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NSF PR 95-49 - July 18, 1995
Media contact: |
Njuguna Kabugi |
(703) 306-1070 |
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Outstanding Science Students Awarded NSF Minority
Graduate Fellowships
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced
the award of 130 research fellowships to outstanding
minority students for graduate study in life sciences,
physical sciences, behavioral and social sciences,
mathematics, and engineering. Dr. Luther S. Williams,
NSF Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources,
commented: "The National Science Foundation plays
a crucial role in encouraging talented minority students
to pursue careers in science and engineering. For
the past 17 years this fellowship program has been
a major force in this effort." Examples of
the 1995 Minority Graduate Fellows are:
- Thomas Manuel Ortiz, from Richland, Washington,
will complete his bachelor's degree in mechanical
engineering at New Mexico State University this
spring and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in engineering
systems at Colorado School of Mines. Mr. Ortiz's
research interest focuses in the study of Martensitic
Phase transformations.
- Ms. Daphne Magboo Bofetiado is working toward
a Ph.D. in physiology at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ms. Bofetiado is interested
in studying apoptosis (naturally occuring cell
death), specifically the factors that are involved
with the DNA fragmentation of apoptotic cells.
She completed a B.S. in biology and a B.S. in
music at the University of Michigan.
- Mr. Jorge Alberto Calvo attends the University
of California at Santa Barbara where he is pursuing
a Ph.D. in mathematics. Mr. Calvo's area of research
is the study of combinatorial knot theory. He
completed a bachelor's degree in mathematics from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Ms. Rebecca Fe Shipe, from Murrysville, Pennsylvania,
will receive her B.S. in biology from Pennsylvania
State University. Ms. Shipe will seek a Ph.D.
in biological oceanography from the University
of Rhode Island. Her research interest centers
on the factors which limit the growth of marine
phytoplankton.
- Mr. Viram Kode Iyengar attends Cornell University
where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in neurobiology and
behavior. Mr. Iyengar is focusing his research
on chemical ecology. He received a B.A. in human
biology from Stanford University.
The fellowships provide a stipend of $14,400 per year
for full- time graduate study. An annual cost-of-education
allowance of $8,600 is also provided by the NSF in
lieu of all tuition and required fees at U.S. institutions.
In addition, both Fellows and Honorable Mention recipients
may request the use of any of four national supercomputer
centers supported by NSF for their graduate research
work.
NSF Minority Graduate Fellows may attend any appropriate
nonprofit U.S. or foreign institution of higher education.
Each fellowship is awarded for three years of graduate
study. The fellowships may be used over a five-year
period to permit students to incorporate teaching
or research assistantships into their education during
periods in which they are not receiving fellowship
stipends. Applications submitted by 1,173 minority
students were evaluated by panels of scientists and
engineers assembled by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities,
and the awards were made by NSF on the basis of merit.
In addition to the fellowships awarded, NSF accorded
Honorable Mention to 270 applicants in recognition
of their outstanding potential for scientific and
engineering careers. The Foundation also makes available
Mentoring Assistantships for up to three months for
Minority Fellows to help them develop mentoring relationships
at their new graduate institutions. The summer support
will be in addition to their regular fellowships and
will provide research participation and other opportunities.
The new Fellows represent 29 states plus the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Of the 130 awards,
70 were made to women. There were 37 awards in the
behavioral and social sciences, 48 in engineering,
21 in life sciences, and 24 in mathematics and physical
sciences, including computer science, chemistry, physics,
and earth sciences.
Note To Reporters: A List of NSF Graduate Fellowship
Awardees and Honorable Mention recipients is available
by calling the NSF Office of Legislative and Public
Affairs at (703) 306-1107.
Press releases and other information are now available
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