News — Two University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduating seniors and a recent alumna have been offered 2025 Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation.
The program’s purpose is to help ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or in STEM education.
The Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship for the graduate education of students who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. For each year of support, NSF provides a $37,000 stipend and $16,000 cost of education allowance.
Nationally, 1,000 Graduate Research Fellowships were offered in 2025. The university’s award recipients are:
- Dakota Andrews, of Sutherlin, Oregon, who is set to graduate May 17 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and a minor in computer science. In his junior and senior years, he has participated in an undergraduate research project under the mentorship of Jack Jeffries, professor of mathematics, and David Lieberman, a recent graduate student. Andrews has been accepted to a doctoral program in mathematics at Nebraska, with plans to research commutative algebra.
- Emily Fitzpatrick, of McKinney, Texas, who is on track to graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with highest distinction and as a Chancellor's Scholar. Fitzpatrick conducted engineering education research under Jessica Deters, founded the Society for Women in Mechanical Engineering and served as a teaching assistant for several courses. Outside the classroom, she competed nationally for the university’s pickleball club team. This fall, she will begin her graduate studies as a Presidential Doctoral Research Fellow at Utah State University, where she will pursue both a Master of Science and doctoral degree in engineering education under the mentorship of Cassandra McCall. Her research will focus on leveraging the experiences of underrepresented students to inform and improve foundational engineering courses for all learners.
- Alumna Sukaina Al-Hamedi, of Lincoln, who earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry with high distinction in December 2023, was also offered the fellowship. Al-Hamedi's undergraduate research activities were profiled in . She is a doctoral student at Arizona State University.
Nine Huskers were also named honorable mentions in 2025, including two graduate students, Sarah Beres (biological sciences) and Peyton Kullmann (mechanical engineering); and seven alumni: Bakir Al-Ameri, Grace Amadon, Judith Brown, Mason Mandolfo, Evan Marsh, Ryan Martz and Ethan Ramsey.
At Nebraska, the advises and nominates undergraduate candidates for 30 supported scholarships and fellowships. To learn more, students and campus community members should contact Courtney Santos, director of undergraduate research and fellowships, at [email protected].
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