Eighteen National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellows from Michigan State University have been selected for 2014 – the largest class of fellows at MSU since the program began in 1952.
There are 31 fellows active on the East Lansing campus, which is also a record-setting number for the university.
“I’m very proud of our graduate students and their faculty mentors,” said Karen Klomparens, dean of the MSU Graduate School and associate provost for graduate education. “This is triple the number of NSF Graduate Research Fellows since I became Dean of the Graduate School in 1998.”
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program is the country’s oldest graduate fellowship program that directly supports graduate students in various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
“Michigan State University is one of the world’s leading research institutions and here at the Honors College, we urge undergraduate students to delve into research right from the start,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, dean of the MSU Honors College. “Congratulations to the 18 fellows named this year, and to those serving in their research roles across our campus.”
- Kevin Vincent Andreassi, Honors College recent graduate who studied mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering and Spanish in the College of Arts and Letters
- Erik Walter Bates, Honors College senior majoring in advanced mathematics in the College of Natural Science
- Diana Barbara Brown, recent graduate who studied geological sciences in the College of Natural Science
- Kayla Janean Felger, Honors College senior majoring in chemistry and human biology in the College of Natural Science
- Kathleen Anne Fitzsimons, recent graduate who studied mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering
- Kyle Blaine Justus, recent graduate who studied mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering
- Shan Amar Kothari, Honors College senior majoring in zoology in the Lyman Briggs College, and anthropology in the College of Social Science
- Andrew Michael Nuttall Honors College recent graduate who studied mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering
- Amy Louise Pochodylo, Honors College recent graduate who studied chemistry in the Lyman Briggs College
- Jacob Uebler, Honors College recent graduate who studied chemistry in the Lyman Briggs College
- Nathan Isaac Johns, recent graduate who studied environmental biology and microbiology in the Lyman Briggs College
- Peter Dana Kvam, master’s degree student majoring in psychology in the College of Social Science
- Anthony Elijah Sparkling, master’s degree student majoring in construction management in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Emily Louise Dolson, doctoral student majoring in computer science in the College of Engineering
- Lynette Guzman, doctoral student majoring in mathematics education in the College of Natural Science
- Steven Kevin McCormick, doctoral student majoring in zoology in the College of Natural Science
- Matthew Nizol, doctoral student majoring in computer science in the College of Engineering
- Chad Robert Zirbel, doctoral student majoring in plant biology in the College of Natural Science
NSF Graduate Research Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $32,000 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.
The National and International Fellowship and Scholarship (NIFS) Office at Michigan State University, administered by the Honors College, helps interested undergraduate and graduate students to pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes. The Honors College serves academically talented, committed students who wish to pursue and achieve academic excellence. The Honors College strives to ensure an enriched academic and social experience for our members and create an environment that fosters active, innovative learning.
The Graduate School is the principal advocate for graduate and post-doctoral education at Michigan State University, and promotes the quality and visibility of these programs to the world.