Monika Gulia-Nuss is an Associate Professor in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology at the University of Nevada – Reno. In the spring of 2025, she had a Fulbright and spent 3 months in Urugay. Monika used her time to collaborate with colleagues around the study of ticks that affect the cattle population in Uruguay. In this episode, we talk about the impetus for applying for a Fulbright, how Monika managed her lab of 16 people while she was away, and how being away from home and her lab helped her reflect on her career and realign her work with her personal and professional priorities. If you’re someone who runs a lab and you’re wondering how you might be able to leave your lab during sabbatical, I think this episode will give you hope and some good ideas for how to make it happen. Learn more about the Fulbright Scholar Program: https://fulbrightscholars.org/ Learn more about my sabbatical planning programs: https://bethanywilinski.com/services