The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded 61 Georgia Tech students with Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF). The fellowships, valued at $159,000 each, include funding for three years of graduate study and tuition.

This year’s winners represent areas of study ranging from aerospace engineering to ocean sciences. The purpose of the GRF initiative, the oldest of NSF’s programs, is to develop experts who will contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. Their awards total more than $9.5 million in funding, the most Georgia Tech has ever had in the program.

This year’s recipients are: 

In the Postdoc Visibility Project, we spotlight the journeys and experiences of our postdoctoral scholars (postdocs) at Georgia Tech. As we delve deeper into the postdoc community, we turn our focus to a vital aspect: gratitude and acknowledgement within this dynamic cohort. 

We asked our postdocs whom they would like to extend their thanks. Their responses revealed the profound impact of collaboration, mentorship, and peer support. 

Avery Davis Bell, Postdoc in the School of Biological Sciences

Bell expresses deep gratitude to her mentor, Dr. Annalise Paaby, highlighting her as a profoundly creative and rigorous scientific thinker. Bell admires Paaby as one of the most supportive mentors she has encountered, emphasizing her dedication to her students and postdoctoral fellows, going above and beyond to support their growth and success. 

Additionally, Bell extends thanks to her family, recognizing their crucial role in supporting her career endeavors. She acknowledges her husband and child for their flexibility and her mother for assisting with childcare on busy days, enabling Bell to focus on her experiments and research work. 

Bell emphasizes the importance of a supportive community, mentioning the graduate students in her lab and the broader research faculty and postdoc communities at Georgia Tech. These communities provide crucial support, combat feelings of isolation, and fostering collaborative exchanges that are vital for academic and personal wellbeing. 

Nicole Hellessey, Postdoc in the Ocean Science & Engineering Department

Hellessey extends heartfelt thanks to her professor, Marc Weissburg, whose mentorship and support were instrumental in her postdoc placement at Georgia Tech. 

“Without him, I would not have had a postdoc,” said Hellessey, “I would not have come to Georgia Tech or had any of the opportunities I have had here.” 

Hellessey also extends a “massive shout out” to all the Ph.D. students in the Kubanek Lab and Hay Lab, recognizing their exceptional support and assistance. She highlights their role in ensuring that she didn’t feel lost along the way, emphasizing the importance of their presence in navigating the intricacies of research and academia. 

Lastly, Hellessey expresses her appreciation for the camaraderie and friendship she has found among fellow postdocs across various departments at Georgia Tech. 

Zita Hüsing, Postdoc in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication

Hüsing thanks those who have supported her throughout her academic journey. She acknowledges the steadfast encouragement of her partner, family, and friends, whose support has been crucial during challenging times. 

Hüsing extends her appreciation to her dissertation committee at Louisiana State University, including Dr. Brannon Costello, Dr. Chris Barrett, Dr. Carl Freedman, and Dr. Katherine Henninger, for their guidance and contributions to her academic development. 

She also thanks her directors in the Writing and Communication program at Georgia Tech, Dr. Melissa Ianetta and Dr. Andy Frazee, for their support and mentorship, contributing to her professional growth and success. 

Ida Su, Postdoc in the Department of Biomedical Engineering

Su’s journey through academia has been shaped by a network of support and mentorship. Reflecting on her path, Su emphasizes the impact of familial encouragement. 

“Without their support,” said Su, “I would not have overcome the challenges throughout my Ph.D., and now postdoc, journey.” 

Su credits her current postdoc advisor, Dr. Gabe Kwong, for providing invaluable guidance and opportunities for growth. From research methodologies to grant writing and mentoring, Dr. Kwong’s mentorship has pushed Su beyond her comfort zone, enabling her to achieve remarkable milestones such as the prestigious K99 Pathway to Independence award from the National Institutes of Health. 

Additionally, Su acknowledges the invaluable contributions of her collaborators, including Dr. Madhav Dhodapkar, Dr. Philip Santangelo, and Dr. Rafi Ahmed, whose mentorship and advice were pivotal in assembling the K99 application and publishing high-quality research papers.   

Su also expresses gratitude towards her Ph.D. advisory committees, particularly highlighting Dr. Patrick Stayton and Dr. Daniel Ratner, along with Dr. Suzie Pun, for their continuous support, guidance, and encouragement throughout her academic endeavors. Their mentorship extended beyond research projects to helping her navigate challenges faced during graduate school and steering her towards a career path aligned with her aspirations. 

Lastly, Su acknowledges the support and camaraderie of her postdoc friends, whose shared experiences and encouragement have been a source of strength during the highs and lows of postdoc research life. 

The Postdoc Visibility Project is a collaboration between the Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Services, the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Tech’s postdocs. Our goal is to highlight the contributions of postdocs to the research enterprise, humanize the postdoc experience, and connect postdocs to each other. To achieve this, we will share three spotlight articles and accompanying video interviews throughout the Spring 2024 semester. This is the third installment of the Project. 

This work is supported in part by the National Sciences Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences divisions ASCEND program under grant award number CHE-2138107.  
 

As the academic year nears its end, a season of celebration begins. Students from across the Institute were recognized for excellence this year at the annual Student Honors Celebration on Wednesday, April 10. Several College of Sciences students were recognized.

See the full list of student awardees from across the Institute.
View photos from the Student Honors Celebration — and more spring events around the College of Sciences.

Institute Awards

Provost’s Academic Excellence Award

• Hope Hazelton
  Psychology Major

• Zikang Leng
  Physics and Computer Science Dual Major

Outstanding Tutor Award

• Harrison Banks
  Physics Major

Outstanding Learning Assistant Award

• Ellia Kelso
  Biology Major (Pre-Med)

College of Sciences Awards

A. Joyce Nickelson and John C. Sutherland Prize

Lance Lampert
Mathematics and Physics Dual Major

The Joyce Nickelson and John C. Sutherland Undergraduate Research Award is presented by the College of Sciences to a student who has engaged in scholarship at the interface of physics and mathematics. 

Lance Lampert entered Georgia Tech as a graduate of Syosset High School, in Syosset, New York. This May, he will graduate with dual degrees in Physics and in Mathematics. Lampert has research experience in the School of Physics with both Professor Dragomir Davidovic and Professor Colin Parker, and with the GTRI Quantum Systems Division.

In summer 2022, Lampert participated in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the University of Michigan, and he spent last summer as a researcher at the CERN in Switzerland where he worked on advancing the measurement of the gravitational acceleration of antimatter. Lampert will embark on graduate study in physics this fall, and is currently deciding between multiple offers of positions.
 

Roger M. Wartell, Ph.D., and Stephen E. Brossette, M.D., Ph.D. Award for Multidisciplinary Studies in Biology, Physics, and Mathematics

Brittany Ahn
Neuroscience Major, Mathematics Minor

The Roger M. Wartell and Stephen E. Brossette Award is presented to a student who has engaged in scholarship at the interface of the life sciences with physics or mathematics. 

This May, Brittany Ahn will graduate with a degree in Neuroscience and a minor in Mathematics. At Georgia Tech, Ahn engaged in research in the Computational Industrial Design Lab, the GTRI Electrical-Optical Lab, and the Mathematical Neuroscience Lab with Professor Hannah Choi. 

Last summer, Ahn participated in the NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology Research Experience for Undergraduates program at Northwestern University, during which she modeled the effect of temperature on neuronal action potential dynamics. 

Ahn has served as a teaching assistant in both industrial systems engineering and the neuroscience program, a math tutor, and as a volunteer with the Atlanta Science Festival and the Special Olympics. This fall, Ahn will enroll in the doctoral program in Computational Neuroscience at Boston University.
 

Robert A. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship

• Callie Goins
  Chemistry Major, Materials Science and Engineering Minor

• Emily Melvin
  Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Major

• Michelle Seeler
  Biology Major, Spanish Minor

The College of Sciences presents the Robert A. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship to top graduating seniors. This year there are three recipients.

Callie Goins will graduate with a degree in Chemistry and a minor in Materials Science and Engineering. Prior to attending Georgia Tech, Goins attended River Ridge High School in Woodstock, Georgia, and dual enrolled at Kennesaw State University.

For the last three years, she has conducted research in the laboratory of Professor John Reynolds, leading to her undergraduate thesis titled “Investigating IR Switching of Dioxythiophene-Based Conjugated Polymers.”

Goins has also completed summer internships with Alcon and with Parker Lord, and served as a teaching assistant in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Goins appears as a co-author on peer reviewed articles in the journals Materials Advances and ACS Materials Letters and on a number of conference presentations. She is the recipient of the American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry.

Professor Reynolds shares that “Callie has always demonstrated a tremendous enthusiasm for learning … She is a student who loves scientific discourse and takes advantage of every opportunity that she gets to share her research.” This fall, Goins will embark on graduate studies; she is currently choosing between a number of opportunities.

Emily Melvin will be among the first graduates of the new Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences B.S. degree (AOS). Melvin’s degree will include the AOS research option, also offered through the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Melvin hails from Marstons Mills, Massachusetts. She has served as an intern with Brookhaven National Laboratory and at the Naval Research Laboratory where she worked on simulations of the proposed flight plans to explore the marine atmospheric boundary layer. Beyond academic work, Melvin has volunteered as treasurer and marketing manager of The Dance Company at Georgia Tech, a group of Tech students who love to dance and perform.

Melvin plans to attend graduate school in atmospheric sciences and is currently selecting a program of study.

Michelle Seeler grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia. She is graduating with a degree in Biology, a minor in Spanish, and completion of the research option. For the last two years, Seeler has worked with Professor Julia Champion on the targeted delivery of therapeutics.

In summer 2022, Seeler conducted research at the Jackson Laboratory (JAX) biomedical research institution, and she spent the summer of 2023 at Harvard Medical School. She served as the founding president of the March of Dimes at Georgia Tech, and as president of the Support Health and Education for Women initiative at Georgia Tech.

Professor Champion notes that “Michelle is an intelligent, motivated, a dedicated researcher and effective communicator, and she has an innate desire to use her talents to help patients in the future — especially women who have been underserved by current research efforts and spending.” After graduation, Michelle plans to enroll in the Ph.D. program in Biomedical Sciences at University of California, San Francisco.

Georgia Tech unveiled its first Climate Action Plan (CAP), an actionable road map for halving Institute emissions by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. It provides strategies for mitigation, adaptation, climate education, and research, while finding equitable, cost-effective solutions.  

The CAP is a deliverable of Sustainability Next, Georgia Tech’s 10-year strategic sustainability plan, and it is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Institute’s strategic plan, and the Comprehensive Campus Plan.  

“As one of the world’s leading research universities, Georgia Tech has the opportunity, and the obligation, to create and share solutions that can help curb climate change and mitigate its harmful impact on our planet and our lives,” said President Ángel Cabrera. “Our Climate Action Plan is bold and ambitious, aiming for 100% clean ground transportation by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050. These goals are not easy, but they reflect the seriousness of the challenges before us.”    

The CAP was led by Georgia Tech’s Office of Sustainability, with engagement across the campus community. The CAP Advisory Task Force, comprising experts and Institute leadership, helped guide the effort. Nine working groups in key focus areas developed climate action strategies, and additional stakeholder outreach with students, staff, faculty, and the Atlanta community took place at workshops, events, town halls, and webinars.  

The plan’s nine focus areas and guiding principles are:  

1. Community, Equity, and Accessibility: We seek to ensure that fair and just climate policies and strategies are in place at Georgia Tech and that they prioritize affordable climate change solutions that support our internal and external community. 

2. Building Energy: We are committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.  

3. Renewable Energy and Offsets: We prioritize clean energy technologies to eliminate emissions. 

4. Mobility: We optimize campus mobility through a variety of transportation modes that are accessible, affordable, and low- to no-emissions, considering environmental and human health impacts when determining and implementing transit and land use actions.  

5. Materials Management: We support a thriving circular economy that focuses on upstream systems for achieving zero waste, ensures sustainable procurement, and supports our local community.  

6. Water Management: We adapt our water infrastructure to be resilient to the impacts of climate change.  

7. Education: We prepare all students, regardless of discipline, to address climate-related challenges in their personal and professional lives. 

8. Research: We expand support for faculty, staff, and students to advance innovative research and projects to address climate-related issues.  

9. Carbon Sequestration: We leverage the natural and physical resources of our campus to sequester and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The plan has 30 strategies for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and advancing climate research and education. The most ambitious strategies include: 

• Transition to electrification of combustion-based heating systems. 

• Increase energy efficiency in building operations. 

• Increase on-site renewable energy production, and procure energy generated from renewable and zero-emissions sources.  

• Transition the campus vehicle fleet to zero-emissions vehicles and increase sustainable and affordable commuting options. 

• Implement blackwater reuse systems and increase water efficiency and conversation. 

• Become a Zero Waste campus. 

• Prioritize climate education across Georgia Tech’s curriculum. 

• Identify and shape future climate research opportunities in which Georgia Tech aspires to lead.  

“Georgia Tech is committed to sustainability and the environmental stewardship of our campus community,” said Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of Sustainability and chair of the CAP Advisory Task Force. “The CAP was developed in partnership with leadership and with our own experts from within Georgia Tech. As we move toward implementation, it will require a whole-community approach, and we will continue to work together to reach our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.”   

To read or download the full plan, visit the Office of Sustainability’s webpage here. If you are interested in participating in an implementation committee, please fill out the form on the CAP website.   

April is Earth Month at Georgia Tech. Coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and hosted by partners across campus, it extends the Institute’s observance of Earth Day (April 22) by showcasing campus sustainability efforts and providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn and take action.  

This year’s Earth Month holds special significance, as Georgia Tech will soon publish its first Climate Action Plan, a road map for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.   

“Earth Month presents us with a unique time to honor and safeguard our environment together,” said Vanessa Suarez, sustainability coordinator in the Office of Sustainability. “It's an opportunity for all of us to be inspired and make a positive difference, both locally and globally; a reminder that collective changes yield significant impact.”  

Events will be hosted by organizations and departments across campus during the month to learn, celebrate, and share best practices.   

Featured Event: Earth Day Sustainable Org Fair and Celebration  

Wednesday, April 17, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design 

This signature event will feature sustainability-focused departments and student organizations, Earth Month BYO T-shirt screen printing and other textiles, and free King of Pops popsicles. Sign up here to table. 

Earth Month Bird Walk – Lullwater (Emory)  

Friday, April 5, 10:25 a.m. – 12:35 p.m., Lullwater Preserve, 1463 Clifton Road 

Hosted by Georgia Tech Birdwatchers with support from the Office of Sustainability, attendees can observe and learn about birds with club experts at the scenic Lullwater Preserve near Emory’s campus. Binoculars provided.  

For registration and additional information, click here.  

Tech Beautification Day 

Saturday, April 6, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tech Green 

Come get your hands dirty to make our campus green and beautiful at the 25th annual Tech Beautification Day, a volunteering event hosted by the Student Government Association and Infrastructure and Sustainability. The event is capped at 300 volunteers, so sign up today! 

For registration and additional information, click here.  

Global Media Festival Film Screening: ‘Bigger Than Us’ Documentary + Live Q&A   

Sunday, April 7, 2:30 – 5 p.m., John Lewis Student Center, Cypress Theater 

Bigger Than Us follows Melati Wijsen, an 18-year-old Indonesian activist fighting plastic pollution in her country as she expands her impact by collaborating with activists across the globe. The screening will be followed by a live virtual discussion with the film’s director, Flore Vasseur.  

This event is part of the Global Media Festival, taking place March 29 – April 7 and exploring themes around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The festival is co-sponsored by the School of Modern Languages; the Atlanta Global Studies Center; the School of Literature, Media, and Communication; and the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems. 

For registration and additional information, click here.  

EcoCommons Tour  

Wednesday, April 10, Noon – 1 p.m., The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design 

The 80-acre EcoCommons is one of Georgia Tech’s most impressive sustainability features. Institute Landscape Architect Jason Gregory will lead attendees on a tour to learn about the native performance landscape adjacent to The Kendeda Building. 

Carbon Reduction Challenge Info Session – Virtual  

Thursday, April 11, 11 – 11:50 a.m., Online 

The Carbon Reduction Challenge is a competition focused on empowering students to become part of the climate change solution. Join the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business for a virtual information session to learn more about participating in the challenge this summer.  

For registration and more information, click here.  

Climate FRESK Workshops  

• Thursday, April 11, Noon – 3:30 p.m., Kendeda Seminar Room 118 

• Monday, April 15, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Kendeda Seminar Room 118 

• Thursday, April 19, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., O’Keefe Building, third floor, Sunroom conference room* 

Climate FRESK is an internationally recognized workshop based on scientific reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that teaches the fundamental causes and effects of climate change through a collaborative and engaging game. The Office of Sustainability will host three FRESK Workshops throughout April. 

*The workshop on April 19 is co-sponsored by the Georgia Tech French Club and will be held partially in French.  

For more information and registration, click here.  

BBISS Seminar Series: Neha Kumar 

Thursday, April 11, 3 – 4 p.m., Hybrid Event – Online and BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 160 

Neha Kumar is an associate professor in the School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech. She will present a new paper that describes opportunities for human–computer interaction to reimagine the design of sociotechnical systems toward advancing sustainable, just, and humane futures. 

For more information and the event link, click here.  

Atlanta Global Studies Symposium: Languages of Sustainability and the Global South 

Friday, April 12, 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Main Auditorium, Technology Square Research Building 

Hosted by the Atlanta Global Studies Center and with support from the Emory University Office of Global Strategy and Initiatives, the symposium will present initiatives that promote global education, language learning, sustainable development, and community engagement. Partners, faculty, students, community organizers, K-12 teachers, and the public are welcome.  

For more information and registration, click here. 

Frontiers in Science: Climate Action  

Thursday, April 18, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., The Dalney Building 

The College of Sciences will convene 100 campus and community stakeholders to discuss groundbreaking research on climate change, challenges, and solutions. More than 25 speakers and panelists from across Georgia Tech and Atlanta will share their work and ideas to address major climate and community challenges. Frontiers will also feature leadership keynotes, a student video showcase with scholarships, networking lunch and reception, and a Strategic Energy Institute interdisciplinary seed grant challenge for assistant professors. 

Attendance is by invitation, and registration is limited.  
To suggest participants, please contact: events@cos.gatech.edu. 

Carbon Reduction Challenge Spring Showcase 

Friday, April 19, 2 – 4 p.m., The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design 

Eight teams composed of students enrolled in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 3111, “Energy, Environment, and Society,” will present their final semester-long Carbon Reduction Challenge projects. The projects show more than 9 million pounds of carbon dioxide reductions annually while generating yearly savings of over $500 million in energy bills and carbon sequestration. Attendees can enjoy snacks and drinks and vote for their favorite project.  

For more information and registration, click here.  

Sustain-X Hangout 

Tuesday, April 23, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., Hybrid/Scheller College of Business, Room 4426 

A partnership between the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business and CREATE-X, Sustain-X is a Sustainability Next and Georgia Tech strategic plan project. With events occurring on the fourth Tuesday of every month, this session will examine social and environmental entrepreneurship and how to access resources for projects. 

For more information and to register, click here.  

Interdisciplinary and Critical Approaches to Sustainability 

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

The Atlanta Global Studies Center will present a conference entitled “Sustainability in a Planet of Diverse Knowledges and Persistent Inequalities.” The event features Georgia Tech faculty panels   and keynotes from Nelson Maldonado-Torres and Jessica Hernandez on “Colonial and Decolonial Sustainabilities” and “Indigenous Science: From Local to Global Context,” respectively. 

For more information and registration, click here.  

BBISS Seminar Series – Fani Boukouvala 

Thursday, April 25, 3 – 4 p.m., Hybrid/BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 160 

Fani Boukouvala, assistant professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, will present a talk about a new approach for chemical conversion of waste plastics to their original raw materials, including a detailed process modeling of a chemical reactor validated by experimental data, and proceed with simulation of an entire pilot scale facility.  

For the event link, click here.  

Additional events, volunteer opportunities, and campaigns are posted on the Earth Month calendar.  Submit your event to be featured via the Earth Month form.