2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program announces awardees and honorable mentions

(Photo by Brian Powell)

07-14-2026

17 boilermakers from the College of Science are honored 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) which included 29 awardees and 13 honorable mentions from Purdue University.  Of the pool of innovators, the Purdue University College of Science students stood out with eight awardee offers and nine honorable mentions: 

Awardees: 

  • Giovanna L. Durante (BAC from Purdue)
  • Gabriel A. Leonard (BAC from Purdue)
  • Santiago Lopez (BAC from Purdue)
  • Christina M. Sowinski (BAC from and remaining at Purdue)
  • Amber K. Wang (BAC from and remaining at Purdue)
  • Kailey R. Jones (incoming Purdue student)
  • Yuwei Yang (incoming Purdue student)
  • Ho Martin Yuen (incoming Purdue student)

Honorable Mentions:  

  • Ella Rose D. Chianis (BAC from Purdue)
  • Lauren E. Johnson (BAC from Purdue)
  • Jeremiah C. Brincken (incoming Purdue student)
  • Maison C. Hardin (incoming Purdue student)
  • Ian P. Hoffman (incoming Purdue student)
  • Lauren E. Johnson (incoming Purdue student)
  • Juliana G. Kelley (incoming Purdue student)
  • Emma A. Kostecki (incoming Purdue student)
  • Teresa Lee (incoming Purdue student)

The purpose of the NSF GRFP is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The goal of the program is to broaden participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents in STEM. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000. 

To learn more about GRFP or to apply for future awards, current students at the undergraduate and graduate level can check the NSF GRFP home page. The College of Science is proud of our students who are driven to instigate the next giants leaps in STEM and look forward to following their research into their five-year fellowships term. 

 

About the College of Science

Purdue University’s College of Science is committed to the persistent pursuit of mathematical and scientific knowledge that forms the very foundation of innovation. More than 350 tenure-track faculty conduct world-changing research and deliver a transformative education to more than 6,800 undergraduates and 1,800 graduate students. See how we develop practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges with degree programs in the life sciences, physical sciences, computational sciences, and mathematics at www.purdue.edu/science.

 

 

Written by Cheryl Pierce, Purdue College of Science

Photo by Brian Powell