Students who attended RI NSF EPSCoR partner institutions Brown University, Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island as undergraduates are among the outstanding young scientists awarded a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The NSF awarded the GRF to 2,000 individuals from a pool of 16,500 applicants in 2015. The recipients represent a diverse group of scientific disciplines and come from all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories. Since 1952, NSF has provided fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering.

GRF awardee Shelby Rinehart, who earned her undergraduate degree at URI, got an early start on her research work when she studied harmful algal blooms in Narragansett Bay with RI NSF EPSCoR Principal Investigator Carol Thornber.

Here is the list of awardees with undergraduate degrees from Rhode Island institutions:

Brown University

• Jay Dow Young: Engineering — Mechanical
• Justin Wolfe: Chemistry — Chemistry of Life Processes
• Alejo Maximilliano Stark: Physics and Astronomy — Astronomyand Astrophysics
• Manvir Singh: Social Sciences — Biological Anthropology
• Guillaume Riesen: Psychology — Cognitive Neuroscience
• Abigail Plummer: Physics and Astronomy — Condensed MatterPhysics
• Hieu Thuong Nguyen: Engineering —Bioengineering
• Eli Moss: Life Sciences — Genetics
• Brent Donald Lunghino: Geosciences — Marine Geology andGeophysics
• Nadia Leonard: Chemistry — Chemical Catalysis
• Allison E. Lawmen: Geosciences – Paleoclimate
• Laura Kulowski: Physics and Astronomy — Astronomy andAstrophysics
• Dustin Hayden: Life Sciences — Neurosciences
• Mara Freilich: Geosciences — Biological Oceanography
• Gabriel Filsinger: Life Sciences — Systems and MolecularBiology
• Daniel DeCiccio: Chemistry — Chemical Structure, Dynamics,and Mechanism
• Nathaniel David Chu: Life Sciences — Microbial Biology
• Eleanor Batty: Life Sciences — Neurosciences
• Zachary Schott Ballard: Engineering — Electrical andElectronic
• Brandon Almy: Psychology — Developmental
• Seira Ashley Adams: Life Sciences — Evolutionary Biology

Rhode Island College

• Valerie Zabala: Life Sciences — Cell Biology

University of Rhode Island

• Shelby Rinehart: Life Sciences — Ecology
• Syrena Chantell Fernandes Chemistry — Chemical Measurementand Imaging
• Samantha Ann Alger: Life Sciences — Ecology