114 graduate students recognized with University fellowships

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Graduate School at Penn State recognized 114 students as recipients of the 2023-24 University Graduate Fellowships and Distinguished Graduate Fellowships. The students were honored Sept. 28 at the annual University Graduate Fellows and Distinguished Graduate Fellows Reception held at the Bryce Jordan Center.  

These awards, sponsored wholly or in part by the Graduate School, are among the most competitive and prestigious University-wide fellowships at Penn State and are intended to support recruitment of the very highest caliber prospective students to Penn State’s doctoral research programs. The prospects are individuals whose goals are to engage in original research and contribute new knowledge to their perspective fields for the ultimate benefit of society.  

"The Graduate School’s mission is to promote the highest quality graduate education to prepare leaders who advance knowledge and understanding, drive innovation, and contribute to the resolution of complex national and global problems to meet societal needs,” said Levon Esters, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost of graduate education. “Each of these students is on a trajectory to fulfill that mission, and I know that they will represent what Penn State is all about.” 

University Graduate Fellowships are selected by the academic colleges, while Distinguished Graduate Fellowships are selected by academic colleges in partnership with the dean of the Graduate School.  

Distinguished Graduate Fellowships are derived from college endowments. Students with questions pertaining to their specific fellowship should contact their program or college. 

The fellowship recipients are below: 

University Graduate Fellows 

• Aavash Ghimire, doctoral student in civil engineering 

• Abby Ryder-Huth, doctoral student in comparative literature 

• Abolfazl Nasehi Seyr, doctoral student in architectural engineering 

• Alan Dang, doctoral student in chemical engineering 

• Anju Poudel, doctoral student in entomology 

• Anne Jahn, doctoral student in industrial engineering 

• Anuleka Dutta, doctoral student in plant biology 

• Anya Martin, doctoral student in informatics 

• Calixte Kpenou, doctoral student in French and francophone studies 

• Candace Todd, doctoral student in statistics 

• Cody Hawthorne, doctoral student in chemical engineering 

• Cole Stern, doctoral student in geosciences 

• Corena Smith, doctoral student in philosophy 

• Daniel Khalil, doctoral student in biomedical engineering 

• Danrong Li, doctoral student in computer science and engineering 

• David Everly, doctoral student in nursing 

• Gracie Buondonno, doctoral student in acoustics 

• Gwyneth Evans, doctoral student in criminology 

• Hui Min Lee, doctoral student in mass communications 

• Hyunjin Lee, doctoral student in biomedical engineering 

• Ioannis Mouratidis, doctoral student in bioinformatics and genetics 

• Isaac Akintoye, doctoral student in criminology 

• Jacob Gronemeyer, doctoral student in neuroscience 

• Jared Griffin, doctoral student in entomology 

• Jessica Engers, doctoral student in biomedical sciences 

• Jiyuan Sui, doctoral student in architectural engineering 

• Jonah Gray, doctoral student in ecology 

• Julia Cusatis, doctoral student in computer science and engineering 

• Justin Hendricks, doctoral student in sociology 

• Kallie Zanders (Asher), doctoral student in chemistry 

• Katherine Kimbark, doctoral student in biomedical sciences 

• Kelsey Steffen, doctoral student in communication sciences and disorders 

• Kelsey Mercurio, doctoral student in ecology 

• Kirsten Nafziger, doctoral student in anthropology 

• Logan Daly, doctoral student in American studies 

• Mahdi Mirabrishami, doctoral student in civil engineering 

• Mary McCafferty, doctoral student in ecology 

• Matthew Berzonsky, doctoral student in environmental engineering 

• Matthew Hollingham, doctoral student in architectural engineering 

• Mercy Chepkwony, doctoral student in recreation, park and tourism management 

• Mingzuyu Pan, doctoral student in bioinformatics and genetics 

• Mohammad Hossein Kazemi, doctoral student in architectural engineering 

• Mya Knappenberger, doctoral student in nutritional sciences 

• Nastaran Mirzayi, doctoral student in business administration 

• Natale Hall, doctoral student in biomedical sciences 

• Noah Dasinger, doctoral student in art history 

• Olivia Leach, doctoral student in kinesiology 

• Olivia Goldstein, doctoral student in psychology 

• Renata Scott, doctoral student in workforce education and development 

• Robert Bush, doctoral student in molecular, cellular, and integrative biosciences 

• Rylee Marks, doctoral student in chemical engineering 

• Samah Balouza, doctoral student in nuclear engineering 

• Scarlett Iglesias Hoyos, doctoral student in counselor education 

• Serena Chen, doctoral student in psychology 

• Shelley Zhou, doctoral student in history 

• Sophia Mucciolo, doctoral student in ecology 

• Sophie Lelei, doctoral student in geography 

• Stephanie Gonzalez, doctoral student in ecology 

• Steven Velasquez Chanci, doctoral student in energy and mineral engineering 

• Suman Paneru, doctoral student in architectural engineering 

• Sunderland Baker, doctoral student in biobehavioral health 

• Tyler Burns, doctoral student in electrical engineering 

• Tyrique MackGeorges, doctoral student in philosophy 

• Valerie Smykalov, doctoral student in environmental engineering 

• Vasudev Tangry, doctoral student in chemical engineering 

• Viviana Caceres, doctoral student in physics 

• Xiaoxin Lu, doctoral student in computer science and engineering 

• Xiayu Zhao, doctoral student in architectural engineering 

• Xin Yu, doctoral student in statistics 

• Xingxing Xie, doctoral student in learning, design, and technology 

• Xueyang Wang, doctoral student in civil engineering 

• Yu-Chen Chuang, doctoral student in geography 

• Yuhan Gao, doctoral student in energy, environmental, and food economics 

• Yuxiang Dong, doctoral student in architecture 

Distinguished Graduate Fellows  

• Adelaide Kerenick, Beatrice and Alan Schriesheim Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, doctoral student in chemistry 

• Alexander Williard, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Science; Beatrice and Alan Schriesheim Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, doctoral student in chemistry 

• Anna Blumberg, William Taylor Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, doctoral student in biochemistry and molecular biology  

• Ashley Smouse, Ted H. and Tracy Winfree McCourtney Family Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in American History, doctoral student in history 

• Cecilia Cavero Sanchez, Bruce R. Miller and Dean D. Lavigne Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the College of the Liberal Arts in the Field of Political Science, doctoral student in political science 

• Christian Robles, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in astronomy and astrophysics 

• Dylan Annandale, Ted H. and Tracy Winfree McCourtney Family Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in English, doctoral student in English 

• Elise Shealy, Pritchard Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the College of Medicine, doctoral student in neuroscience 

• Emilie Burnham, Stephen B. Brumbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowship II; Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in astronomy and astrophysics 

• Emily Le, Stephen B. Brumbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowship II; Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in biology 

• Emmalyn Sarver, Richard A. Gottscho Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the Eberly College of Science, doctoral student in chemistry 

• Han Tay, Bert Elsbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Physics, doctoral student in physics 

• Hannah Grzybowski, Paul Berg and Daniel J. Larson Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the Eberly College of Science; Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in astronomy and astrophysics 

• Heather Allen, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in physics 

• Jeongmin Park, Joseph and Jean Britton Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the College of Health and Human Development, doctoral student in human development and family studies 

• Jordan Wenning, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology 

• Kaitlyn Szekerczes, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in astronomy and astrophysics  

• Kaiyue Zou, Paul M. Doty Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, doctoral student in biology 

• Kanahela Muhandiramge Manushi Siriwardana, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science; Paul M. Doty Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, doctoral student in statistics 

• Kathleen Meeks, Marjorie M. Knoll Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the College of Health and Human Development, doctoral student in human development and family studies 

• Kyle Linn, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in physics 

• Ledeebari Banuna, E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Geography, doctoral student in geography 

• Levi Zanders, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science , doctoral student in biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology 

• Meghan Donaldson, Paul and Harriet Campbell Distinguished Graduate Fellowship; William Taylor Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, doctoral student in biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology 

• Milan Berger-Guesneau, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in mathematics 

• Minjun Kim, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science; Stephen B. Brumbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Statistics, doctoral student in statistics  

• Neetu Khanal, Roger and Barbara Claypoole Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the College of Agricultural Sciences, doctoral student in entomology 

• Nicholas Payne, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in mathematics 

• Niral Shah, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science , doctoral student in biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology 

• Noah Feldman, Stephen B. Brumbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Statistics, doctoral student in statistics 

• Patrick McFarland, Dr. Dennis W. and Dr. Joan S. Thomson Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Meteorology, doctoral student in meteorology 

• Philip Bonanno, McCourtney Family Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in English, doctoral student in English 

• Sanchita Saha, Eva J. Pell Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, doctoral student in plant biology 

• Seth Wade, Lewis A. and Opal D. Gugliemelli Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the Eberly College of Science; Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in chemistry 

• Shane Connolly, Stephen B. Brumbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowship; William Taylor Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, doctoral student in biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology 

• Sohee Park, Richard F. and Barbara Knoebel Yoder Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in the College of the Liberal Arts in the Field of Psychology, doctoral student in psychology 

• Yongyi Wang, Bert Elsbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Physics; Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in physics 

• You-Chiuan Chen, Bert Elsbach Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Physics, doctoral student in physics 

• Yuchen Jiang, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in mathematics 

• Yunyan Mo, Verne M. Willaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Science, doctoral student in biology