The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science is proud to recognize the six scholars who are National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awardees this year. This program honors outstanding graduate students in STEM disciplines, providing three years of financial support including an annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance.
In addition to these awardees, more than a dozen UVA Engineering students and alumni received honorable mentions in the competitive program.
The NSF awarded 1,500 GRFP fellowships this year, a decrease versus prior years.
"I am proud to recognize the UVA Engineering students who were awarded the GRFP fellowship this year, especially given that the process was even more competitive than usual," said UVA Engineering Dean Jennifer L. West.
Read on to learn more about the scholars who earned this year's fellowships as well as those who received honorable mentions.
Current Students
Jules Claire Bates
Biomedical Engineering
Jules Claire Bates is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering. Her research involves delivering insulin-producing beta cells to treat type 1 diabetes. After graduation, she plans to either continue in academia or pursue an industry position in biomedical engineering.
“I have really enjoyed the opportunities that UVA BME has provided to collaborate with other labs and clinicians,” Bates said. “I have an undergraduate foundation in chemical engineering, and I have been able to expand my problem-solving skills to use a more interdisciplinary approach when tackling research problems.”
Awards and Activities: Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Scholarship - April 2024 and April 2025 (while in graduate school)
Academic Adviser: Don Griffin
Michael Cardei
Computer Science
Maria Ana Cardei
Computer Science
Maria Cardei is a Ph.D. student in computer science. After graduation, Cardei plans to pursue a role in industry or applied academic research.
“My favorite part of my time at UVA has been getting to know the CS graduate student community and working closely with my lab group,” Cardei said. “Being part of such a supportive and collaborative environment has made my experience very rewarding, both personally and professionally. I'm grateful to be surrounded by peers who are not only super smart but also kind and open-minded.”
Awards and Activities: Provost Fellowship, NSF National Research Traineeship, Social Co-Chair of the Computer Science Graduate Student Group, volunteer at the Fluvanna SPCA
Faculty Adviser: Afsaneh Doryab
Savannah Horowitz
Ph.D. Student, Materials Science and Engineering
Savannah Horowitz is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where she studies the corrosion-fatigue behavior of aluminum alloys. Her academic background in materials science and metallurgy sparked a strong interest in corrosion research, which she now pursues at UVA through experimental and community-engaged work.
“Presenting my research at UVERS in my first year was a turning point,” Horowitz said, referring to UVA Engineering's annual graduate student research symposium. “It introduced me to UVA’s engineering community and gave me the confidence to see myself as part of it.”
Awards and Activities: Olsen Graduate Fellowship, NASF/AESF Graduate Scholarship, Cat Action Team
Faculty Adviser: Robert G. Kelly
Malcolm O’Malley
Ph.D. Student, Biomedical Engineering
Malcolm O’Malley is completing his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at UVA, where his research explores how the immune and cardiovascular systems interact. He plans to lead a pharmaceutical research lab focused on therapeutic strategies for heart disease, combining computational and experimental methods.
“One of the highlights of my time at UVA has been presenting my research at my first immunology conference at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York,” O’Malley said. “Being surrounded by researchers from around the world who are pushing the boundaries of science was incredibly inspiring. Attending CSHL made me realize how far I’ve come and how much more there is to discover.”
Awards and Activities: National Institutes of Health predoctoral T32 Institutional National Research Service Award, through the UVA Beirne B. Carter Immunology Training Grant, GEM Ph.D. Fellowship sponsored by NASA, NASA Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Research, BME Academic Commitment to Excellence (ACE) Fellowship
Faculty Adviser: Jeffrey Saucerman
Jacob Kennedy
Ph.D. Student, Chemical Engineering
Jacob Kennedy is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, where he designs nanoparticle surfaces for targeted cancer drug delivery. His work blends scientific innovation with personal purpose, as he draws inspiration from family experiences with cancer. Kennedy also organizes research and networking events to connect students and support their professional growth.
“My research is exciting science, but it’s also deeply personal,” Kennedy said. “I’ve lost family members to cancer, and this work feels like a way to honor them.”
Awards and Activities: Chemical Engineering Graduate Board
Faculty Adviser: David Green
Alumni Recipients
Zachery Boner
Computer Science, Class of 2025
Alexi Gladstone
Computer Science, Class of 2025
Madaline R. Marland
Chemical Engineering, Class of 2023
Connor Sandall
Biomedical Engineering, Class of 2025
Undergraduate student Connor Sandall graduated from UVA this spring with a degree in biomedical engineering and plans to begin a Ph.D. program in molecular engineering at the University of Chicago. His undergraduate experience included meaningful research opportunities, including presenting at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.
“In Los Angeles, it was very exciting to show off the results I had obtained from my project, and I also had a ton of fun meeting other people in the field and seeing all of the cool work that’s going on,” Sandall said.
Long term, he hopes to pursue a research career, potentially in academia.
Awards and Activities: Double Hoo Award, Paleontology Club at UVA (PacUVA)
Faculty Advisers and Mentors: Keith Kozminski, Lukas Tamm | Additional Mentors: Katie Kraichely
Incoming Students
Kay Russi
Incoming Ph.D. Student, Biomedical Engineering
Kay Russi will join UVA Engineering this fall as a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where she will conduct research in the lab of Nancy and Neal Wade Professor of Engineering & Applied Science Richard J. Price. Russi is a 2025 graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. in biomedical engineering.
“I'm looking forward to starting my graduate journey at UVA,” Russi said. “Meeting all of the amazing people in the Department of Biomedical Engineering during the recruitment weekend this past spring was definitely a highlight.”
After graduating from UVA, Russi plans to work in drug design and delivery at a biomedical company. “Long-term, I hope to bridge the gap between lab findings and translation into clinical applications,” she said.
Awards and Activities: Engineering Distinguished Fellowship, Presidential Fellowship
Faculty Advisers and Mentors: Richard Price
Kerrin O’Grady
Incoming Ph.D. Student, Biomedical Engineering
Kerrin O’Grady, a 2025 graduate of Syracuse University with a B.S. in biomedical engineering, will begin her Ph.D. studies at UVA this fall under the mentorship of assistant professor Christopher B. Highley in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Honorable Mentions
Muskan Aslam, biomedical engineering graduate student
Andrew Balch, computer science undergraduate student
Samuel Timothy Doak, chemical engineering graduate student
Olivia Ernst, biomedical engineering graduate student
Sarah Patricia Hall, undergraduate alumnus
Danielle Klunk, biomedical engineering graduate student
Lavie Ngo, biomedical engineering graduate student
Mary O’Sullivan, biomedical engineering graduate student
Deborah Wood, undergraduate alumnus
Jasmina Y. Zeineddine, biomedical engineering graduate student