April 12, 2022
Seven receive prestigious NSF graduate fellowship
Seven from the Michigan State University College of Engineering have been selected for the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
Four Ph.D. students, two undergraduates, and one recent graduate will receive the nationally competitive funding that directly supports graduate students in various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Two other Spartans Engineers received honorable mentions this year.
The program is the country’s oldest graduate fellowship program. GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution.
Katy Luchini Colbry, assistant dean of graduate student services, said NSF GRFP offers students the freedom to explore new ideas and solve challenging problems that advance the understanding of science and engineering.
“This prestigious award recognizes the most promising graduate students in the U.S.,” she explained. “It helps position them for success in academia, research, and industry.”
The new NSF GRFP Fellows in the College of Engineering are:
• Spencer W. Lee, a Ph.D. student in computational mathematics, science, and engineering.
• Simon W. Sanchez, a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering.
• Bianca M. Davila-Montero, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering.
• Bryce Palmer, a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.
• Andrew R. McDonald, a senior in computer science and engineering.
• Katharine M. Walters, a senior in mechanical engineering.
• Peter A. Jansen, a 2020 graduate in biosystems engineering, is now a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering at Ohio State University.
Two Spartans Engineers received honorable mention recognitions from NSF. They are:
Michael P. Hayes, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, and Tyler J. Pozan, a 2020 graduate in environmental engineering in who is now a student at Northwestern University.
MSU Engineering students have a long history of success in this competition, added Luchini Colbry.
“Over the last 15 years, we have celebrated with 72 Fellows and 27 Honorable Mention recipients among our current students and recent alumni.”
