Although Justin Brumbaugh is leaving his 1997 GMC Sonoma truck behind this summer, he isn't upset.

Brumbaugh (senior-biochemistry and molecular biology) is the recipient of the German Academic Exchange Service graduate scholarship for a year of study in Germany. He plans on studying cell systems in association with cystic fibrosis.

He originally planned to become a doctor because he liked the idea of helping people, but Brumbaugh said his plans changed after he "turned green" in the emergency room.

"I had to find a way to help people without suturing them up," he said.

Brumbaugh is doing just that -- by going into research.

After attending General McLane High School near Erie, he came to Penn State with more than a little pressure from his father.

"As a kid, my dad would say, 'You can go to Penn State, Penn State, or Penn State, and if you don't like that, you can go to Penn State,' " he said.

Brumbaugh willingly chose Penn State and said he has not regretted his choice.

"I love Penn State. I definitely bleed blue and white," he said.

Although he loves the university, Brumbaugh admits to being nervous about not wanting to return to the United States after spending the next year in Germany.

"There is a beautiful castle on the hillside, very romantic," Brumbaugh said of Heidelberg, the town where he will be staying.

Brumbaugh's travels started during his sophomore year, when he went to Australia.

"It gave me the courage to say, 'I can do this,' " he said.

Lee Bassett (senior-physics), Brumbaugh's close friend and roommate of two years, also traveled to Australia that year. He said Brumbaugh is a "fabulous" guy.

"He's one of those guys you want to go into politics because there can't possibly be anything bad about him," Bassett said.

Brumbaugh started the scholarship process about a year ago by finding a professor in Germany to support him should he win the award.

After finding a professor online and corresponding, all he had to do was wait.

"I found out that I got the award while on a graduate school visit in Salt Lake City," he said.

"I checked my e-mail in the hotel lobby," he added.

Brumbaugh will be affiliated with the University of Heidelberg while in Germany and will work at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, an organization for research.

After his time in Germany, Brumbaugh plans to attend graduate school in the United States to earn his doctorate degree.

Brumbaugh said he is not sure what he will do after that.

"It's up in the air. I'd like to follow in the footsteps of the people who encouraged me, my professors," he said.

Brumbaugh mentioned that his adviser, Sarah Ades, has been influential. "She's taught me everything I know."

Ades has been working closely with Brumbaugh since September 2002.

"I worked with him and taught him how to do research," she said. "Now he can work independently."

Brumbaugh was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany.

Brumbaugh visited Heidelberg during high school. Legend has it that if you spit in the Neckar River, you will always return to Germany, he said.

For Brumbaugh, it looks like the legend is coming true.