Three LSU Engineering Students Receive Prestigious NSF Award, 10 Students Receive Honorable Mention

04/16/2019
BATON ROUGE – Three current LSU students or recent graduates were the recipients of the 2019 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, or GRFP, while 10 more students received honorable mentions.

The recipients of the 2019 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship are:

  • Matthew Jordan, a Ph.D. student in chemical engineering from Pittsburgh, Texas;
  • Grant Landwehr, a chemical engineering major from Covington, La.;
  • Breanna Lee, a recent graduate in chemical engineering from Baton Rouge now pursuing her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Emory University and Georgia Tech. Lee was a LA-Stem Scholar who graduated Summa Cum Laude.

The honorable mentions are:

  • Daniel Babin – a May 2016 LSU graduate in geology from Baton Rouge, now pursuing a graduate degree in geosciences at Columbia University;
  • Hanna Bauer – a graduate student at LSU working on master’s degree in oceanography and coastal sciences, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Portland;
  • Grace Bingham, a May 2018 LSU graduate in biological engineering from Luling, La., now pursuing her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia;
  • Jeanne Bloomberg – a graduate student at LSU working on master’s degree in oceanography and coastal sciences, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University;
  • Brianna Cairney – a Ph.D. student in psychology, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington;
  • Sarah Hahn Hulgan – a May 2017 LSU graduate in chemistry from Baton Rouge, now pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry from William Marsh Rice University;
  • Victoria Lanclos – a May 2017 LSU graduate in interdisciplinary studies from Opelousas, La., pursuing a graduate degree in life sciences at LSU;
  • Brandon Oubre, a graduate in computer science and mathematics from Montz, La., now pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Oubre was a LA-STEM scholar at LSU who graduated with a University Medal, College Honors and received the Outstanding Honors Thesis Award;
  • Amanda Owen – a Ph.D. student in chemistry, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University;
  • Callie Stern – a Ph.D. student in chemistry, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University.

Slightly more than 2,000 students nationwide won the GRFP and little more than 1,500 received honorable mentions.

The GRFP provides three years of financial support within a five-year fellowship period – a $34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the graduate institution. That support is for graduate study that leads to a research-based master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM field.

“LSU is very proud of our NSF Fellow and Honorable Mention recipients,” said Marybeth Lima, Cliff & Nancy Spanier Alumni Professor. “Each of these Renaissance scholars is committed to conducting research that will positively shape the world, as well as participating in activities that ensure that their research will broadly impact people, communities and society.”

The program was developed by the NSF to create a highly motivated and capable workforce dedicated to ensuring the nation’s leadership in advancing STEM-related innovations. The selected fellows are expected to become respected thought leaders and knowledge experts in their given fields. Recipients also benefit from 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 rigorous NSF GRFP application includes submission of a research proposal. Many of the LSU fellows honored participated in the annual NSF Graduate Research Fellowship application workshop series led by a team of faculty and staff, including Lima; Cristina Caminita, head of research and instruction services, LSU Libraries; Sarah Ferstel, program manager, LSU Discover; Carol Friedland, Cajun Constructors Associate Professor in Construction Management; Sheri Wischusen, director of undergraduate research for the College of Science; Drew Lamonica Arms, director of fellowship advising, Honors College; Becky Carmichael, CxC coordinator, College of Science and College for the Coast & Environment; and Jennifer Baumgartner, CxC faculty chair and associate professor in the School of Education. This team provided comprehensive training and 1:1 support to help students develop exceptional applications.

 

 

Contact Ernie Ballard
LSU Media Relations
225-578-5685
eballa1@lsu.edu 

or 

Josh Duplechain
LSU College of Engineering
225-578-5706
josh@lsu.edu  

 

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