National Science Foundation Awards 13 Graduate Fellowships

Issue Date: 
April 27, 2015

Thirteen University of Pittsburgh students have received 2015 Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation. The fellowships were awarded to three graduating seniors and 10 graduate students.

The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. It recognizes and supports outstanding students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. 

Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend of $30,000 along with a $12,000 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees. The fellowship program has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. 

The graduating Pitt seniors who have received the fellowship are: Gerald Ferrer, bioengineering; Eric Marksz, mechanical engineering and materials science; and Michael Morais, bioengineering and mathematical biology.  

The Pitt graduate students who have been awarded fellowships are: Natalie Austin, chemical and petroleum engineering; Jenna Dziki, bioengineering; Nicole Forrester, biological sciences; Maritza Jimenez, bioengineering; Kimberly Lockwood, psychology; Travis Mavrich, biological sciences, Nicolas Pabon, computational biology; Carly Sombric, bioengineering; Elyse Stachler, civil and environmental engineering; and Colin Morgan Wright, biological sciences.

In addition, eight Pitt alumni also were awarded the fellowship and seven alumni received the honorable mention distinction. Twelve current Pitt students received honorable mentions.