Category: News

Lior Rosenfeld, PhD in Rhetoric, Theory and Culture, 2026

I want to express my gratitude to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for the Finishing Fellowship award. I would also like to thank my advisor, Professor Scott Marratto, for his guidance and support.

I earned a Master of Arts in Philosophy from The New School in 2020. Since 2022, I have been conducting my research as a PhD student at the Department of Humanities at Michigan Technological University. My research demonstrates that the public sphere is fundamental to democracy. By engaging in public dialogue, speakers begin to recognize themselves and others as free and accountable to one another. This process creates a dynamic, pluralistic world that supports collaboration and stimulates thought-provoking ideas. Therefore, to commit to democracy, academic institutions must ensure that techno-scientific reasoning does not become a tool for displacing the public sphere.

In addition to my research, I have been teaching courses in rhetoric and composition, ethics, and philosophy. I also presented papers at various conferences, including the International DerridaToday Conference, the International Conference of the British Society for Phenomenology, the Annual Conference of the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, the Brown Bag series at Michigan Technological University, and the CCCC Annual Convention.

I appreciate the support this fellowship provides. My attendance at the AI governance conference at UNESCO in June 2025 inspired me to get involved with policymaking. Therefore, in the medium term, I aim to pursue a consultancy role with the U.N., UNESCO, think tanks, or non-profit organizations. In the long term, I look forward to pursuing an academic career. I am interested in holding a position at an academic institution where I can advocate for a free public sphere and create a non-violent society.

Nontawat Srisapan, PhD in Geophysics, 2026

I am deeply honored to receive the Fall Finishing Fellowship from the Graduate School. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for recognizing my research and contributions to Michigan Technological University. This fellowship provides vital support at a crucial juncture, allowing me to dedicate my full focus to wrapping up my final project, successfully defending my dissertation, and finalizing my PhD journey.

My doctoral research specializes in the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of concrete using seismic-based methods. Specifically, my work focuses on understanding how guided-waves behave as they propagate through defects and cracks embedded within concrete structures. Additionally, my work involved developing repeatable and controllable wave excitation sources to produce high-quality wave signals. Establishing this analytical framework is critical for modern structural health monitoring; by accurately detecting and locating internal voids early on, engineers can implement proactive remediation strategies to prevent catastrophic structural failures and ensure public safety.

Beyond my laboratory work, the broader Michigan Tech community has been instrumental in fostering both my academic and professional growth. The university’s collaborative environment has allowed me to build lasting connections with peers from diverse backgrounds and build meaningful relationships with faculty members both within and outside my department. Their unwavering guidance, kindness, and support have made my time in the PhD program an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience.

Lastly, I want to extend my appreciation to the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) for providing the exceptional laboratory spaces and facilities that made this work possible. I am also grateful to my PhD advisor, Dr. Radwin Askari, for his mentorship throughout my research endeavors, and for his vital recommendation for this fellowship.

Fathima Hameed Cherilakkudy, PhD in Chemistry, 2026

I joined the Computational and Theoretical Chemistry research group at Michigan Technological University in Spring 2022. Since then, my research has focused on understanding the catalytic mechanisms of biologically important metalloenzymes using computational chemistry and molecular modeling. Through molecular dynamics simulations and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations, I investigate how enzymes control chemical reactivity in processes related to epigenetic modification, DNA repair, and natural product biosynthesis. This work has allowed me to develop expertise in computational enzymology while strengthening my passion for research and scientific discovery.
During my Ph.D., I have worked on several projects involving Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate-dependent enzymes, including studies of the human epigenetic modifying enzyme ALKBH5, the natural product biosynthetic enzyme CTB9, and the DNA repair enzymes AlkB and ALKBH2. My dissertation research aims to uncover how enzyme structure, dynamics, and the surrounding protein environment influence catalytic selectivity and reaction mechanisms. By combining molecular dynamics simulations with QM/MM calculations, my work seeks to provide molecular-level insights into enzyme catalysis that may contribute to a broader understanding of biological function and the design of improved biocatalytic strategies.
I am sincerely grateful to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for selecting me for the Finishing Fellowship. I would also like to express my heartfelt appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Tatyana G. Karabencheva-Christova, for her continuous guidance, encouragement, and support throughout my Ph.D. journey. I am excited to complete my dissertation and continue pursuing my passion for computational chemistry, research, teaching, and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Adnan Hilal, PhD in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, 2026

Growing up, I was always interested in solving practical engineering problems that could improve people’s everyday lives. That interest led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University, where I study residential building electrification and energy efficiency in cold-climate communities. My research combines building energy modeling, machine learning, and local community data to identify practical and cost-effective pathways for transitioning homes from fossil-fuel heating to cold-climate heat pumps.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my research has been collaborating with community members, industry partners, and interdisciplinary researchers to develop solutions that can be applied in practice. Through my work, I hope to support more resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy systems while helping rural communities navigate the transition to low-carbon heating technologies.

I am sincerely grateful to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for this recognition. I also thank my advisor, Dr. Ana Dyreson, for her mentorship and support throughout my doctoral studies, as well as my colleagues, collaborators, and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering for providing an outstanding research environment.