ARCS Foundation Atlanta awarded a total of $117,500 to 15 Ph.D. students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology. Eight first-year ARCS Scholars will join seven returning scholars who were recognized as outstanding doctoral students.

Faculty may nominate candidates pursuing doctoral studies for the prestigious fellowship. The Graduate Education Fellowships Selection Committee, established by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, reviews the candidates for final selection.

This year, each Georgia Tech scholar will receive $7,500 and two will receive the Global Impact Award of $10,000. The Foundation grants the Global Impact Awards to students working on research problems having a broader global context or addressing global issues.

A scholars award ceremony will be held in November to honor the Atlanta chapter’s recipients.  

Congratulations to the following Georgia Tech 2024-25 ARCS Scholars: 

Returning Scholars

• Noam Altman-Kurosaki is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Altman-Kurosaki is a Ph.D. candidate in biology with a research interest in understanding the processes that drive coral reef decline and recovery.
   
• Anjana Dissanayaka is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Northside Hospital Award. Dissanayaka is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in leveraging and applying microfluidic techniques to develop low-cost diagnostic devices.
   
• Emily Hughes is a second-year ARCS Scholar who received the Lim Award. Hughes is a Ph.D. candidate in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in the geologic history of the planet Mars, specifically how spectroscopy, field analogue studies, and in situ Martian data can be coupled to reconstruct ancient environments.
   
• Tawfik Hussein is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Boice/Reid Award. Hussein is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in the mechanics of the heart, specifically, simulating computationally the mechanical changes in the heart of patients with heart failure to help predict early stages of heart failure.
   
• KC Jacobson is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Jacobson is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, chemical and biochemical engineering, with a research interest in the neural mechanisms of impaired sensory processing in a human-relevant mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.
   
• Cassandra Shriver is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Chambers/Jones Award. Shriver is a Ph.D. student in quantitative biosciences, biological sciences, with a research interest in comparative biomechanics, specifically mammalian climbing mechanics with an emphasis on conservation applications.
   
• Naoki Yokoyama is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Dodson Award. Yokoyama is a Ph.D. candidate in robotics, electrical and computer engineering, with a research interest in developing intelligent robots that can assist the elderly and disabled in home environments.  

New Scholars

• Alivia Eng is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the David, Helen and Marian Woodward Award. Eng is a Ph.D. student in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in planetary science, specifically the geologic history of Mars.
   
• Kierra Franklin is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Burke Award. Franklin is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in combining synthetic biology and epigenetics to study chromatin biology and disease pathology.
   
• Marrissa Izykowicz is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Roche Award. Izykowicz is a Ph.D. student in chemical biology with a research interest in designing and synthesizing nanohydrogels for targeted drug delivery in metastatic cancers.
   
• Zachary Mobille is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the HA (Gus) Peed Award. Mobille is a Ph.D. candidate in quantitative biosciences with a research interest in how anatomical structure and precisely-timed dynamics are interrelated in networks of biological neurons.
   
• Heriberto Nieves is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Wahlen Award. Nieves is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering, robotics, with a research interest in applying deep learning to automate the quality control and measurement processes for staging liver fibrosis with magnetic resonance elastography.
   
• John Pederson is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Joslin/Mary Jo Peed Award. Pederson is a Ph.D. student in chemistry with a research interest in multi-scale modeling of complex chemical systems to study reactions at solid/liquid interfaces.
   
• Theodore St. Francis is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the ARCS Atlanta Century Award. St. Francis is a Ph.D. student in aerospace engineering with a research interest in electrolysis for both oxygen generation for astronauts and hydrogen production on Earth.
   
• Gianna Slusher is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Swensson/ARCS Atlanta Award. Slusher is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, with a research interest in developing innovative nano-scale technologies to enhance the manufacturing and monitoring of cell-based therapeutics.

The ARCS fellowship is made possible each year by way of fundraising and the continued generous support of the ARCS-Atlanta Foundation.

The mission of the ARCS Foundation is to advance science and technology in the United States by providing financial rewards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering, and medical research.

Since its inception in 1992, the ARCS Foundation Atlanta has awarded more than $4.5 million to over 400 science scholars at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, and the University of Georgia. 

For more information about the 2024-25 ARCS Atlanta Scholars, please visit www.atlanta.arcsfoundation.org/scholars/current-scholars-4.

College of Sciences students — from first-year students to Ph.D. candidates — enjoyed an informative and frequently humorous career panel on September 25, 2024, featuring alumni from the Schools of Biological Sciences, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Psychology. Co-sponsored by the Georgia Tech Career Center and the College of Sciences, the “What Can I Do with my Georgia Tech Science Degree (Life Sciences)” panel provided an opportunity for alumni to share career advice and outline their sometimes-circuitous career paths.

“We do alumni panels because it’s a great way for students to learn and network with alumni like them, former Tech students who have walked this campus, listening to the Whistle in the background and cheering for the Jackets on the Flats,” says College of Sciences Career Educator James Stringfellow, who moderated the event alongside Graduate Career Development Officer Catharine Groover.

First-year neuroscience major Kali Breckley is currently on a pre-med track. She attended the event to discover what else she can do with her major.

“I learned about opportunities I could see myself pursuing in the future, and it gave me a better big-picture outlook for what my life could look like after my undergraduate degree is complete,” says Breckley.

“I enjoyed meeting distinguished GT alumni eager to share wisdom and help students on their academic journeys,” adds Yusuf Ismail, an applied physiology Ph.D. student. "The event was extremely beneficial, allowing us to network with alumni and gain valuable connections.”

The panel included Atlanta-based alumni at various stages in their careers. Although they came from many different industries, they all had one thing in common — joy in their chosen professions. 

Panel Insights

• “Your future job will value you for how you think, not only for what you know. I’m a big believer in the scientific method and that almost any problem can be tackled if you channel those principles and dissect the problem to figure it out.” Justin Burns, B.S. BIO 2005, Ph.D. BIO 2010, Georgia Research Alliance;
• “Everything you learn at Georgia Tech will carry through with you for the rest of your life. It’s not just science you learn here. It’s about the experiences and the relationships you build, including the unique style of problem-solving that will become a part of your brand.” Anthony Diaz, B.S. EAS 2001, The Coca-Cola Company;
• “While you’re in school, adopt a ‘hungry hungry hippo’ approach to life, gobbling up knowledge and opportunities. You want to be so good at what you do that you're ‘dangerous’ — dangerous in a positive way because you're incredibly capable and generate immense impact.” Austin Hope,  B.S. PSY 2014, Google;
• “Develop a pitch explaining who you are that captures a person’s attention. Get comfortable with that pitch and be ready to use it, even when standing in line at the movie theater. My one-on-one interactions have helped get my foot in the door for interviews and subsequently jobs.” Maureen Metcalf, M.S. BIO 2014, Deloitte;
• “Leverage your network and get introductions to the people in that company that can connect you with the hiring manager. Get in front of a person and show your personality. Let them see you’re more than a piece of paper with a bullet-pointed list of accomplishments.” Kristel Topping, Ph.D., APPH 2021, The Home Depot;
• “My best advice is to be flexible and seek out mentors at all stages of your career. I’ve been in private industry, academia, and the federal government. In all of those places, I’ve learned something. I never expected to be where I am today, but I feel incredibly lucky to be in a position with the CDC where I can make a daily difference.” David Williamson, B.S. BIO 1973, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
• “Practice your soft skills, especially communication, now. Speak in your classes. Talk to your professors about their research. Get excited to talk about the work you and your friends are already doing. When you are hired, those soft skills will be even more important. Your technical skills may be amazing, but you must also communicate why your research results are important to your company.” Ashley Zuniga, B.S. BCHM 2014, Geovax.

Coming Up Next

Alumni and students who enjoy networking and discussing career options are encouraged to attend the College of Sciences Student & Alumni Leadership Dinner on October 30, 2024, at the Georgia Tech Alumni House. Students can register via CareerBuzz. Alumni interested in future career events are encouraged to contact College of Sciences Director of Alumni Relations Leslie Roberts. 

The Center for Promoting Inclusion and Equity in the Sciences (C-PIES) has named Eric Schumacher, Christina Ragan, and Carrie Shepler as recipients of the 2024-2025 College of Sciences C-PIES Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellowship. 

Schumacher, a professor in the School of Psychology; Ragan, an academic professional in the School of Biological Sciences; and Shepler, assistant dean of Teaching Effectiveness in the College and a principal academic professional in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry joined forces with a proposal to expand educational content in chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. Their goal is to offer a new pedagogical approach to teaching that incorporates underrepresented groups in STEM. 

“This project aims to create content that instructors can easily integrate into their courses to create a more inclusive learning experience,” says C-PIES Program Operations Director Lea Marzo. 

Schumacher adds that the team plans to highlight science done by researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Shepler explains that “when students don't see their own identities reflected in the curriculum, it can make them feel demotivated or as if they don't belong in the discipline. Our goal is to highlight the hidden figures in science and engender a greater sense of belonging in the sciences."

“We are excited to support the inclusive education goals of our community,” shares C-PIES Director and Professor in the School of Biological Sciences Lewis A. Wheaton, who also serves as Director of the Cognitive Motor Control Lab. “This effort is in line with our Institute goal of creating cross-cultural competence of our students to support their development as future global leaders."

The team’s project, which runs through June 2025, is also supported by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence Grant. 

"We have been thrilled to see the level of interest from students, and this increases our belief that this project can make a difference for students in our introductory courses," says Shepler. 

Click here to learn more about C-PIES and the annual Inclusive Faculty Fellowship.

Congratulations to the students awarded the Larry S. O’Hara Graduate Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year. The early career fellowship from the College of Sciences recognizes outstanding doctoral students scheduled to graduate in the calendar year following their nominations.

“We are proud and excited to honor this year’s recipients of the O’Hara Fellowships,” says College of Sciences Senior Associate Dean David Collard. “They represent the best of our amazing Ph.D. students with impressive research, teaching, service, and leadership accomplishments.”

Meet the 2024-25 O’Hara Fellows

Anthony (Tony) Boever, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Boever is a fifth-year EAS student, conducting research for Martial Taillefert’s Group. His research spans the land-to-ocean continuum and includes studies on how groundwater fluctuations control the fate and transport of uranium in stream sediments, how wetland changes affect methane emissions, and how river pulses influence carbon transformations in low-oxygen ocean sediments. Boever has been extremely active in field research, participating in six research cruises and leading the field component of a Department of Energy-funded project at the Savannah River National Laboratory that included more than six research trips in two years. As a result of his extensive field work, Boever is working on three first-author publications and co-authoring three additional articles.

“I play in the mud, using sensors to monitor chemical changes that affect the environment,” says Boever. “Field studies are tough, but what we learn is invaluable not only for improving our current understanding of these processes but also informing us of their potential influence on future ecosystem function and global climate impacts.”

Erin Connolly, School of Biological Sciences

Connolly will earn her Ph.D. in bioinformatics. As a member of the Gibson Lab, she studies single-cell genomics, data visualization, gene regulation, autoimmunity, cancer, and personalized medicine. In addition to her research activities, Connolly has presented posters or presentations at five national and international meetings, was active in the Women-in-Science promotion, and has mentored high school and undergraduate students.

“My research focuses on understanding how our immune system differs between sexes, changes with age, and responds to treatments such as radiation and immunotherapy,” says Connolly. “By studying these differences, I aim to uncover details that can lead to more personalized and effective therapies for cancer and age-related diseases. This work can potentially make healthcare more effective, improving patient outcomes across diverse populations.”

Sierra Knavel, School of Mathematics 

Knavel, whose research focuses on symplectic topology and is advised by John Etnyre, is an avid mentor and teacher. She served on the Graduate Council and runs the Directed Reading Program for the School of Mathematics, pairing undergraduate students with graduate students to pursue advanced topics in mathematics. She also developed a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) based on her Ph.D. research. As a teaching assistant, she has been recognized with an Outstanding Student Evaluation Award and numerous Thank-a-Teacher certificates.

“My time at Georgia Tech grows more enriching each year,” says Knavel. “The community is welcoming, with abundant mentorship. I've received support at every level for my decisions to attend conferences, teach abroad, and help organize activities in the School of Mathematics. Because of the supportive community, I’ve gained the skills and knowledge necessary to teach and motivate undergraduate students in both classroom and research settings.”

Xing Xu, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Xu will receive her Ph.D. in chemistry and has published two first-author papers, with three more in preparation. She has contributed to four additional publications as a second or third author. Additionally, she mentored several undergraduate and first-year graduate students within the Wu Research Group and served as a mentor for the Summer 2023 National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Program.

"My research focuses on identifying glycoprotein alterations in human cancer,” says Xu. “I’m particularly fascinated by how I can use chemical probes and mass spectrometry to 'visualize' changes in glycoproteins within clinical cancer models. This area of study interests me because glycoproteins play a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis, and understanding these alterations could lead to new therapeutic strategies."

Kai Xue, School of Psychology

Xue specializes in cognition and brain science. Although she has been a part of the Ph.D. program for only two years, she has published three scientific papers and has several others submitted and under review. She has also served as a highly ranked teaching assistant.

"My research centers on perceptual decision-making and metacognition, focused on using computational modeling and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to advance our understanding of how confidence is computed,” says Xue. “This exploration into the mechanisms of human confidence computation deeply fascinates me; I am incredibly grateful to my supervisor, Dobromir Rahnev, whose unwavering support and guidance have been invaluable throughout this journey."