BRUNSWICK — Sara Powers, of Auburn, a member of the Bowdoin College Class of 2011, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

The Fulbright provides Powers with funding for study or teaching abroad for one year to promote cross-cultural interaction and increase mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and other countries through educational and cultural exchange.

A neuroscience and French double major, Powers will expand upon her research experiences at Bowdoin by conducting independent neuroscience research at the University of Rennes. Her work will examine the role estrogen plays in adult neurogenesis in zebrafish. Outside of the lab, Powers will take courses at the university in molecular biology and volunteer at a local hospital. Powers plans to attend medical school upon her return.