East Lansing, Michigan – Sixteen exceptional undergraduate and graduate students, and alumni, from Michigan State University have been selected for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), along with thirteen honorable mentions.
The program is the country’s oldest graduate fellowship program that supports graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.
NSF Graduate Research Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $34,000, along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution), opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.
“We are delighted to see so many of our outstanding graduate students receive highly regarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships,” said Pero G. Dagbovie, dean of the Graduate School and associate provost for graduate and postdoctoral studies. “Their success and accomplishments represent the importance of a variety of research initiatives throughout the MSU community. The Graduate School team extends a hearty congratulations to all the recipients and honorable mentions from MSU.”
“Supporting the success of the next generation of faculty and researchers is at the heart of the mission of the MSU Honors College,” said Christopher P. Long, MSU Foundation Professor, and dean of the MSU Honors College, and College of Arts & Letters. “To have so many talented and conscientious MSU undergraduate and graduate students win NSF Graduate Research Fellows is a great testament to the strength of our students and the excellence of our faculty. On behalf of the MSU Honors College, congratulations!”
Below are the names of the 16 students who were named NSF Graduate Research Fellows:
- Wesley Binder is an MSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the College of Natural Science.
- Zaria Contejean is an MSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in genomics and molecular genetics in Lyman Briggs College. Zaria is pursuing a PhD in genetics at Stanford University.
- Bianca Davila-Montero is an MSU PhD student in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Isabella Ginnett, an Honors College senior majoring in physics and advanced mathematics in the College of Natural Science.
- Katarina Huss is an MSU Honors College graduate with bachelor degrees in Comparative Cultures and Politics, and Social Relations and Policy in James Madison College. Katarina is pursuing a PhD in sociology at the University of Texas at Austin
- Peter Jansen is an MSU graduate with bachelor degrees in biosystems engineering from the College of Engineering, and German from the College of Arts and Letters. Peter is pursuing a PhD in biomedical engineering at Ohio State University
- Garrett Knowlton graduated from MSU in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
- Spencer Lee is an MSU Honors College graduate with bachelor degrees in advanced mathematics and physics from the College of Natural Science. Spencer is a PhD student in computational mathematics, science and engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Brianna Martinez is an MSU graduate with a bachelor degree in chemistry from Lyman Briggs College. Brianna is pursuing a PhD in chemistry at Florida International University.
- Andrew McDonald is an Honors College senior majoring in advanced mathematics and statistics in the College of Natural Science, and computer science in the College of Engineering.
- Gabriel Moreau is an MSU Honors College graduate with bachelor degrees in physics in the College of Natural Science, and music in the College of Music. Gabriel is pursuing a PhD in physics at Stanford University.
- Bryce Palmer is an MSU PhD student in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Simon Sanchez is an MSU PhD student in biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering.
- Karl Schneider is an MSU Honors College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations in James Madison College is and criminal justice and economics in the College of Social Science. Karl is a Research Fellow in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
- Joseph Slivka is an MSU Honors College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from the College of Natural Science. Joseph is pursuing a PhD in physics at the University of California-Berkeley.
- Katharine Walters is an Honors College senior majoring in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering.
The Graduate School is the principal advocate for graduate, graduate professional, and post-doctoral education at Michigan State University, and provides training opportunities for students and research trainees like the annual GRFP grant-writing workshop through the MSU AGEP Program. Additionally, the Graduate School collaborates with several minority-serving institutions and invites GRFP applicants from our partner institutions to participate in the annual workshop series.
The National/International Fellowship and Scholarship (NIFS) Office at Michigan State University, administered by the Honors College, helps interested undergraduate and graduate students pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes.
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