Christopher William “Kitt” Peterson, MVPS Class of 2011, received his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech and is currently studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois (MS/Phd). It was recently announced that he was awarded a 2016 Graduate Research National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship. Press release below.
Out of 17,000 applicants nationally, only 2,000 were selected for fellowship.
KittΒ says, “The fellowship is great to receive because it will allow me to focus on research and my classes without having to worry about or be distracted by the financial aspects of graduate school.”
#IMSTILLAMUSTANG: Congratulations, Kitt! We are proud to call you a Mustang!
Press Release 16-033Β
NSF awards 2016 Graduate Research Fellowships
NSF awards 2016 Graduate Research Fellowships
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has named 2,000 individuals as this year’s recipients of awards from the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
March 29, 2016
“The Graduate Research Fellowship Program is a vital part of our efforts to foster and promote excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics by recognizing talent broadly from across the Nation,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, NSF assistant director for Education and Human Resources. “These awards are provided to individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements, and they are investments that will help propel this country’s future innovations and economic growth.”
Awardees — chosen from close to 17,000 applicants — represent a diverse group of scientific disciplines and from all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories. The group is diverse, including 1,077 women, 424 individuals from underrepresented minority groups, 62 persons with disabilities, 35 veterans and 627 senior undergraduates.
The new Fellows come from 488 baccalaureate institutions — 104 more institutions than in 2010, when GRFP began awarding 2,000 fellowships each year.
Former NSF Fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering, have 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.
NSF has posted aΒ complete list of those offered this fellowship for 2016, and general information on GRFP is available atΒ the program’s website.
About GRFP
Since 1952, NSF has provided fellowships to individuals selected early in their careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. GRFP is critical to NSF’s overall strategy of developing 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. GRFP offers fellowship awards directly to applicants selected through a national competition.
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). That support is for graduate study that leads to a research-based master’s or doctoral degree in science or engineering.
Β 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 (NSF 13-099).
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