Bryson Bugdon ’25 Awarded Prestigious Watson Fellowship

Bryson Bugdon ’25 was taking an MCAT practice exam when he decided to check his phone. The biology major on a pre-medicine track had recently applied for the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and knew the winners were being announced that day. It only took a quick scroll down the alphabetical list of winners to see his name.

“I’m not too good with surprises, and I remember my heart slowing down and then speeding up,” Bugdon said. “It was also my late grandmother’s birthday, which made it extra special. It really felt like a hat tip from heaven.”

The Watson Fellowship is awarded to graduating seniors from any discipline at 41 college and university partners across the United States. The foundation funds a ‘Watson Year,’ providing financial support for 12 months of travel and discovery on a subject of the fellow’s choosing.

Bugdon will travel to specific regions around the world that feature “culturally informed medical innovations”—alternatives to traditional medicines—to learn more and become better informed in this area of medical expertise. The six countries Bugdon plans to visit as of now are Brazil, Iceland, Australia, Nepal, South Africa, and Japan.

“Brazil has its historically significant blend of Afro-Brazilian and Amazonian remedies, Nepal has Himalayan remedies, and hot springs are a major remedy in Iceland,” Bugdon said. “I want to see the physician side of things, where the practices may not be entirely different from those here, versus the more traditional remedies that are very different.”

Bugdon’s inspiration for his Watson experience stems from his personal health journey. He and his mom both faced medical issues in his younger years, which led them to explore alternative medicine. When Bugdon began studying biology at Ursinus, one of the first papers he read explored how food common to places like India and Thailand have antibacterial properties due to the high levels of spice.

“Once I read that, I became interested in seeing what other similar practices existed throughout the world,” Bugdon said. “That, combined with my own personal experience and the bacterial resistance research I’ve been doing at Ursinus, made me confident in speaking about a topic like alternative remedies.”

Bugdon had first heard of the Watson Fellowship during his freshman year when he took a flyer from Olin Hall. He kept it as a keepsake throughout his college career, and during his time as a resident assistant, he became close with several Watson finalists, including pervious Ursinus winners Joey Nolan ’24 and Paige Bristow ’23.

“It all worked out for me. I always kept it on my mind, which I’m grateful for because it put me where I’m at today,” Bugdon said.

While abroad, Bugdon plans to connect with both traditional and modern medical professionals, professors at local universities, and conduct some self-guided studies. He aims to absorb as much knowledge as possible to help inform his future career in medicine.

“I want to experience it all and become a more informed physician for my community one day,” Bugdon said.

Bugdon credits his support system for helping make his Watson win possible, including Professor of Biology Ellen Dawley, who has served as his pre-health advisor all four years and was a member of the Watson board in the past.

“She noticed a trend where the Watson Fellowship was heavily promoting science winners in the past, and that started to diminish,” Bugdon said. “It’s been really rewarding to bring a Watson home for the sciences this year and share that full-circle moment with her.”

Bugdon departs on his Watson journey in July and will return to the United States in 2026.