Current, incoming & recent graduate students receive fellowships

Five students, including current, incoming, and recent graduates, have received prestigious 2013 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program honors. Honorees include two chemistry graduates, Heidi Nelson and Bridget Ulrich, two graduate students, Ivan Spector and Laura Clouston, and an incoming graduate student, Joseph Buchman.

Heidi and Bridget earned their bachelor's degrees at the University of Minnesota. Heidi is in graduate school at the University of Washington, interested in chemistry particularly chemical measurement and imaging. While at the University of Minnesota, she worked with Professor Christy Haynes' research group. Bridget is a graduate student at the Colorado School of Mines, pursuing an advanced degree in environmental engineering. While at the University of Minnesota, she worked with Professor William Tolman's research group.

Ivan Spector, a first-year graduate student, received a fellowship. He earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Cloud State University in 2012. He is a research assistant working under the tutelage of Professor Aaron Massari. Laura Clouston, a second-year graduate student, working under the tutelage of Professor Connie Lu, received an honorable mention. She graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2011. She earned a GRFP honorable mention last year as well. Joseph Buchman is a graduating chemistry and biology major at Augsburg College. He begins his studies and research at the University of Minnesota this fall.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $30,000 along with a $10,500 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees, 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 NSF received more than 13,000 applications for the competitive 2013 fellowship competition, and made award offers to 2,000 students across the nation based on the viability of their research.