April 13, 2026
Eighteen Physical Sciences Division graduate students have been awarded 2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships:
- Brayden Banks, Chemistry - Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism
- Michelle Bishka, Chemistry - Macromolecular (including Polymer Chemistry), Supramolecular, and Na
- Jordan Boysen, Chemistry - Chemical Theory, Models, and Computational Methods
- Wren M Burrill, Mathematical Sciences - Topology
- Levi Cherek, Chemistry - Chemical Theory, Models, and Computational Methods
- Erin Riker Coleman, Physics and Astronomy - Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Snehadri Das, Physics and Astronomy - Particle Physics
- Aaron Anyu Huang, Materials Research - Polymers
- Kyra E Jackson, Chemistry - Chemical Synthesis
- Eric Kermit Jensen, Chemistry - Chemistry of Life Processes
- Aidan Lindsay, Chemistry - Chemical Theory, Models, and Computational Methods
- Isaac Marcelo Lopez, Mathematical Sciences - Geometric Analysis
- Nathan Meier, Chemistry - Chemical Theory, Models, and Computational Methods
- Isabelle Aiko Shiiba, Life Sciences - Biophysics
- Aland G Sinjari, Materials Research - Photonic Materials
- Noah Swann, Chemistry - Chemical Synthesis
- Ella Wood, Geosciences - Geobiology
- Felix Xu, Chemistry - Chemical Synthesis
Honorable mentions were awarded to:
- Caroline Naomi Broude, Chemistry - Chemical Synthesis
- Abigail Chriss, Physics and Astronomy - Particle Physics
- Julia Cottingham, Geosciences - Climate and Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics
- Sophia Dinn, Physics and Astronomy - Condensed Matter Physics
- Kayla Eichmann, Chemistry - Chemical Theory, Models, and Computational Methods
- Elizabeth Julia Field, Physics and Astronomy - Particle Physics
- Ryann Jibson, Geosciences - Geobiology
- Paulina R Martin, Physics and Astronomy - Physics of Living Systems
- Vibha Padmanabhan, Physics and Astronomy - Condensed Matter Physics
- Nathan W Schoedl, Geosciences - Glaciology
- Whitney Short, Chemistry - Chemical Theory, Models, and Computational Methods
- Richard B Tuddenham, Physics and Astronomy - Particle Physics
- Simon M Yellen, Chemistry - Chemical Synthesis
- Audrey R Zettler, Geosciences - Paleontology and Paleobiology
- Cindy Zhou, Chemistry - Chemistry of Life Processes
Fellowships provide the student with a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 along with a $16,000 cost of education allowance to the University.
The 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, non-profit United States institutions of higher education.
Congratulations to these outstanding members of the Division for receiving this honor.
Learn more about the program and this year’s awardees.