Kudos

Zach Schiffman wins Colorado Three Minute Thesis competition

Cay Leytham-Powell — Tue, 21 May 2024 21:53:13 +0000

Zach Schiffman wins Colorado Three Minute Thesis competition Cay Leytham-Powell Tue, 05/21/2024 - 15:53

CU �鶹ӰԺ doctoral student takes first prize in state 3MT competition for presentation on the urea molecule

Zach Schiffman, a doctoral candidate in chemistry, beat out participating universities within Colorado to win the state Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition last month. He won with his presentation, “The Urea Molecule: From Fertilizer . . . to Climate Change?”

This is the second win for Schiffman, who took first prize in the Graduate School’s annual 3MT competition earlier this year. As part of his winnings, he was then invited to represent the university at both the regional (Western Region of Graduate Schools) and state (Colorado Council of Graduate Schools) competitions.

The 3MT event, which began at the University of Queensland in 2008, challenges graduate students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. To prepare, CU �鶹ӰԺ graduate students participate in a series of workshops focusing on storytelling, writing, presentation skills and improvisation comedy techniques. The Graduate School then holds a preliminary competition to whittle down the competition to ten finalists, who participate in the final competition at the beginning of February.

More information about the 3MT competition, including how to get involved in the 2024–25 school year, is available on the 3MT webpage.

CU �鶹ӰԺ doctoral student takes first prize in state 3MT competition for presentation on the urea molecule.

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Prestigious NSF fellowship awarded to 27 graduate students

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 22:32:49 +0000

Prestigious NSF fellowship awarded to 27 graduate students Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 04/11/2024 - 16:32

The Graduate Research Fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in a wide variety of science-related disciplines

The National Science Foundation has awarded 27 �鶹ӰԺ students with the prestigious graduate research fellowship, which places the university in the top 15 nationwide in terms of number awarded, the federal agency announced last week.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes outstanding graduate students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, paving the way for their continued work exploring some of the most complex and pressing issues of our time.

This year’s recipients of the five-year fellowship represent a wide swath of disciplines, spanning paleontology to robotics. Each GRFP recipient will receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000, as well as professional development and research opportunities.

We are very proud of the outstanding students who have been recognized for this highly competitive fellowship.

“We are thrilled to see so many of our students recognized by NSF through these fellowships,” said Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes. “With so many highly regarded graduate programs at CU �鶹ӰԺ, it is no surprise that we are consistently among the leading university recipients of these awards. I want to congratulate each of these students for their accomplishments so far and for the positive impact they will have through these fellowships.”

Of those 27 winners, 50% participated in a workshop or information session organized by the Graduate School, in partnership with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. These included specialized writing workshops, coaching sessions and general informational sessions about applying for the GRFP.

"This year’s continued success in securing NSF GRFPs alongside the nation’s top graduate schools is not only a testament to our extraordinary graduate students at CU, but also the Graduate School’s approach to cultivating talent with our campus partners and tremendously supportive faculty,” said E. Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and the vice provost for graduate affairs. “We are very proud of the outstanding students who have been recognized for this highly competitive fellowship.”

This year’s recipients include:

Emma Aldrich, chemical and biological engineering
Victoria Avery, astrophysical and planetary sciences
Timotej Bernat, chemical and biological engineering
Ethan Carr, geography
Zoe Cruse, chemical and biological engineering
Connor Diaz, geological sciences
Bryan Durham, aerospace engineering sciences
Mikaela Felix, aerospace engineering sciences
Kyle Fisch, chemistry
Kaylie Flores, ecology and evolutionary biology
Shantae Gallegos, biomedical engineering
Dylan Hamilton, materials science and engineering
Abigail Hartley, astrophysical and planetary sciences
Olivia Irvin, chemical and biological engineering
Catherine Leszcz, aerospace engineering sciences
Ryan Menges, aerospace engineering sciences
Dylan Meyer, electrical, computer and energy engineering
Sara Padula, ecology and evolutionary biology
Madeline Pernat, civil engineering
David Saeb, chemical and biological engineering
Aliza Siddiqui, electrical, computer and energy engineering
Caleb Song, mechanical engineering
Ashlee Stratton, geological sciences
Katherine Trese, chemical and biological engineering
William Xie, computer science
Raquel Yupanqui, computer science
Mobeen Zahid, ecology and evolutionary biology

In addition to the fellowship award winners, 17 students were recognized with an honorable mention.

The Graduate Research Fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in a wide variety of science-related disciplines.

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Announcing the 2024 Three Minute Thesis Winners

Cay Leytham-Powell — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:57:29 +0000

Announcing the 2024 Three Minute Thesis Winners Cay Leytham-Powell Fri, 02/09/2024 - 14:57

Ten students participated in this year’s final competition for a chance at prize money and a chance to represent CU �鶹ӰԺ at the regional competition.

Environmental advertising, the mental health toll of being a drone pilot, and accessible robot building were a few of the topics presented during the seventh annual Three Minute Thesis Competition on Feb. 7, 2024.

This event challenges graduate students to craft a three-minute elevator pitch for their complex—and sometimes difficult to make sense of—research in a way that even an everyday person could understand.

This year, the ten competitors did just that to a packed Glenn Miller Ballroom and a panel of judges, which included Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell. The judges then evaluated the competitors on comprehension, content, engagement and communication.

“The Three Minute Thesis competition is one of my favorite Graduate School events for many reasons, and this year was no exception,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School. “It is of vital importance that the public understand the valuable work that graduate students are doing every day, and how it can impact them in lasting and positive ways, and this event does just that. Every year I am amazed and inspired by the incredible research that our students are doing, it makes me very proud to be dean of the Graduate School.”

The 2024 winners are:

First Place

Zach Schiffman, chemistry, The Urea Molecule: From Fertilizer… to Climate Change?

Second Place

Spencer Zeigler, geological sciences, The Missing Pages of Earth History

People’s Choice

Aaquib Tabrez, computer science, Building Trust & Reliance in Human-Machine Teams via Transparent Algorithms

Schiffman will receive $1500 in prize money and will represent CU �鶹ӰԺ at the Western Association of Graduate Schools competition. Zeigler and Tabrez will receive $750 and $500 in research funds, respectively.

Judges for this year’s event were College of Arts and Sciences Dean Glen Krutz, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Associate Dean Charles Musgraves, Professor of Sociology Lori Hunter, and Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell. Bud Coleman, Roe Green endowed chair in theatre, was the event’s emcee.

More information about the 2025 Three Minute Thesis Competition will be available on the Three Minute Thesis competition web page this fall.

Ten students participated in this year’s final competition for a chance at prize money and a chance to represent CU �鶹ӰԺ at the regional competition.

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First place winner Zach Schiffman giving his presentation. Photo by Patrick Campbell/�鶹ӰԺ.

CU �鶹ӰԺ receives funding to make STEM doctoral education more inclusive

Cay Leytham-Powell — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:58:02 +0000

CU �鶹ӰԺ receives funding to make STEM doctoral education more inclusive Cay Leytham-Powell Wed, 01/31/2024 - 13:58

Grants from the Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation will improve equity and community across the graduate student experience

The �鶹ӰԺ is one of ten recipients to receive a grant from the Sloan Centers for Systemic Change initiative, the foundation recently announced.

This award aims to transform doctoral programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields by removing entrenched barriers to student success, improving student outcomes and creating educational environments that are more effective and equitable for all.

The Graduate School was awarded $250,000 to further develop its mentoring program for both faculty and students with the aim of improving equity and community across the graduate student experience.

In addition to the grant award, Sloan is also supporting each institution’s participation in the Equity in Graduate Education Consortium, a networked improvement community that equips participants with research, tools and change management strategies to achieve systemic change.

“This grant from the Sloan Foundation fits nicely with one of the longstanding major priorities of the Graduate School: to greatly improve graduate mentoring on campus and to broaden the use of best practices in inclusive mentoring,” said Scott Adler, the dean of the Graduate School and the vice provost for graduate affairs.

Specifically, the Graduate School will use the grant to:

Build a more vigorous community of faculty engaged in improving mentorship of graduate students and support those faculty in improving their mentoring.
Provide support from the Equity in Graduate Education Consortium to multiple departments eager to make systemic changes to their mentoring structure.
Expand the current inclusive mentoring micro-credential.
Promote community building among graduate students.

I have no doubt that these ten institutions are well on their way to becoming national leaders in reshaping STEM doctoral programs in ways that allow every student not only to succeed but to thrive.

Lorelle Espinosa, program director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

“This grant is part of a bigger effort to create synergies between our mentoring initiative, which included the hire of Natasha Shrikant from the College of Media, Communication and Information as its director, and our efforts to widen access to graduate programs and support a more diverse graduate student body,” Adler commented.

Applications for funding were assessed for the quality of planned activities, the breadth of participating departments on campus and the depth of institutional commitment to identifying and addressing systemic barriers to success in graduate education.

The Sloan Centers for Systemic Change initiative builds on Sloan’s University Centers for Exemplary Mentoring program, now concluding. That program found large, positive impacts on student outcomes, including much higher retention and graduation rates of participating Sloan Scholars than are observed nationally for underrepresented students.

At the end of a successful two-year seed grant period, institutions will be eligible to apply for four-year, $1.4 million implementation grants from Sloan, which include scholarship funds for students in participating departments.

“We know that we can make graduate education in STEM better for everyone,” said Adam Falk, president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, in the press release. “But systemic change is hard. What stands out about these institutions is their level of commitment and readiness. These are campuses that have a vision for how to be better and are eager to take the next step.”

Lorelle Espinosa, program director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, echoed that sentiment: “The next two years are about laying the foundations for success. … I have no doubt that these ten institutions are well on their way to becoming national leaders in reshaping STEM doctoral programs in ways that allow every student not only to succeed but to thrive.”

The CU �鶹ӰԺ Graduate School was also recently awarded a $45,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to participate in the Broadening Participation in STEM Graduate Degrees and the U.S. STEM Workforce. This award will be used to examine general trends in graduate student admission for both domestic and international applicants, with an eye toward creating a diverse scientific workforce.

“These awards showcase the innovation happening in the Graduate School right now,” Adler said. “We’re making the Graduate School a more equitable and inclusive place by creating a welcoming community for all, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Parts of this announcement are adapted from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s press release.

Grants from the Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation will improve equity and community across the graduate student experience.

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Two doctoral candidates receive funding to research abroad

Cay Leytham-Powell — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:04:46 +0000

Two doctoral candidates receive funding to research abroad Cay Leytham-Powell Tue, 01/16/2024 - 08:04

Graduate students from music and education receive funding to study educational systems abroad and music at the tip of the world

Two �鶹ӰԺ graduate students have been awarded the 2023-24 Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) fellowship, the Department of Education announced.

The DDRA fellowship provides doctoral candidates who have shown mastery of a language with the opportunity to conduct dissertation research in area studies or foreign languages for six to 12 months abroad.

Lydia Wagenknecht from the College of Music will use the award to travel to Chile to study the effect of climate change on local music while Kyle Kopsick from the School of Education will go to Costa Rica to research international education organizations.

Both expressed gratitude for the fellowship, commenting that this funding offered them a chance to do research that might not be otherwise possible.

Affordances and limitations of international education organizations

Kyle Kopsick, a doctoral candidate in education, will be studying in Costa Rica.

Originally from Chicago, Kopsick arrived at CU �鶹ӰԺ by way of Quito, Ecuador, where he taught history and philosophy at a school run by an international education organization for roughly five years.

International education organizations are organizations, mainly from Europe, that affiliate with schools throughout the world to accredit, assess and offer diplomas or certificates to students who successfully go through their programs.

“Some are known to be pretty demanding, and while they do certain academic things very well, there are also all sorts of questions about what it means for teachers to have to follow educational standards that are set by governing bodies outside their local and regional contexts,” Kopsick commented.

And it is those questions about the affordances and limitations of the organizations that Kopsick will be researching with the help of the DDRA fellowship.

Kopsick will conduct qualitative research at a school in Costa Rica, working with teachers to do class observations and focus groups, and talking with them “about their experiences teaching under these kinds of organizations.” Kopsick will use this information to figure out how it ultimately affects their teaching practices, which, in turn, affect how and what students are learning.

“I came (to CU �鶹ӰԺ) with the intention of doing international field work, which I knew I could. But I also knew things needed to be set in place properly, and having the support of Fulbright really clarifies that,” said Kopsick. “Dissertation work can often be a challenging and isolating pursuit, so anytime you have this kind of additional support, it’s nice validation.”

Sound at the edge of the world

Lydia Wagenknecht, a doctoral candidate in ethnomusicology, will be studying in Chile.

For Wagenknecht, an ethnomusicologist (someone who studies music and sound in culture), the route to the DDRA fellowship was a bit more serendipitous.

Already a Fulbright student grant recipient, she first heard about the fellowship during an orientation for Fulbright scholars where other DDRA fellows were present. Aware that her research was going to take longer than nine months, which is what the student grant provides, she decided to apply and was accepted.

“It was a really big relief,” said Wagenknecht, who was also the people’s choice winner during last year’s Three Minute Thesis competition.

During the DDRA fellowship, Wagenknecht will be researching the music and sound in Punta Arenas, Chile, which is at the southern tip of South American. In particular, she’ll be working with a diverse array of artists and researchers to explore how the sound and music of humans and nonhumans (e.g., landscapes) is changing in response to climate change.

“Punta Arenas is a major jumping off point for Antarctic research, so the city has branded itself as an Antarctic city and there’s a bunch of Antarctic research initiatives going on here,” said Wagenknecht, adding, “This is a part of the world where there’s a lot of really dramatic climate change events happening.”

Through field recordings, ethnographic interviews and concerts, Wagenknecht will pull together a series of case studies, one of which will be Antarctic soundscape projects.

“Ethnographic research can take a long time,” Wagenknecht commented. “I feel like this grant will help me build more reciprocal relationships. I can help my community partners, they can help me, and we can trust each other more. That’s really important.”

For more information, including how to apply, please visit the Fulbright-Hays website or reach out to Patty Stanfield at patricia.stanfield@colorado.edu. Applications for 2024 cycle typically open in the spring.

Graduate students from music and education receive funding to study educational systems abroad and music at the tip of the world.

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Doctoral student recognized for innovative Tibetan research

Cay Leytham-Powell — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 21:56:10 +0000

Doctoral student recognized for innovative Tibetan research Cay Leytham-Powell Wed, 06/14/2023 - 15:56

Sanggay Tashi, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, will use this award to do on-the-ground research into Tibetan nomads as they adapt to a changing world

A Tibetan scholar at the �鶹ӰԺ is part of the inaugural class of dissertation innovation fellows, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) and Mellow Foundation announced recently.

Sanggay Tashi, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, is one of 45 recipients of this award, which supports doctoral students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences as they pursue bold and innovative approaches to dissertation research.

Tashi will use the $50,000 award to learn from Indigenous scholars and travel to his home on the Tibetan plateau to study how Tibetan nomads creatively assert their cultural identity amidst structural and developmental modernization. He’ll do this by immersing himself in the culture, working with and within the community, and involving himself as part of the projects already underway there—which, he says, are innovative in-and-of themselves.

Sanggay Tashi is part of the inaugural class of dissertation innovation fellows.

“Historically, research in Tibetan studies in the West has been conducted predominantly by outsiders,” said Tashi. “I believe that the enthusiastic support for this project is a promising sign for the future of Tibetan studies.”

Growing up in a Tibetan nomadic family, Tashi says that he became interested in this subject because “it’s part of who I am,” adding:

“I have a special kind of connection to the people, and I understand what they’re going through because it’s also part of my experience of growing up in that culture.”

Tashi studied at Duke University before coming to CU �鶹ӰԺ, but his Tibetan roots continue to inspire him to this day, which led him to apply for this fellowship.

The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship is designed to intervene at the formative stage of dissertation development and promote research methodologies, project formats and areas of inquiry that challenge traditional norms of doctoral education.

As part of the award, each fellow receives a $40,000 stipend for the fellowship year; $8,000 for project-related research, training, professional development and travel expenses; and a $2,000 stipend to support external mentorship and advising that offers critical perspectives and expertise on the fellow’s project.

Tashi will use this fellowship to take part in comparative and collaborative research with other Indigenous communities and scholars, including Professor Ty Tengan at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. There, he’ll learn how to do ethical, practical, meaningful and community-based research while also participating in several community-based and community-supported projects in Hawaii.

“I will be trained in cultural protocols, research ethics, ethnographic methodologies and the practice of responsible relationship building. Additionally, I will help share my knowledge and research as a Tibetan PhD student that will benefit UH Manoa and the local communities,” Tashi added.

He’ll use what he learns in Hawaii when he returns to Tibet to research Tibetan communities from both an insider and outsider’s perspective. This exchange, he says, is part of his innovative approach to learning how to do ethical, practical and meaningful research, which will advance anthropological research knowledge and skills.

Formed a century ago, the ACLS is a nonprofit federation of 79 scholarly organizations that is committed to principles and practices in support of racial and social justice. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship, upholding the core principle that knowledge is a public good.

The Mellon Foundation is the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Mellon believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence and freedom to be found there. Through its grants, Mellon seeks to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.

“ACLS is thrilled to partner with the Mellon Foundation to support these exceptional emerging scholars as they pursue pathbreaking research,” said ACLS President Joy Connolly in the press release. “By expanding the range of research methodologies, formats and areas of inquiry traditionally considered acceptable for the dissertation, we can forge pathways toward a more diverse and inclusive academy.”

Sanggay Tashi, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, will use this award to do on-the-ground research into Tibetan nomads as they adapt to a changing world.

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Tibetan landscape with sheep in the front. Header photo by Jack L/Flickr.

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Tibetan landscape with sheep in the front. Header photo by Jack L/Flickr.

Celebrating 2020-2021 Graduate School Award Recipients!

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 06 May 2021 19:30:19 +0000

Celebrating 2020-2021 Graduate School Award Recipients! Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 05/06/2021 - 13:30

With the generous support of donors and the CU �鶹ӰԺ community, the Graduate School offers awards, grants and fellowships that support the outstanding research, creative work and teaching of our graduate students. Congratulations to our award winners and many thanks to the faculty and staff who support them in their research, creative work and teaching, as well as to the donors whose generosity make these awards possible.

Graduate Part-Time Instructors Teaching Appreciation Award Recipients

These awards recognize excellent graduate student teachers for their hard work, creativity, and continued excellence in teaching.

Cali Banks, Department of Art & Art History, Fall 2020
Jake Carias, Department of Sociology, Spring 2021
Joelle Cicak, Department of Art & Art History, Spring 2021
Rachel Chai, Department of Geography, Fall 2020
David Chu, Department of Classics, Fall 2020
Jennifer Cole, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Spring 2021
Christopher Dengler, Department of Philosophy, Spring 2021
Bailey Duhe, Department of Anthropology, Fall 2020
Sara Fischer, Department of French & Italian, Fall 2020
Kevin France, Department of Physics, Fall 2020
Daniel Garzon, School of Education, Spring 2021
Greg Gondwe, Department of Journalism, Fall 2020
David Gunderman, Department of Applied Mathematics, Fall 2020
Erkan Gunes, Department of Political Science, Fall 2020
Emily Hite, Department of Anthropology, Spring 2021
Shirely Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, Spring 2021
Shruthi Jagadeesh, Department of Geography, Spring 2021
Brooke Latham, Department of Classics, Spring 2021
Samantha Moya, Department of Political Science, Spring 2021
Joy Mueller, Department of Applied Mathematics, Spring 2021
Leah Powers, Department of French & Italian, Spring 2021
Elisa Riga, Department of German & Slavic Languages & Literatures, Spring 2021
Àjené Robinson-Burris, Department of Philosophy, Fall 2020
Jayne Simpson, Department of Communication, Fall 2020
Justin Trupiano, Department of Critical Media Practices, Fall 2020
Kun You, Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations, Fall 2020
Christine Zabala, School of Education, Fall 2020

Dissertation Completion Fellows

These fellowships provide one academic semester of financial support. Graduate School and Reynolds Dissertation Completion Fellows receive one full year of academic support toward their research.

Bertha Bermúdez Tapia, Department of Sociology
Christopher Barnes, Department of Media Studies
Julie Larson, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Anna Hermes, Department of Environmental Studies
Angela Theodosopoulos, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Kelly Zepelin, Department of Anthropology
Kimberly Strong, School of Education
Javan Carter, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Jennifer Reeve, Department of Geological Sciences
Brittany Lambert, Leeds School of Business
Sebastian Cantarero, Department of Geological Sciences

Graduate School Dissertation Completion Fellow

Amelia Hogstad, Department of History

Reynolds Dissertation Completion Fellow

Gagan Sapotka, Department of Philosophy

MFA Completion Fellow

This fellowship provides one academic semester of financial support.

Amy Hoagland

Amy Hoagland is a Louisville, KY born artist. She is currently attending the University of Colorado, �鶹ӰԺ as a candidate for her Masters of Fine Art in Sculpture. Her work focuses on the role that humankind plays within nature, discussing how human’s technological advancements are progressing Earth’s ever evolving structure. Amy received her BFA from the University of Kentucky and was granted a 2017 Windgate Fellowship award presented by the Center for Craft. She has completed residencies with the Marpha Foundation in Marpha, Nepal and with Casa Lü in Mexico City, Mexico. Amy recently had a solo exhibition as a visiting artist for the Kentucky College of Art and Design. She has exhibited internationally in Mexico City and nationally including Los Angeles, Austin, and Portland.

Summer Fellows

These fellowships provide $6,000 stipends over the summer term to support students working on their dissertation.

Alexandra Alexiev, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Sheena Barnes, Department of History
Brett Bessen, Department of Political Science
Joseph Carzoli, Department of Integrative Physiology
André Davis, Department of Mathematics
Jessica DiCarlo, Department of Geography
Sarah Fahmy, Department of Theatre & Dance
Sara Fischer, Department of French & Italian
Florencia Foxley, Department of Classics
Quinton Freeman, School of Education
Catherine Gach, ATLAS Institute
Jamie Glass, Department of Geological Sciences
Logan Rae Gomez, Department of Communication
Greg Gondwe, Department of Journalism
Tessa Gorte, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Payne Hennigan, Department of Economics
Xiaowen Hu, Leeds School of Business
Yiming Hu, Department of Chemistry
Nicollette Laroco, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Nathaniel Mathews, Department of Applied Mathematics
John McKeever, College of Music
Samantha Molnar, Department of Computer Science
Jonathan Quartin, Department of Mathematics
Marley Olson, Department of Sociology
Danielle Quichocho, Department of Advertising, Public Relations, Media Design
Urooj Raja, Department of Environmental Studies
Julia Salinger, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
Gagan Sapkota, Department of Philosophy
Alyssa Strickler, Department of Linguistics
Kevin Sweet, Department of Critical Media Practices
Andrew Tomaschke, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Griëtte van der Heide, Department of Anthropology
Robert Wagner, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Michael Wheeler, Department of Mathematics
Patrick Wynne, Department of Mathematics
Junnan Yu, Department of Information Science

Helen Christy Summer Fellow

Kristin Enright, Department of Art & Art History

Kristin came to CU after working in museums for several years, most recently as a museum educator at the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Museum of Mexican Art. In these roles, she managed programming for students, educators and docents that used culturally responsive pedagogy and works of art to increase student agency and facilitate access to language learning, historical thinking, and other academic areas. Kristin's research investigates the complex, global history of colonial Mexican Talavera ceramics in order to de-center dominant narratives about Latin America that are perpetuated by museums and the field of art history. Her practice of intervening in the frequent erasure of other narratives and the marginalization of colonial artworks in cultural institutions developed from her work with Latinx communities through Chicago art museums. Her goal through graduate study is to create spaces for difficult objects like Talavera in museums and art history curricula in such a way that invites reflection and engenders a provocative space to apply critical theory.

Katherine holds an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University, an MA in Spanish with a concentration in Applied Linguistics from New York University in Madrid, and a BA in Art History and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Donor Award Recipients

These awards are made possible by the Graduate School's generous donors. The Figueroa Family Fellowship provides financial support to a science or engineering student committed to positively impacting the cu boulder community and beyond. The Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship provides a $2,500 fellowship to a student in the sciences whose research interests are interdisciplinary. The Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship provides a $4,000 fellowship to a student in the sciences. The Brenda M. Romero CU Dissertation Award provides a $1,000 award to students enrolled at CU �鶹ӰԺ, CU Denver, and the Anschutz Medical Campus whose work relates to music (or sound studies) and social justice.

Figueroa Family Fellowship

First Place: Maximilian Bailey, Department of Integrative Physiology
Honorable Mention: Gabriella Johnson, Department of Computer Science
Honorable Mention: Julia Potocnjak, Department of Integrative Physiology

Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship

Varsha Srikanth Koushik, Department of Computer Science

Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship

Katherine Hernandez, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Brenda M. Romero CU Dissertation Award in Music and/or Sound Studies and Social Justice

Renata Barreto, Department of Critical Media Practices
Benjamin Cefkin, College of Music

Cynthia H. Schultz Graduate Student Small Grant Recipients

These awards are made possible by the generous donation of the Schultz family, and in Loving Memory of John & Cynthia Schultz.

Ernest A. Bigelow Award

Sergei Motov, Department of German & Slavic Languages & Literatures

Hope Schultz Jozsa Award

Varsha Srikanth Koushik, Department of Computer Science

Jenny Kate Collins Award

Brittney Banaei, Department of Theatre & Dance

Paula C. Moore Award

Will Patterson, Department of Integrative Physiology

Verona Walker Award

Duong Nguyen, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grant Recipients

The Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants are competitive awards sponsored by the Graduate School that support the research, scholarship and creative work of graduate students from all departments at CU �鶹ӰԺ. Funding for the Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants program comes mainly from private donations. Some awards are made possible by the generous donation of an individual or family, often in honor of a family member. The highest-ranked proposals are considered for a Named Graduate Student Grant.

Dreycey Albin, Department of Computer Science
Stephan Allen, Department of Integrative Physiology
Roberto Azaretto, Department of Critical Media Practices
Brittney Banaei, Department of Theater and Dance
Liza Barnes, Leeds School of Business
Fiona Bell, ATLAS Institute
Calin Brackin, Department of Advertising, Public Relations & Design
Bentley Brown, Department of Critical Media Practices
Kristin Calahan, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Renata Carvalho Barreto, Department of Critical Media Practices
Xiaoling Chen, Department of Geography
Janghee Cho, Department of Information Science
Miriam Clayton, Department of Psychology
Zane Cupec, College of Music
Taralicin Deka, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Jing Deng, Leeds School of Business
Nicholas Dragone, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Anden Drolet, Department of Anthropology
Sebastian Duenas Ocampo, Department of Environmental Studies
Rawinorn Dulyakasem, Department of Environmental Studies
Paige Edmiston, Department of Anthropology
Stephanie Ellyse Schneider, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Caitrin Engle, Department Anthropology
Lucia Escamilla Gonzalez, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Chet Falk, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Denise Fernandes, Department of Environmental Studies
Alex Flores, Department of Psychology
Anna Gilmour, Department of Psychology
Airy Gonzalez Peralta, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Matthew Harvey, Department of Political Science
Rachel Havranek, Department of Geological Sciences
Austin Hayes, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Michael Hoefer, Department of Computer Science
Peter Innes, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Taylor Johaneman, Department of Geography
Kimberly Killen, Department of Political Science
Varsha Srikanth Koushik, Department of Computer Science
Nicollette Laroco, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Emma Loizeaux, Department of Geography
Kyle Marquis, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Ferrell McClean, Department of Anthropology
Dillon McGovern, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
Benjamin Morris, College of Music
Sergei Motov, Department of German & Slavic Languages & Literatures
Sasha Novak, ATLAS Institute
Duong Nguyen, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Anna Paraskevopoulos, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Will Patterson, Department of Integrative Physiology
Nicholas Puente, Department of Anthropology
Jake Saunders, College of Music
Jeffrey Schmidt, Department of Geography
Isabel Schroeter, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Adrienne Scott, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kailey Shara, ATLAS Institute
Young-Young Shen, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Samantha Sheppard, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Gabriella Subia Smith, Department of Geography
Bertha Bermudez Tapia, Department of Sociology
Sanggay Tashi, Department of Anthropology
Chilton Tippin, Department of Anthropology
Chia-Nien Tsai, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Paulus van Horne, Department of Critical Media Practices
Melissa Villareal, Department of Sociology
Corinne Walsh, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Kimberley Warren, Department of Critical Media Practices
Dana Withrow, Department of Integrative Physiology
Anna Wynfield, Department of Anthropology
Spencer Ziegler, Department of Geological Sciences

CURFA Carl Kisslinger Research Award

Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences

Dean's Award

Meghan Hayden, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Eloise Timmons Award

Kristin Enright, Department of Art & Art History

Friends of the Graduate School Award

Jennifer Coulombe, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ray Hauser Award

Keke Wu, ATLAS Institute

Three Minute Thesis Winners

In the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), competitors describe their research in three minutes. They use only one static slide, in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. This event is held annually at the beginning of the Spring semester and is free and open to the public.

First Place

Varsha Rao, Department of Chemical & Bioligal Engineering

Second Place

Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences

People's Choice

Vishal Ray, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences

Professional Development Digital Credential Badge Recipients

The Graduate School at CU �鶹ӰԺ is offering digital credential badges that may be earned by current graduate students and postdocs participating in our professional development opportunities. These digital badges are online microcredentials that allow students to showcase skills, competencies or achievements they have gained through learning experiences.

D. Ashley Campbell, Department of Media Studies, Communications Badge

Conny Cassity, Department of English, Communications Badge

Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, Leadership Badge

Erin Schultz, Department of Engineering Management, Professionalism Badge

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award Recipients

These awards recognize outstanding faculty for their mentorship of graduate students and contributions to graduate education.

Nichole Barger, ecology and evolutionary biology
Christine Brennan, speech, language, and hearing sciences
Dan Doak, environmental studies
Francoise Duressé-Stimilli, art and art history
Jaelyn Eberle, museum studies
Jennifer Fitzgerald, political science
Leila Gómez, spanish and portuguese
Bradley Hayes, computer science
Jerry Jacka, anthropology
Jan Lenaerts, atmospheric and oceanic sciences
Ann-Marie Madigan, astrophysical and planetary sciences
Donna Mejia, theatre and dance
Valerie Otero, education
David Root, psychology and neuroscience
Ricarose Roque, information science
Rebecca Scarborough, linguistics
Deborah Whitehead, religious studies
Emily Yeh, geography
Luis Zea, aerospace engineering

With the generous support of donors and the CU �鶹ӰԺ community, the Graduate School offers awards, grants, and fellowships that support the outstanding research, creative work, and teaching of our graduate students.

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Grad programs earn high marks in 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings

Cay Leytham-Powell — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 21:47:26 +0000

Grad programs earn high marks in 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings Cay Leytham-Powell Wed, 03/31/2021 - 15:47

Several of CU �鶹ӰԺ's graduate-level programs are among the top 25 of their kind in the United States, according to rankings released Tuesday, March 30, by U.S. News and World Report.

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Celebrating this year's Graduate School award winners!

Cay Leytham-Powell — Mon, 11 May 2020 20:17:24 +0000

Celebrating this year's Graduate School award winners! Cay Leytham-Powell Mon, 05/11/2020 - 14:17

Graduate Part-Time Instructors Teaching Excellence Awards

Recognizes excellent graduate student teachers.

Alexander Marino Cárdenas, Department of Spanish & Portuguese
Evan Coles-Harris, Department of Linguistics
Juan Jimenez Diaz, Department of French & Italian
Tracy Fehr, Department of Sociology
Christopher Jorde, Department of Political Science
Derek LeFebre, School of Education
Will Lindsay, School of Education
Scott Robinson, Leeds School of Business
Jashodhara Sen, Department of Theatre & Dance
Erica Van Steenis, School of Education
Kim Truong Vu, Department of Sociology

Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Stephanie Couey, Department of English (Reynolds Dissertation Completion Fellowship)
Juan Tiznado Aitken, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Kaitlyn Davis, Department of Anthropology
Emily Hite, Department of Anthropology
Kimberly Killen, Department of Political Science
Alexandra Lloyd, Department of Philosophy
Travis Mcdevitt-Galles, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Kathryn Randall, Department of History
Rupak Shrestha, Department of Geography
Andrea Tilstra, Department of Sociology
Sheela Turbek, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

MFA Completion Fellowship

Provides one academic semester of financial support.

Elspeth Schulze

Department of Art & Art History

Elspeth Schulze is from south-central Louisiana, where water has as much hold as land. She holds a BA in Literature from Loyola University New Orleans and an AAS in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She has worked over the years as an artist assistant, pattern maker, production manager, and most recently, as Gallery Director at Adrian College in Michigan. Recent exhibition venues include Oklahoma Contemporary in Oklahoma City, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, RedLine in Denver, and Calico in Brooklyn, New York

Summer Fellowships

Provides a $6,000 fellowship over the summer term.

Alejandra Abad, Department of Art & Art History
Nuha Albadi, Department of Computer Science
Sabina Altus, Department of Applied Mathematics
Jocelyn Armes, School of Music
Amy Burkhardt, School of Education
Andrew Campbell, Department of Mathematics
Georgios Charisoulis, Department of Geography
David Chu, Department of Classics
Mikaela DeRousseau, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Jared Desjardins, Department of Linguistics
Erik Funk, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Lucas Gagnon, Department of Mathematics
Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
Jacob Hutfles, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Nicholas Light, Leeds School of Business
Brian Marein, Department of Economics
Melissa Mazzo, Department of Integrative Physiology
David Miller, Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering
Erica Nieblas, Department of Philosophy
Joel Ornstein, Department of Mathematics
Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey, Department of Environmental Studies
Hannah Paul, Department of Political Science
Alberto Roper Pol, Department of Aerospace Engineering Science
Christina Ryder, Department of Anthropology
Dan Simon, Department of Sociology
Sherri Sheu, Department of History
Irena Stevens, Department of Technology, Cybersecurity & Policy
Andrew Stocker, Department of Mathematics
Amanda Rose Villarreal, Department of Theatre & Dance
Mike Zawaski, Department of Geological Sciences

Summer Fellowship

Cassandra Gonzalez

Department of Ethnic Studies

My research examines the phenomenon of domestic human trafficking utilizing and intersectional criminological framework. Within this research, I focus on the experiences of Black individuals as both victims and perpetrators of trafficking and how their intersecting identities of race, class, gender, and sexuality may interact with their experiences of exploitation and navigating the criminal legal system. My research methods include interviewing Black women survivors of trafficking, field observations of anti-trafficking events, and a historical analysis of the evolution of slavery, sexuality, and race. I love dogs, getting coffee with friends, and reading anything I can get my hands on. I hope be employed as a tenure-track professor at a historically Black college/university (HBCU) or at a criminology/criminal justice department where I can mentor undergrads and graduate students.

Three Minute Thesis

In the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), competitors describe their research in three minutes.

They use only one static slide, in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. This event is held annually at the beginning of the Spring semester and is free and open to the public.

Adam Lamson

Department of Physics

Watch Video

Jason Zhang

Department of Computer Science

Watch Video

Jocelyn Armes

School of Music

Watch Video

Donor Awards

These awards are made possible by the Graduate School's generous donors.

The Figueroa Family Fellowship provides financial support to a science or engineering student committed to positively impacting the cu boulder community and beyond. The Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship provides a $2,500 fellowship to a student in the sciences whose research interests are interdisciplinary. The Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship provides a $4,000 fellowship to a student in the sciences.

Figueroa Family Fellowship

1st Place: Kathryn Grabenstein, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2nd Place: Matthew Bentley, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Honorable Mention: Asais Camila Uzcategui, Materials Science & Engineering Program

Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship

Fiona Bell, ATLAS Institute

Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship

Kiera van der Sande, Department of Applied Mathematics

Cynthia H. Schultz Graduate Student Small Grant

These awards are made possible by the generous donation of the Schultz family, and in Loving Memory of John & Cynthia Schultz.

Ernest A. Bigelow Award

Tarren Andrews, Department of English

Hope Schultz Jozsa Award

Kathleen McGuire, Department of Anthropology

Jenny Kate Collins Award

Megan Healy, School of Music

Paula C. Moore Award

Sierra Jech, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Verona Walker Award

Kathryn Grabenstein, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants

Funding for the Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants program comes mainly from private donations. Some awards are made possible by the generous donation of an individual or family, often in honor of a family member. The highest-ranked proposals are considered for a Named Graduate Student Grant.

Beverly Sears Named Graduate Student Grants

Dean's Award

Derek LeFebre, School of Education

CURFA Carl Kisslinger Research Award

Laura Maurer, Department of Chemistry

Ray Hauser Award

Alexander Standen, Department of Environmental Studies

Eloise Timmons Award

Cassandra Gonzalez, Department of Ethnic Studies

Friends of the Graduate School Award

Anne Fetrow, Department of Geology

Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants

Alejandra Abad, Department of Art & Art History
Nathan Anderson, Department of Integrative Physiology
Ciara Asamoto, Department of Geology
Ashlyn Barnett, Department of Theatre & Dance
Srinjita Bhaduri, Department of Computer Science
Laurel Brigham, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Gabriela Buitron Vera, Department of Spanish & Portuguese
Marielle Butters, Department of Linguistics
Kelly Carscadden, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Zachary Cooper, Department of Anthropology
Sara Cottle, Department of Journalism
Jack Dalton, Department of Anthropology
Sarah Davis-Mauney, Department of Theatre & Dance
Sasha de Koninck, Department of Intermedia, Art, Writing, and Performance
Simone Domingue, Department of Sociology
Nick Dragone, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Bailey Duhe, Department of Anthropology
Jessie Egan, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Ian Elliot, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Tracy Fehr, Department of Sociology
Carrie Fleming, Department of Sociology
Anne Fritzon, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
Kelsey Fuller, School of Music
Erik Funk, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Chloe Garfinkle, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Laurel Gibson, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
Angela Hansen, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Brandon Hayes, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kate Hinshaw, Department of Art & Art History
Emily Hite, Department of Anthropology
Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
Emily Irvin, Department of Art & Art History
Deidre Jaeger, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Claire Karban, Deparment of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Sean Keyser, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Ruiqi Li, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Josette Lorig, Department of English
Molly McDermott, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Tina Melie, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biolgy
Andrew Morgenthaler, Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Toma Peiu, Department of Emergent Technologies and Media Arts Practices
Jacob Pettine, Department of Physics
Chelsea Pretz, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Vishal Ray, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Will Reed, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Devon Reynolds, Department of Environmental Studies
Kailey Shara, ATLAS Institute
Sherri Sheu, Department of History
Ji Shouse, Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations
Joel Singley, Department of Environmental Studies
Ryan Smith, Department of History
Hillary Steinberg, Department of Sociology
Amanda Villarreal, Department Theatre & Dance
Robery Weiner, Department of Anthropology
K. Woodzick, Department of Theatre & Dance
Megan Zabinski, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Professional Development Digital Credential Badges

The Graduate School at CU �鶹ӰԺ is offering digital credential badges that may be earned by current graduate students and postdocs participating in our professional development opportunities. These digital badges are online microcredentials that allow students to showcase skills, competencies or achievements they have gained through learning experiences.

Maria Calahorra-Jimenez

PhD candidate in the Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, Communication Badge

Georgiana Salant

PhD candidate in Biochemistry, Communication and Leadership Badges

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award

Recognizes outstanding mentorship of graduate students and contributions to graduate education.

David Ciarlo, Department of History
Cheryl Higashida, Department of English
Antje Richter, Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations
Kaifa Roland, Department of Anthropology

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award Honorable Mentions

Casey Fiesler, Department of Information Science
Tania Martuscelli, Department of Spanish & Portuguese
Eric Pederson, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
Brian Toon, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Sabrina Volpone, Leeds School of Business
Deborah Whitehead, Department of Religious Studies

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Grad programs earn high marks in 2021 U.S. News and World Report rankings

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 18:24:30 +0000

Grad programs earn high marks in 2021 U.S. News and World Report rankings Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 03/19/2020 - 12:24

CU �鶹ӰԺ currently stands among the top 25 nationally for several of its graduate-level programs, according to rankings released Tuesday, March 17, by U.S. News and World Report.

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