DA
Diana Acevedo
  • Microbial And Cellular Biology
  • Emporia, KS

Diana Acevedo Among National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Recipients, Honorees

2012 Apr 13

Twenty-six students and alumni from the University of Kansas have won National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships or received honorable mentions for 2012-13, including Diana Acevedo, Emporia, Kan., who received an honorable mention. Acevedo is a graduate student in ecology & evolutionary biology.

The recipients include students who earned bachelor's degrees at KU and will be pursuing graduate degrees at other universities and students pursuing graduate degrees at KU.

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 research expenses.

The fellowships support students in the early stages of their research-based master's or doctoral degrees.

Thomas Heilke, Dean of Graduate Studies, said, "The Office of Graduate Studies is working with faculty and students to encourage students to apply for prestigious national fellowships. The success of these students demonstrates the high quality of student research at KU."

Jennifer Gleason, faculty member in ecology and evolutionary biology, emphasized that the award is a great honor that "frees the student to concentrate on his or her research and participate in outreach to the public." Gleason, as an NSF-designated resource person, provided assistance to several of the students during their application process.

NSF fellowships are intended for individuals in the early stages of graduate study. Fellows must be working on research-based master's or doctoral degrees in the mathematical, physical, biological, behavioral or social sciences; engineering; the history of science; or the philosophy of science; or research-based doctoral degrees in science education.

For this highly competitive award, applicants must submit research proposals, which are reviewed by expert scientists in their field. NSF fellowship recipients as well as honorable mentions represent the best among young scientists in the United States.