Six UA Students and Alumnus Earn NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Six individuals associated with the University of Alabama—five current students and one alumnus—have been selected for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP).

The NSF GRFP is designed to support outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM), including STEM education. As one of the most prestigious fellowship programs in the United States, it provides three years of financial support over a five-year period to students who have demonstrated the potential for significant achievements in research.

University of Alabama Awardees

The selected participants from the University of Alabama represent a variety of disciplines and academic honors:

• Ian Brunetz, a senior from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who is pursuing dual degrees in Biology and English. Brunetz is a member of the Honors College and the University Honors Program.
• Zach Feller, a graduate student from Lexington, Kentucky, majoring in Materials Science.
• Aidan Gesch, a senior from Flower Mound, Texas, majoring in Aerospace Engineering. Gesch is a Randall Research Scholar and a member of the Honors College.
• Emily Gokie, a senior from Seward, Nebraska, pursuing majors in Mechanical Engineering and Physics. Gokie is a member of the Honors College and the University Honors Program.
• Nicholas Kaple, a senior from Orland Park, Illinois, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Kaple is a Randall Research Scholar and a member of the Honors College.
• Benjamin Trost, an alumnus from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who studied Biology and New College and was a member of the Honors College.

Program Objectives and Impact

Established in 1952, the NSF GRFP is intended to recruit and support individuals who show potential to make significant contributions to STEM fields. The program’s broader goal is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the scientific and engineering workforce within the United States.

For more than 75 years, the fellowship has functioned as a critical component of the talent pipeline necessary to sustain U.S. Leadership in science. Since its inception, the program has supported more than 70,000 graduate research fellows.

The program’s history of supporting exceptional talent is reflected in its alumni; more than 40 former fellows have received Nobel Prizes. By providing financial stability to researchers, the NSF GRFP aims to generate scientific breakthroughs and innovations with significant economic impact.

At the University of Alabama, students seeking these and other national or international awards are assisted by the UA Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships.