Three 2012 Grads Selected for Premier NSF Fellowship Program

Wooldridge
 

Williams
 

Rennerfeldt
 

Three graduate students with ties to the University of Kansas School of Engineering are among 13 KU students to win a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for 2013-14.

Deena Rennerfeldt, Matt Williams and Chloe Wooldridge received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, which is regarded as one of the premier awards in the sciences.  The fellowships provide a $30,000 stipend each year for three years of graduate study, plus an allowance of $10,500 to the institution for educational expenses.

Rennerfeldt, a 2012 chemical engineering graduate, is currently researching hydrogels for cartilage regeneration in the laboratory of Michael Detamore, KU professor of chemical and petroleum engineering.  This fall she will attend MIT to pursue a doctorate in biological engineering.

Williams, a 2012 graduate in aerospace engineering, is pursuing a graduate degree in mechanical engineering the University of Illinois.

Wooldridge, a 2012 graduate in civil engineering is pursuing her master’s degree in environmental engineering at the University of Texas-Austin.  

Each year, the fellowship program receives more than 13,000 applications and awards approximately 2,000 fellowships. An additional 1,800 students receive honorable mentions.

“All of the KU students who received the fellowship this year had a strong undergraduate research experience,” said John Augusto, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. “KU has a strong tradition of attracting students who complete undergraduate research, in large part because many faculty mentors are active in getting students involved with research, and there are a number of campus programs that support and guide students through a research experience.”