ECE Graduate Student Micah Karahadian Admitted into National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate student Micah Karahadian has been admitted into the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program, or GRFP, the organization announced.
Karahadian is one of four students representing the College of Engineering in the 2023 class.
He is investigating atomic fusion in materials through an interdisciplinary research program that uses engineering, optics and fusion science. The hypothesis to his work explores how nuclear fusion rates for ions and molecules can depend on the material environment, and thus are capable of being modified with techniques like low-power optical stimulation.
"Receiving the Graduate Research Fellowship is a deeply humbling achievement that signifies a strong vote of confidence in my abilities as a researcher," Karahadian said. "This honor reflects the incredible generosity and selflessness of the scientific community, and I am grateful to be part of such a supportive network."
From that network, Karahadian is particularly thankful for the invaluable support he received from Professor Jeremy Munday of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Professor Marina Leite of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, his two advisors.
The GRFP is the oldest fellowship program that directly supports STEM graduate students in the United States, recognizing exceptional students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees. It provides a stipend of $37,000 annually for a three-year period as well as a $12,000 cost of education allowance to help pay for tuition and fees at the student’s institution.
"It’s wonderful that four of our graduate students will receive prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships this year, and I congratulate all of them," Dean Richard Corsi said. "Their achievement speaks to the diverse talent of our college’s extraordinary graduate student community."