Four Biotechnology Training Program (BTP) trainees have received Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
- Edna Chiang from the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program under advisor Garret Suen
- Benjamin Gastfriend from Chemical and Biological Engineering under advisors Eric Shusta and Sean Palecek
- Katherine Mueller from Cellular and Molecular Biology under advisor Krishanu Saha
- Delia Scoville from the Integrated Program in Biochemistry under advisor Srivatsan Raman
The NSF fellowship program selects high-potential scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers, providing awardees with support for graduate research training in STEM fields. Of over 12,000 applicants from institutions across the U.S., 2,000 received awards. Eighteen of the awardees are current UW–Madison graduate students, with the four BTP trainees making up more than 20% of those winners.
“The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is a prestigious, highly competitive award that supports talented students in the early phase of their graduate career to become leaders in research and innovation,” says Graduate School Dean William Karpus. “Being awarded this fellowship both recognizes students’ present achievements and enables them to be more competitive for future funding and career opportunities.”
In addition to BTP funding, trainees often receive other fellowship support during their graduate careers. Some of the fellowship funding sources include Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships (WDGF), these NSF fellowships, and the UW–Madison Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOF).