5 graduating seniors earn NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Five University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduating seniors have been offered 2023 Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation.

The program, the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. 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 U.S. institutions. The fellowship provides the student with a $37,000 stipend and $12,000 cost of education allowance for each of three years, as well as access to opportunities for professional development.

The university’s 2023 award recipients follow.

• Sarah Altman, of La Vista, is graduating as a Chancellor’s Scholar in biological systems engineering with minors in mathematics and biomedical engineering. She is an INBRE Scholar and researcher in the Biomedical Imaging and Biosignal Analysis Lab under Gregory Bashford. She is also a member of the University Honors Program and vice president of the university’s chapter of Tau Beta Pi. Altman plans to pursue a doctoral degree in medical engineering and medical physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and continue research improving image reconstruction and acquisition techniques in magnetic resonance modalities.

• Andrea Goertzen, of Fort Collins, Colorado, is graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and minors in Spanish and mathematics. She is an undergraduate researcher in the Systems and Synthetic Biology Lab under Rajib Saha, where she works on projects investigating metabolic adaptations of various diseases. Goertzen is a member of Engineering Ambassadors, where she gives presentations at local schools to pique students’ interest in engineering, and president of the UNL chapter of Engineers Without Borders. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

• Kasey Moomau, of Lincoln, is graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is an undergraduate researcher in the Smart Materials and Robotics Laboratory under Eric Markvicka. He also serves as president of the university’s chapter of Tau Beta Pi. Moomau plans to pursue a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering at Nebraska, where he will continue investigating soft materials and liquid-metal composites.

• Stephanie Perez, of South Sioux City, will earn a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering this spring. She is an undergraduate researcher in the Environmental Quality and Communities Research Lab led by Shannon Bartelt-Hunt. Perez is a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and Engineers Without Borders. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, where she will research air pollution in Africa.

• Cleve Young, of Decatur, will earn a bachelor’s degree in mathematics this spring. He has worked on the Algebra Project and other projects in mathematics education under the advisement of Yvonne Lai. He is a National Science Foundation Research Fellow and plans to pursue a doctoral degree in mathematics at Nebraska, where he has also received an Othmer Fellowship.

Archer Harrold, who graduated from Nebraska in May 2022, received an honorable mention.

“This impressive result stems from campus-wide collaboration between the Offices of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Graduate Studies, and Research and Economic Development and the colleges to support student success and increase the impact of research and creative activity,” said Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education. “We are grateful for all campus partners who provided mentoring and supportive feedback to our students throughout their application processes.”

At Nebraska, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships advises and nominates candidates for 30 supported scholarships and fellowships. To learn more, students and campus community members should contact Courtney Santos, director, at courtney.santos@unl.edu.