholars, reflecting the institution’s growing impact in global research and scholarship - notably, Kelber’s appointment to the Fulbright Specialist program is believed to be the first for a Baylor faculty member.
“Dr. Kelber’s Fulbright award exemplifies Baylor’s mission as he is able to share his lab’s important cancer research with students and scientists in Slovakia,” said Eduardo Contreras, Ph.D., vice provost for global engagement. “Additionally, his Fulbright Specialist designation reflects Baylor in Deeds by bringing our Christian R1 commitment to service, academic excellence and global collaboration into action while strengthening ties that expand mutual understanding across cultures. Dr. Kelber’s engagement not only elevates Baylor’s international impact but also enriches the transformative learning environment we strive to create for our students and global partners.”
Kelber’s appointment places him on the Specialist Roster for three years, allowing him to engage in short‑term, project‑based exchanges with international host institutions in addition to his current placement in Slovakia.
“It’s a blessing to be part of a program that values scientific exchange and fosters meaningful global partnerships,” Kelber said. “I’m grateful Baylor has been such a supportive home for this work.”
Faculty/Staff Fulbright opportunities
With a rich tradition of Fulbright Scholars, Baylor’s Center for Global Engagement welcomes current Baylor faculty and staff to learn more about the Fulbright Scholar Program and consider opportunities to apply, including for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, the Fulbright Specialist Program, the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Program and the Fulbright Distinguished Scholar awards. Information is available on the Baylor Fulbright website.
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