Graduate School Newsblog

Day: May 8, 2026

Three Huskies Honored with the NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

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Michigan Tech Graduate School excited to see three of our students’ hard work recognized on a national stage, being awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP).

The GRFP is one of the most competitive honors in the country, designed to support students who have the potential to become lifelong leaders in STEM. For our winners, this means more than just a prestigious title. It provides three years of funding to dive deep into the research the winners are passionate about.

Fall 2026 Fellowship Winners

Molly Vander Werp

Josh Dafoe

Lenka Doskocil

Behind every great researcher is a team of supportive mentors. We want to extend a huge “thank you” and congratulations to Dr. Kristin Brzeski, Dr. Sarah Hoy, Dr. Bo Chen, and Dr. Rodney Chimner. Applying for the GRFP is an incredibly intense process, often requiring months of drafting, revising, and late nights. The dedication these advisors show in helping their students navigate this path is what makes Michigan Tech such a special place to pursue a graduate degree. With their mentorship these students are able turn ambitious ideas into award-winning research.

Molly, Josh, and Lenka, Congratulations! This award is a direct result of your late nights, your persistence through difficult data, and your vision for the future of science. We can’t wait to see the impact your work will have in the coming years.

Interested in applying for the NSF GRFP next cycle? The Graduate School offers workshops and peer-review sessions every year to help you put your best foot forward. Keep an eye on our Funding Opportunities page for upcoming dates!

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Finishing Fellowship Award – Summer 2026 – Alyssa Horne

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Alyssa Horne, PhD in Physics, 2026

Sponsor: Tech Fund 1942 (Dawson)

My time at Michigan Tech was fueled by a passion for breaking down barriers, both in my community and in research. I was intrigued to join Women in Physics (WiP) because of its openness to everyone and its efforts to provide students with free access to the tools they need. The two most memorable experiences during my co-presidency were organizing the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (CU*iP) and the WiP Physics Fellowship. These events allowed us to create an environment that promotes camaraderie and support for everyone in the physics community.


As a physics researcher, I want to find new quantum materials that will help technology reach the atomic-scaling limit to minimize device size and power consumption. A specific example is low-dimensional half-metals, as they allow for perfect spin-dependent transport and provide access to the electron spin degree of freedom for spintronics applications. My dissertation is focused on using spin-polarized density functional theory to accurately model the electron-electron exchange interactions and predict novel low-dimensional quantum materials. This work led us to predict the first quasi-one-dimensional van der Waals half-metal, which is notable due to the van der Waals crystal’s weak interchain bonding that allows for clean exfoliation of the one-dimensional unit. This prediction provides an avenue to experimentally realize a half-metal nanowire.


I would like to thank Dr. Yongmei Jin and Dr. Ranjit Pati for their guidance and mentorship, and the physics department for its support. I would also like to thank the Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena for its financial support for the WiP Physics Fellowship. I would also like to thank everyone at Michigan Tech who helped make CU*iP a reality. Finally, I would like to thank the Graduate School and the Dean’s Advisory Panel for the Finishing Fellowship.

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Finishing Fellowship Award – Summer 2026 – Scott Cho

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Scott Cho, PhD in Electrical Engineering, 2026

I am immensely grateful to receive the Finishing Fellowship Award from the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel. I sincerely thank my advisor, Professor Jin Choi, for his continuous support and guidance throughout my academic journey at Michigan Technological University. I also extend my appreciation to the Electrical Engineering Department and faculty for their unwavering support.


Since joining Michigan Tech in Fall 2023, I have had the privilege of working under Professor Jin Choi, whose mentorship has profoundly shaped my approach to both research and teaching. During my time here, I have been honored to receive the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (Spring 2025) and the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship (Spring 2026), recognizing my contributions to teaching and research.


I have served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Digital Logic Design and Digital Signal Processing, and as the Instructor of Record for Circuits in Summer 2025. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to teaching and mentoring students. In addition, I have actively engaged in professional development through programs such as the Engineering Unleashed Faculty Development Workshop (Minnesota, USA), the Emerging Engineering Educators (EMEE) Workshop (Texas, USA, 2025), the iREDEFINE Workshop at the ECEDHA Annual Conference (Virginia, USA, 2025), the Engineering Unleashed UVT Workshop (Ohio, USA, 2025), and the NSF I-Corps Bootcamp (Michigan, USA, 2025), which have further strengthened my teaching philosophy and pedagogical practices.


My doctoral research focuses on advancing the use of antennas beyond traditional communication systems toward sensing applications. As I approach the completion of my PhD dissertation this summer, this fellowship provides critical support, allowing me to dedicate my full attention to finalizing my research and dissertation.
I am deeply thankful for this recognition by the Graduate School and for the support as I complete this important milestone in my academic journey.

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