NSF Awards Graduate Research Fellowships to Michigan Tech Students

NSF Graduate Research Fellowships support  graduate students in STEM disciplines
NSF Graduate Research Fellowships support graduate students in STEM disciplines

Four Michigan Technological University students have received Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF) from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and a fifth won an honorable mention.

Zachary John Morgan, one of the fellowship winners, is a graduate student in materials research at Michigan Tech. The other fellowship winners are senior undergraduate students Ian Thomas Cummings, computer engineering; Michelle Terese Hoard, chemical engineering; and Mitchell A. Kirby, biomedical engineering. Roger John Guillory, biomedical engineering, received an honorable mention.

Provost Praises Students, Faculty

"I am always impressed by the passion for learning that our students possess," said Michigan Tech Provost Jackie Huntoon. "Having four successful candidates plus one honorable mention from Michigan Tech in a single year is a remarkable achievement. These awards are great for the students, and they also bring well-deserved recognition to our faculty and academic programs. It takes a lot of effort to put together a compelling proposal, and while these students prepared those proposals on their own, I also want to recognize the efforts of everyone who helped each student develop the skills required to successfully compete at a national level."

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is one of the most prestigious and competitive programs supporting graduate study in science and engineering. The competition received approximately 18,000 applications, and 2,000 awards were made. The fellowship includes a stipend of $34,000 per year and $12,000 per year to the university in lieu of tuition and fees, for up to three years. Graduate Research Fellows have the opportunity to conduct collaborative research with international researchers in over 20 countries, as well as undertake research internships in a number of national laboratories in the US.

“Your selection as an NSF Graduate Fellowship awardee is a significant accomplishment,” said Dean Evasius, director of NSF’s Division of Graduate Education, in a letter notifying recipients that they had been selected. “We wish you success in your graduate studies in science or engineering, and continued success in achieving your career aspirations. We look forward to learning about your achievements and contributions during your graduate study and beyond.“

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.