image: Graduate Research Fellow Edith Nagy is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Florida Atlantic University. Her research focuses on developing new methods for the synthesis of compounds by utilizing a new ammonium-alkyne interaction pioneered in her research group. This approach leads to a variety of new building blocks (heterocycles and non-natural amino acids) that have potential applications in drug discovery. While today she could not imagine doing anything other than research in organic chemistry, growing up, she never thought she would be a scientist. Early on, she developed a passion for languages that helped her tremendously in moving from Romania to the U.S, and also in becoming a first generation college graduate in her family. She took her first classes in community college, which offered a good transition opportunity and also a chance to tutor in chemistry. Helping others understand the subject helped her develop strong fundamentals in chemistry. After taking her first organic chemistry course while pursuing her Bachelor's degree at Florida Atlantic University, she realized that science would be her future. Understanding how molecules react and bonds form fascinated her and led her to engage in undergraduate research. The undergraduate experience in the lab of Prof. Salvatore Lepore consolidated her desire to pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. Now, as a third year doctoral candidate, she looks forward to becoming a medicinal chemist and applying her talent and training towards developing cures for diseases. view more
Credit: Florida Atlantic University
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced this year's recipients of Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF). NSF awarded the GRF to 2,000 individuals from among 16,500 applicants in 2015.
Awardees represent a diverse group of scientific disciplines and come from all states, as well as the District of Columbia, and commonwealths and territories of the United States. They are also a diverse group of individuals. Among the 2,000 awardees, 1,053 are women, 494 are from underrepresented minority groups, 43 are persons with disabilities, and 31 are veterans.
The 2015 class of Graduate Fellows comes from 456 baccalaureate institutions, 72 more than in 2010, when GRFP began awarding 2,000 fellowships each year.
Since 1952, NSF has provided fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop the globally-engaged workforce necessary to ensure the nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation.
A high priority for NSF and GRFP is increasing the diversity of the science and engineering workforce, including geographic distribution and the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans. With its emphasis on support of individuals, GRFP offers fellowship awards directly to graduate students selected through a national competition. The 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) for graduate study that leads to a research-based master's or doctoral degree in science or engineering.
Fellows may also be eligible for access to cyberinfrastructure resources through the NSF supported Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) and for Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED).
In addition, Fellows have opportunities for international research collaborations through the Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) initiative and professional career development with federal internships provided through the Graduate Research Internship Program (GRIP). GRFP also supports NSF's Career-Life Balance (CLB) Initiative. CLB supplemental funding may be awarded to sustain the research of active NSF Graduate Research Fellows who have been granted an NSF-approved medical deferral for dependent-care (family leave) situations.
Former NSF Fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering, become leaders in their chosen careers, and been honored as Nobel laureates. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents and are selected through the NSF peer review process.
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A complete list of those offered this fellowship for 2015 is available on the NSF website. For general information about the program, go to nsfgrfp.org.