Congratulations to the three graduate students in the Department of Chemistry who were awarded 2025 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, and to the four students who received honorable mentions. This year was a highly competitive year, and we are proud of this recognition of our students' research endeavors!
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend, an allowance for tuition and fees, and opportunities for international research and professional development.
NSF Fellows are anticipated to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.
Adelle Koenig is a first-year Ph.D. student in the group of Assistant Professor Matthew Golder working on sustainable polymer chemistry. She studies post-polymerization modification of commodity polymers and synthesizes dynamic vitrimer networks. Adelle grew up in Seattle and received a B.S. in chemistry with minors in music and interdisciplinary honors from Western Washington University. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing music, reading, and running on Seattle's trails.
Lucy Miller is a second-year graduate student in the research group of Assistant Professor Matthew Golder. Lucy is researching novel Ring Expansion Metathesis Polymerization methods to synthesize cyclic polymers for biomedical and energy applications. She grew up in Portland, Oregon and received a B.A. in chemistry from Bryn Mawr College in 2023. In her free time, Lucy enjoys hiking in the mountains, dancing, and crafting.
Nicholas Serck is a second-year graduate student in the research group of Professor Matthew Golder. Nick is currently investigating the mechanism of cyclic polymer formation through Ring Expansion Metathesis Polymerization to better understand how cyclic polymers can be used to solve current issues in material science. He grew up in Norwalk, Iowa and received his bachelor’s in chemistry from Iowa State University in 2023. Outside of lab, Nick enjoys playing board games with friends, traveling, and is a frequent patron of the local zoo.
The NSF assigns “honorable mentions” to highly rated proposals. This is considered a significant academic achievement.
Ezra Bacon-Gershman is a second-year graduate student working with Professor Brandi Cossairt. He explores the morphological control of magnetic chalcospinel nanocrystals through the synthetic techniques of diffusion doping and cation exchange to access magnetic properties. Ezra grew up nearby in Fall City, Washington and ventured down to SoCal for his B.S in chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in 2023 (WIBSTR!). When let loose in the world, Ezra spends time in creative arts communities with his friends and teaches STEM at the Monroe Correctional Center with the Prison Mathematics Project.
Kathryn Kothlow is a second-year graduate student working with Assistant Professor Nicholas Riley. She is currently researching method development and data analysis tools to study the structure of glycosylation on proteins using mass spectrometry. Katie is from Shoreview, Minnesota and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023. In her free time, she likes to paddleboard, ski, and rock climb.
Leah McDermott is first-year Ph.D. student pursuing bio-analytical research with a focus in proteomics. She uses chemical cross-linking of peptides to understand structural and proteome-wide changes in differing conditions. Leah grew up in Indianapolis and received a B.S. in biochemistry from Miami University in Ohio. Outside of the lab, she enjoys rock climbing, playing the violin, and curling up with her cat, Typhoon.
Lauren Peck is a second-year graduate student working with Associate Professor Alexandra Velian. She is currently researching the functionalization of black phosphorus nanosheets with metal complexes for their applications in electrocatalysis. Lauren is from Pembroke, Massachusetts and received her B.S. in chemistry from Providence College in 2023. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing board games with friends, starting new craft projects, and playing volleyball.
Ingrid Robertson is a first-year Ph.D. student in Professor Ashleigh Theberge’s research group, where she focuses on remote and point-of-care sampling technologies, including the lollipop-inspired CandyCollect and homeRNA devices. She is the first author on two publications and actively mentors undergraduate students, guiding them through the planning and coordination of human subjects research. Before joining the Ph.D. program, Ingrid was a student in the MSACST program.
Congratulations!
For more information, please see the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program website and the full listing of NSF GRFP Award Offers and Honorable Mentions.