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Seven Eberly College of Science students offered graduate funding from National Science Foundation

27 April 2020

Seven students from the Penn State Eberly College of Science pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees earned fellowship offers from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

The National Science Foundation GRFP aims to support “outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or in STEM education,” according to the website at nsf.gov. Students receive three years of support within a five-year fellowship period during their graduate education by proving they have “potential for significant research achievements.” The NSF estimates that 2,000 awards are made each year, with anticipated funding of $138,000 per award.

Any students interested in learning more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, or those who would like feedback on application materials, are encouraged to contact the University Fellowships Office.

“Every year our college, as well as the graduate school, offers various workshops to help students with the process of applying either in their first or second year of graduate school,” said Sesa Slavkovic, Associate Dean for Graduate Education. “Eberly College of Science is extremely proud of our current fellows, and those who have received honorable mentions, and is looking forward to highlighting some of their achievements.”

The following students received NSF offers and honorable mentions. Several other Penn State students and alumni were offered the fellowship.

  • Anna Brogan, undergraduate in biochemistry and molecular biology
  • Sojung Frances Kim, undergraduate in chemistry
  • Gautam Nagaraj, graduate student in astronomy
  • Ananda Nichole Rankin, undergraduate in biochemistry and molecular biology
  • C. Cornelia Osborne, graduate student in biology
  • Edmundo Jose Torres-Gonzalez, graduate student in biology
  • Autumn Zender, graduate student in physics

Honorable mentions:

  • Joseph Martin Colosimo, graduate student in astronomy
  • Margaret Carole Gerthoffer, graduate student in chemistry
  • Arvind Gupta, graduate student in astronomy
  • Emily Howerton, graduate student in biology
  • Joseph Tomlinson, graduate student in astronomy

Alumni receiving honorable mentions:

  • Caroline Helen Steingard, Cornell University graduate student in biochemistry and molecular biology
  • Jose Manuel Del Rio Pantoja, Harvard University graduate student in biology
  • Matthew George Keefe, University of California, San Francisco graduate student in biochemistry and molecular biology
  • Alexander Smith, University of Pennsylvania graduate student in biochemistry and molecular biology
  • Mary Hannah Swaney, University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student in biochemistry and molecular biology