2021-2022+Awardees

Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship Program provides awards of up to $8,500 to rising juniors and seniors who are enrolled full-time in a program of study in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and have a specific faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or aerospace relevance. Applied Health Sciences majors are not eligible for this program.

Graduate and undergraduate papers will be posted soon.

Yogesh Aradhey

Yogesh Aradhey is a Masters candidate at Virginia Tech. His research topic is Investigation of NASA Combustion Scheme Under Thermoacoustic Instability. Their research paper can be found here.

Benjamin Belfore

Benjamin Belfore is Ph. D. candidate at Old Dominion University. His research topic is Modeling Dynamic Recrystallization of Phase Change Materials for Applications in Adaptive Optics. Their research paper can be found here.

Sara Benham

Sara Benham is a Ph. D. candidate at Old Dominion University. Her research topic is Mapping the spread of the pathogen Rickettsia parkeri through landscape genetic analysis of the primary vector, the Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum). Their research paper can be found here.

Doyee Byun

Doyee Byun is a Ph. D. candidate at Virginia Tech. His research topic is Quasar Outflow Analysis: Extreme Ultraviolet Observations and Beyond. Their research paper can be found here.

Kristen Carey

Kristen Carey is a Masters candidate at Old Dominion University. Her research topic is Implementation of Free to Oscillate Dynamic Stability Test Method Using MSBS. Their research paper can be found here.

Nathan Cooper

Nathan Cooper is a Ph. D. candidate at William & Mary. His research topic is Athena: Towards Improving Semantic Code Search with Causal Reasoning and Knowledge Graphs. Their research paper can be found here.

Joseph Cuozzo

Joseph Cuozzo is a Ph. D. candidate at William & Mary. His research topic is Novel Josephson junctions for cryogenic memory and fault-tolerant quantum computation. Their research paper can be found here.

Julie Duetsch-Patel 

Julie Duetsch-Patel is a Ph. D. student at Virginia Tech. Her research topic is Smooth Wall Separation Over Bumps: Benchmark Experiments for CFD Validation. Their research paper can be found here.

Joshua Fitzgerald

Joshua Fitzgerald is a Ph. D. student at Virginia Tech. His research topic is Optimizing Spacecraft Trajectory Design in Perturbed Restricted Three-Body Models. Their research paper can be found here.

Emma Marie Hepworth

Emma Marie Hepworth is a Masters candidate at William & Mary. Her research topic is Elucidating the Molecular Mechanism of MK-STYX in Stress Response Pathways. Their research paper can be found here.

Kelsey Huelsman

Kelsey Huelsman is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Assessing the ability to detect invasive plant species using drone-based leaf-scale visible and near-infrared imaging spectroscopy. Their research paper can be found here.

Von Clyde Jamora

Von Clyde Jamora is a Masters candidate at Old Dominion University. His research topic is Understanding the Defect Formation of Thin Ply Composites during Automated Fiber Placement. Their research paper can be found here.

Lee Kendall

Lee Kendall is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Integrated Nanotube/Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Nanosheets for Water Splitting Applications: Enabling Long-term Human Activity on Mars. An abstract to the paper can be found here.

Ken Koltermann

Ken Kolterman is a Ph. D. student at William & Mary. His research topic is OneZZZ: Non-Intrusive Vital Sign Monitoring Using Wearable Technology. Their research paper can be found here.

Alicia Milam

Alicia Milam is a Ph. D. candidate at Old Dominion University. Her research topic is The influence of negative affect regulation on neurophysiological markers of cognitive control and distress tolerance. Their research paper can be found here.

Hannah Mast

Hannah Mast is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. Her research topic is Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence: a novel approach to quantify photosynthesis in wetland ecosystems. Their research paper can be found here.

Deborah McGlynn

Deborah McGlynn is a Ph. D. candidate at Virginia Tech. Her research topic is Understanding reactions of ozone with biogenic volatile organic compounds in a forest canopy. Their research paper can be found here.

Jennifer Meija

Jennifer Mejia is a Ph. D. candidate at Old Dominion University. Her research topic is Investigating the Atomic Interactions of Flexible Organic Solar Cells. Their research paper can be found here.

Madeline Miles

Madeline Miles is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. Her research topic is Estimating NOx Emissions and NO2 Lifetimes in West African Cities Using Satellite Observations.

M. Cecilia Mulvaney

Mary Mulvaney is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. Her research topic is Evaluating Formability of Aluminum Matrix Nanocomposite Materials for Flow Formed Aircraft Fuselages. Their research paper can be found here.

Carly Norris

Carly Norris is a Ph D. candidate at Virginia Tech. Her research topic is Investigating space brain: how do brain cells respond to the effects of increased intracranial pressure? Their research paper can be found here.

Sarah Power

Sarah Power is a Ph. D. candidate at Virginia Tech. Her research topic is Cryptic microbes in Antarctica: Determining the limits of biotic detection via satellite imagery. Their research paper can be found here.

Elizabeth Prior

Elizabeth Prior is a Ph. D. candidate at Virginia Tech. Her research topic is Investigating Flood-Vegetation Interactions Through Remote Sensing and Modeling. Their research paper can be found here.

Hannah Richstein

Hannah Richstein is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. Her research topic is Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxies: Shedding Light on Dark Matter. Their research paper can be found here.

Anna Schmedding

Anna Schmedding is a Ph. D. student at William & Mary. Her research topic is Analysis and Simulation of COVID-19 Disease Spread in South Korea. Their research paper can be found here.

Mark Siebert

Mark Siebert is a Ph. D. student at the University of Virginia. His research topic is A Rigorous Molecular Survey of Stellar Graveyards. Their research paper can be found here.

Lauren Sommers

Lauren Sommers is a Ph. D. candidate at Old Dominion University. Her research topic is Quantifying Shoreline Change Using Satellite Imagery. Their research paper can be found here.

Zachary Steele

Zachary Steele is a Ph. D. candidate at Old Dominion University. His research topic is Utilizing Triple Oxygen Isotopes for Assessing Animal Metabolism and Water Intake. Their research paper can be found here.

Eric Stone

Eric Stone is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Effects of Phase Mixtures on Long Term Stability of Ytterbium Silicate Environmental Barrier Coatings.

Ryan Thompson

Ryan Thompson is a Ph. D. student at the University of Virginia. His research topic is the Development of 1D Ultrafast Spectroscopy Imaging to Study Hypersonic Flow Phenomena. Their research paper can be found here.

Abygail Waggoner

Abygail Waggoner is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. Her research topic is Time Variable Chemistry in Protoplanetary Disks. Their research paper can be found here.

Jarod Worden

Jarod Worden is a Ph. D. candidate at Virginia Tech. His research topic is DFT Simulations of SEB Resistant Metal/Semiconductor Interfaces in SiC Epi Diodes and MOSFETs. Their research paper can be found here.

Ryan Zelinsky

Ryan Zelinsky is a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Investigation of Metal Ion Mobility Under Exposure to Deactivating Agents. Their research paper can be found here.

Sofia Brown

Sofia Brown is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary. Her research topic is Optical Fiber-Linked Atomic Magnetometer Employing Artificial Intelligence for Magnetic Field Imaging. Their research paper can be found here.

Jacob Bushley

Jacob Bushey is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Effects of Ozone on Stomatal Conductance and Photosynthesis. Their research paper can be found here.

Joshua Faggert

Joshua Faggert is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Icy Dust Grain Collisions. Their research paper can be found here.

Genevieve Gemond

Genevieve Gemond is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech. Her research topic is Use of a Modified Skycrane to Explore the Tessera Region of Venus. Their research paper can be found here.

Joseph Hayes

Joseph Hays is a Bachelor’s candidate at Hampton University. His research topic is Cyber Security Research on Satellites: How People can Steal Signal and Spy on Information. Their research paper can be found here.

Tadeusz Kosmal

Tadeusz Kosmal is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech. His research topic is Novel Multi-Axis Hybrid (AM/SM) Robotic Manufacturing. Their research paper can be found here.

Justin Laiti

Justin Laiti is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech. His research topic is The Ability of a Low-Cost, Wearable Device to Recognize Enhanced Functional States. Their research paper can be found here.

Catherine McKinney

Katherine McKinney is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary. Her research topic is Functional Adaptations of the Neuromuscular System in Response to Unloading. Their research paper can be found here.

Evelyn Molin

Evelyn Molin is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary. Her research topic is Multifunctional BNNT Nanocomposites. Her research paper can be found here.

Conner Pulling

Conner Pulling is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech. His research topic is Autonomous Robotic Detection of Damage States in Trusses for Lunar and Martian Infrastructure.

Mohit Srivastav

Mohit Srivastav is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Improving Conversion Electron Identification Efficiency using ML at Mu2e. Their research paper can be found here.

Alexander Toyryla

Alexander Toyryla is Bachelors candidate at William & Mary. His research topic is Development of a Vector Magnetometer Based on Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Rb Atomic Vapor for Space Exploration. Their research paper can be found here.

Bredan Whalen

Brendan Whalen is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia. His research topic is Using Bayesian Inference to Improve the Analytical Eagar-Tsai Model with Implications in Additive Manufacturing of Metals. Their research paper can be found here.

Anastasia Duenas

Anastasia Duenas is an Associates candidate at Northern Virginia Community College majoring in Biochemistry.

Said Kaili

Said Kaili is an Associates candidate at the Northern Virginia Community College majoring in Computer Science.

Mustapha Khan

Mustapha Khan is an Associates candidate at Northern Virginia Community College majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Hannah Lam

Hannah Lam is an Associates candidate at Blue Ridge Community College majoring in Computer Science.

Nathan Stettler

Nathan Stettler is an Associates candidate at John Tyler Community College Majoring in Engineering.

Jacqueline Chao

Jacqueline Chao is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia majoring in Computer Science.

Gabriel Chester

Gabriel Chester is Bachelor’s candidate at Old Dominion University majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

Isabella Dressel

Isabella Dressel is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia majoring Atmospheric Sciences.

David Escobar-Lujan

David Escobar-Lujan is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech majoring in Civil Engineering.

Adam Essafi

Adam Essafi is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia majoring Bioology.

Ruben Galicia-Avila

Ruben Galicia-Avila is a Bachelor’s candidate at Old Dominion University majoring in Physics.

Ubaid Kazianga

Ubaid Kazianga is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary majoring in Physics.

Paige Laning

Paige Laning is a Bachelor’s candidate at Old Dominion University majoring in Civil Engineering.

Giuliana Lopez

Giuliana Lopez is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary majoring in Biology.

Kenya Lopez

Kenya Lopez is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary majoring in Biomedical Engineering.

Isabella Maggard

Isabella Maggard is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia majoring in Environmental Science.

Sasha Mintz

Sasha Mintz is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech majoring in Aerospace Engineering/Physics.

Amir Moore

Amir Moore is a Bachelors candidate at Hampton University majoring in Physics.

Jonathan Nash

Jonathan Nash is a Bachelor’s candidate at Hampton University majoring in Environmental Science.

William Noel

William Noel is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary majoring in Biology.

Kelechi Osuke

Kelechi Osuke is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech majoring in Aerospace Engineering.

Kayla Pineda

Kayla Pineda is a Bachelor’s candidate at Old Dominion University majoring in Computer Science.

Payton Reidy

Payton Reidy is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary majoring in Geology/Physics.

Derrick Richardson

Derrick Richardson is a Bachelor’s candidate at Hampton University majoring in Environmental Science.

T’Kiyah Reeves

T’Kiyah Reeves is a Bachelor’s candidate at Hampton University majoring in Marine and Environmental Science.

Morgan Riggins

Morgan Riggins is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech majoring in Civil Engineering.

Jason Sitt

Jason Sitt is a Bachelor’s candidate at the University of Virginia majoring in Biology.

Ru Williams

Ru Williams is a Bachelor’s candidate at William & Mary majoring in Geology.

Rio Young

Rio Young is a Bachelor’s candidate at Virginia Tech majoring in Computer Science.