April 23, 2018

Three Goucher Grads Win National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

Courtesy of National Science Foundation

Three Goucher graduates have been awarded 2018 Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation! A warm Goucher Congratulations to:

Ciara Alethea McAfee ’14—Clinical Psychology, University of Texas at Austin

Katrina Ramirez-Meyers ’11—Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Carolina Mejia Pena ’16—Biomedical Engineering, Brown University

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship program awards funds to deserving young scientists and engineers from a variety of schools and backgrounds, supporting research training in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 2,000 recipients were selected from a pool of over 12,000 applicants after a nation-wide search.

According to the National Science Foundation website:

GRFP is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop a globally engaged workforce necessary to ensure the nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation. Former NSF fellows make transformative breakthroughs in STEM, are leaders in their chosen careers, and have been honored as Nobel laureates. A hallmark of GRFP is its contribution to increasing the diversity of the STEM workforce, including geographic distribution, as well as the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans."

GRFP provides three years of financial support within a five-year fellowship period -- $34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the graduate institution. That support is for graduate study that leads to a research-based master's or doctoral degree in a STEM field.