Six Students Earn National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

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Allison McAtee and Thomas Rembert are current university undergraduates who received National Science Foundation Fellowships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Four University of Arkansas graduates and two undergraduates have won National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. The foundation recognizes promising young mathematicians, scientists and engineers who are committed to pursuing lifelong careers marked by significant contributions to research, teaching and industrial applications in science, mathematics and engineering. Two current University of Arkansas students and two alumni received honorable mentions.

Since 2000, more than 50 University of Arkansas students have claimed these fellowships. 

Among the 10 students recognized by the National Science Foundation, seven are from the College of Engineering, two from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and one from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Eight of the students are members of the Honors College. 

"It has been another great year for University of Arkansas students," said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. "Having six NSF Graduate Fellowships and four honorable mentions speaks well of the preparation these students are receiving on our campus. Across the colleges, these students have engaged actively in scientific research with energetic support from faculty. Our students and their mentors are as talented as any in the country as this recognition makes clear.”

The awards carry a stipend for each fellow of $30,000 each year and are renewable for three years. 

In addition to the funds for stipend payments, the National Science Foundation provides the fellowship institution a cost-of-education allowance of $10,500 per year on behalf of each fellow. Each fellow also receives a $1,000 one-time international travel allowance. Fellows and those who receive honorable mention are also given access to the supercomputer TeraGrid for their research.

“The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is a very prestigious award for students preparing for careers in math, science, social science or engineering,” said Ashok Saxena, dean of the College of Engineering. “Because so many of our faculty members serve on NSF selection panels, we are able to provide such strong support for students applying for these awards. The advice the faculty can give is invaluable, and this is just one piece. Undergraduate research is very much part of the University of Arkansas culture, paving the way for success for students who want to compete for awards like this one, that requires students to have previous research experience.”

This year’s recipients are:

Troy Long

Alexander Lopez

John Ridenour

Lisbeth Rostro

Troy Long of Fayetteville, who graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a minor in mathematics. He was an Honors College Fellow and a member of the Honors College. Long is pursuing his doctoral degree in industrial engineering and operations at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. 

Alexander Lopez of Claremore, Okla., is pursuing a doctoral degree in chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas, where he is a graduate student in Jamie Hestekin’s lab. He is a 2011 graduate of the university and was a Chancellor’s Scholar. 

Allison McAtee of Lonsdale will complete her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering this semester. She is a member of the Honors College and is completing undergraduate research with Jamie Hestekin. In 2011 she received honorable mention in the Barry Goldwater Scholarship competition. McAtee plans to pursue her doctoral degree in chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas. 

Thomas Rembert of Shreveport, La., is a senior electrical engineering and physics major and a member of the Honors College. Rembert is conducting research with Alan Mantooth in the College of Engineering and Greg Salamo from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. He plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a doctoral degree in electrical engineering and electronics. 

John Ridenour of Cameron, Okla., is pursuing his master’s degree in plant pathology with a specialization in genetics from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. His research mentor is Burton H. Bluhm. Ridenour receive a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences with a minor in plant pathology at the University of Arkansas in 2010. 

Lizbeth Rostro of Warren earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2011, and she worked with professor Roy Penney. She is currently a doctoral student at Purdue University.

Honorable mentions were received by Danielle Frechette in biomedical engineering, Morgan Race in civil engineering, Janelle Sherman in geology and hydrology, and Derrek Wilson in physics and astronomy. 

The graduate fellowship program is one of the National Science Foundation’s oldest and most highly competitive, with roots in the foundation’s original 1950 charter, offering support for graduate study in all scientific disciplines.