King's College London

Sylvie Carlos, a PhD candidate from King’s College London, has received an All Disciplines Postgraduate Fulbright Award to enable her to research and lecture at the University of Maryland, as part of one of the most well-regarded and impactful scholarship programmes in the world.

As a participant, Sylvie has been selected from a highly competitive applicant pool to spend time in the United States examining approaches to Black storytelling, particularly through podcasting. Her research will build on her current PhD project, which explores how the British audio industry engages with Black audiences across the UK. While in the U.S., she will focus on how British podcasts that centre Black experiences resonate with American audiences.

Commenting on receiving the award, Sylvie said:
“When I received the Fulbright, I screamed, because I recognised the impact! Once it sunk in, I felt honoured and really excited! As a researcher and producer who has spent years working in and studying the UK audio industry, I’m excited to explore how Black experiences are represented in audio storytelling globally. I’m particularly interested in how British podcasts land with U.S. audiences, and what that reveals about the cultural exchange of Black stories across the Atlantic. I hope this opportunity will deepen my research, expand transatlantic conversations around race, media, and representation, and help me grow as both a scholar and a creative. I aim to build connections with audio-makers, academics, whilst soaking up the cultural life of the U.S.”

Maria Balinska, Executive Director, US-UK Fulbright Commission said:

“Our vision is a world where there are no obstacles to learning, understanding and collaboration. There are many global challenges to overcome: we need compassionate leaders to tackle them. This cohort of talented postgraduate awardees – who have just been through one of the most competitive selection processes in the Commission’s recent history – will be placing cultural engagement at the heart of their experiences as they undertake ambitious study and research programmes in the UK: I am filled with hope for the wonderful collaborations that will ensue.”

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For press enquiries, contact:

Marina Martinez, Communications Manager, via press@fulbright.org.uk

+44 20 7498 4024

Scholar Bio: Sylvie is a PhD Candidate at King’s College London, where she’s researching how the British audio industry engages with Black audiences across the UK. Her work explores how stories about Black life are told, who gets to tell them, and how these decisions shape what we hear. Alongside her academic work, Sylvie has over a decade of experience in the media industry as a multi-award-winning Producer working across podcasts and radio. She’s proud of the projects she’s been part of, which unapologetically amplify Black British voices and stories—work that continues to shape how she thinks, researches, and creates.

Whilst based in the U.S., Sylvie will explore how Black audio storytelling is currently approached. With a more established Black media landscape, the U.S. offers a valuable point of comparison and reflection to her work in the UK. She’s especially interested in how podcasting is being used to introduce the experiences of Black life globally to new audiences.

She’s looking forward to connecting with researchers, audio-makers and building community—and of course, eating good food across the country! She hopes the experience will help her grow as a scholar and creative producer, and deepen transatlantic conversations around Black media and storytelling.

Notes to Editors

Full details regarding the Postgraduate and Scholar Awards, including the selection criteria, benefits and awards categories, can be found on our website.

About the US-UK Fulbright Commission:

The US-UK Fulbright Commission works to advance knowledge, promote civic engagement and develop compassionate leaders through education exchange between the peoples of the US and the UK. It is the only academic awards programme that operates on both sides of the Atlantic, providing grants for postgraduate study, research and teaching. Since 1948, tens of thousands of British and American citizens have participated in our programmes, enriching their educations, developing relationships, advancing their careers and making a difference in their communities, at home and abroad. The Fulbright Program of awards is now considered amongst the most prestigious scholarship awards globally, with 60 Nobel Laureates and 39 Heads of State/Government within its 390,000 global alumni.

About the Awards:

The US-UK Fulbright Commission provides the only bilateral, transatlantic scholarship programme in the UK, offering awards for study or research in any field, at any accredited US or UK university. The Commission selects scholars through a rigorous application and interview process, looking for academic excellence alongside a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills, a desire to further the Fulbright mission and a plan to give back to the US upon returning.

Typical grants include a maintenance allowance and/or a contribution towards tuition fees. Fulbright scholars receive administrative support and a cultural education programme including visa support, a comprehensive pre-departure orientation, enrichment opportunities while abroad, a re-entry session and access to a global alumni network.