Chang, Matthews, Simmons, and Powell Named NSF Fellows

Two 2010 graduates and two alumni from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have been awarded National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowships.

Vicki Chang, a graduating senior who has been doing research with the Steve Martin Group will be attending Scripps next year. Devin Matthews, a graduating senior, who has been working with the John Stanton group, and who is a former Beckman Scholar, will remain at UT for grad school. He will continue his research in the Stanton group. Nick Simmons who graduated last year is now at Scripps. Simmons conducted research in the laboratories of Steven Martin, he is a former Beckman Scholar, and a former participant in the Freshman Research Initiative. Charles Powell, who graduated last year is now attending he University of Wisconsin. Powell is a former participant in the Freshman Research Initiative. His research advisor was Graeme Henkelman.

Two honorable mentions were awarded to biochemists:
Naeem Husain, who graduated last year, and performed research for Andrew Ellington. Husain is a former participant of the Freshman Research Initiative and is now at UC Berkeley. Eric Estrin, who also graduated last year, researched for Daniel Paull in ICMB and is now at UC Berkeley.

Dr. Ruth Shear has been tracking the NSF fellowships since 1997. “The last time our majors won this many fellowships was in 2004, when the department received five. Last year we didn't get any in chemistry, and the previous four years we got only one or two each year,” said Shear.

The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 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 in the U.S. and abroad. The NSF welcomes applications from all qualified students and strongly encourages under-represented populations, including women, under-represented racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities, to apply for this fellowship.

NSF has announced 2000 awardees and 2025 Honorable Mentions for the 2010 GRFP have been made. The list of Awardees and Honorable Mentions is available on NSF's Fastlane site.