Six BTP trainees awarded 2021 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Congratulations to six Biotechnology Training Program (BTP) trainees who have been awarded 2021 Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

  • Aldo Arellano from the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program under BTP mentor Kerry Coon.
  • Nina Bonde from the Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB) under BTP mentors James L. Keck and Michael M.Cox.
  • Amy Enright from Microbiology Doctoral Training Program under BTP mentor Jason Peters.
  • Uyen Thy Nguyen from the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program under BTP mentor Lindsay Kalan.
  • Ross Soens from the Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB) under BTP mentor Jason Cantor
  • Kelsey E. Tweed from Biomedical Engineering under BTP mentor Melissa Skala.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding, early-career graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Awardees are selected based on their potential for significant research achievements that can benefit society. Twenty-five UW–Madison students were awarded graduate research fellowship in 2021. Another 35 received honorable mentions from reviewers.

“The number of UW–Madison students who have received this fellowship is a testament to the strong research enterprise here, and the spirit of curiosity that motivates our students to succeed,” said Graduate School Dean William J. Karpus. “With the mentorship they will receive from world-class faculty, and with this support from the National Science Foundation, these students are well-positioned for impactful scholarship at this early stage of their careers.”

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).

To see a list of all UW–Madison students who received NSF fellowships, see here.