Eight Eberly students offered graduate funding from National Science Foundation
Eight Penn State Eberly College of Science students and alumni pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees have received fellowship offers from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program for the 2025-26 academic year. Additionally, seven Penn State Eberly College of Science students and alumni have received honorable mentions.
The NSF program supports outstanding graduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines, those in STEM education and learning research, and those in social and behavioral sciences, who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees.
Eberly students and alumni to receive fellowship offers this year include the following individuals:
- Viviana Cáceres, doctoral student in physics
- Hannah Faye, 2023 bachelor of science degree in biology
- Ava Gabrys, undergraduate student in biology
- Kueyoung Kim, undergraduate student in chemistry
- Sophia Mucciolo, 2022 bachelor of science degree in biology
- Frederick Purnell, 2020 bachelor of science degree in biology
- Kanishk Pandey, doctoral student in astronomy & astrophysics
Eberly students and alumni receiving honorable mentions this year include the following individuals:
- Maria Bressan, 2023 bachelor of science degrees in physics and astronomy and astrophysics
- Nathan Cristello, 2024 bachelor of science degree in astronomy and astrophysics
- Leila Filien, 2023 bachelor of science degree in chemistry
- Abigeal Keegan, 2023 bachelor of science degree in biology
- Maxwell Meyers, doctoral student in physics
- Yunyan Mo, doctoral student in biology
- Anya Smith, 2023 bachelor of science degree in biology
According to the NSF website, “as the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers.” Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 as well as $12,000 for tuition and fees, to conduct their research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education of their choosing. They also have opportunities for international research and professional development through the program.
The GRFP annual program solicitation was released in July and is available on the NSF website. Applications are accepted via Fastlane, the NSF's official online information and business transaction center. Application deadlines begin in mid-October and vary depending on the field of study.
For additional information on the GRFP, contact the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration at gsfellowships@psu.edu.