23 student researchers receive 2026 NSF fellowships
The National Science Foundation awarded work in STEM-related fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering and marine ecology.
Twenty-three UNC-Chapel Hill students received prestigious awards from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program for their research in STEM-related fields.
The honorees include 10 doctoral students, two master’s students and 11 undergraduate students from across the University in fields related to science, technology, engineering and math. Their research explores topics in artificial intelligence, chemistry, mathematics, marine science, science education and more.
Another 11 UNC-Chapel Hill students received honorable mentions from the fellowship program.
Beth Mayer-Davis, dean of The Graduate School, praised this year’s recipients for their academic excellence, creativity and promise as researchers.
“These students represent the excellence of graduate student research at UNC-Chapel Hill,” Mayer-Davis said. “Their research reflects both intellectual curiosity and a commitment to addressing important challenges through discovery and innovation.”
These highly competitive fellowships recognize and support outstanding students who plan to pursue research-based master’s or doctoral degrees. Fellows receive federal funding through a three-year stipend, educational support and opportunities for professional development and international research.
Here are the award winners, listed by school or department, with their fields of study.
UNC College of Arts and Sciences
- Dylan Agyemang, undergraduate, mathematical sciences — artificial intelligence
- Zane Abdeen Alsebai, undergraduate, chemistry — environmental chemical systems
- Onyekachukwu Chimmuanya Arah, doctoral student, sociology — social sciences
- Roshni Arun, undergraduate, life sciences — systems and molecular biology
- Abigail Simmons Fisk, doctoral student, chemistry — chemical synthesis
- Jenna Jarosinski, doctoral student, social sciences — biological anthropology
- Emma Johnson, undergraduate, geosciences — hydrology
- Jonah Barone Kotzen, doctoral student, life sciences — evolutionary biology
- Ruby L. Lapham, undergraduate, life sciences — developmental biology
- Victor Hieu Le Nguyen, undergraduate, geosciences — physical oceanography
- Ashley Paula-Ann Neall, undergraduate, engineering — electrical and electronic engineering
- Griffin Milo Paddock, doctoral student, mathematical sciences — applied mathematics
- Shreeya Patel, undergraduate, social sciences — geography
- Shreyas Ramamurthy, doctoral student, mathematical sciences — algebra, number theory and combinatorics
- Nithin Sivakumaran, undergraduate, computer and information science and engineering — artificial intelligence
- Timothy Smoot, master’s student, geosciences — marine ecology
- William Christopher Storch, undergraduate, physics and astronomy — astronomy and astrophysics
- Hanqi Xiao, undergraduate, computer and information science and engineering — artificial intelligence
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
- Mckenna E. Zelna, master’s student, engineering — energy and power engineering
UNC School of Education
- Isabella M. Ruel, doctoral student, STEM education and learning research — science education
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
- Maggie Magaw, doctoral student, engineering — biomedical engineering
- Audreanna Miserendino, doctoral student, engineering — biomedical engineering
UNC School of Medicine
- John Kenneth Goebel, doctoral student, engineering — biomedical engineering
