Five UA students and one alumnus have been selected for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, which supports fellowships for outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering or math, including STEM education.
The NSF GRFP is one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowship programs, providing three years of financial support, over five years, to graduate students who have demonstrated potential for significant achievements in research. For more than 75 years, GRFP has played a critical role in developing the talent pipeline required for sustaining U.S. leadership in science.
UA’s six participants include:
Ian Brunetz
Senior
Majors: Biology and English Dual Degrees
Honors College, University Honors Program
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Zach Feller
Graduate Student
Major: Materials Science
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Aidan Gesch
Senior
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Honors College, Randall Research Scholar
Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas
Emily Gokie
Senior
Majors: Mechanical Engineering and Physics
Honors College, University Honors Program
Hometown: Seward, Nebraska
Nicholas Kaple
Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Honors College, Randall Research Scholar
Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois
Benjamin Trost
Alumnus
Majors: New College and Biology
Honors College
Hometown: Tuscaloosa
Since its inception in 1952, GRFP has supported more than 70,000 graduate research fellows. By recruiting and supporting students with exceptional potential for leadership in STEM, the program has generated scientific breakthroughs and economically significant innovations, with more than 40 former fellows having received Nobel Prizes.
The UA Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships assists students in the pursuit of national and international awards. Students interested in applying for awards that require an institutional endorsement can learn more on the External Scholarships and Fellowships website.