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These are among the most prestigious awards available for graduate study, consisting of an annual $30,000 stipend plus tuition and generous discretionary funds for three years of support. “The level of support these fellowships give to up-and-coming young researchers is really critical in helping them to reach their full potential,” said W. Todd Monroe, associate professor in LSU’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and faculty research adviser to both students. “After working closely with John and Sarah, I can say that these students will move on to have amazing careers in their chosen fields. They are truly a testament to the high-quality education we offer here at LSU.” “It has been a pleasure to teach and mentor Sarah and John; their technical expertise and commitment to community make them the Renaissance scholars that the GRFP seeks to promote,” said Marybeth Lima, another faculty adviser for the two students. After graduating from LSU in May, Casey will travel to China for the summer to improve his fluency in Mandarin at Heilongjiang University in Harbin, China. He will begin doctoral studies in MIT’s biological engineering program in the fall. Casey, a Mandeville native and son of Kat and Pat Casey, plans to pursue a professorship or a position with a biotechnology firm once his studies are complete. “The award greatly facilitated my acceptance into the Ph.D. program at MIT, as schools across the country are proud to call NSF fellows their own. The fellowship will set me up long-term to spearhead bioengineering research, and I hope to be able to work toward decreasing the costs of healthcare both domestically and internationally,” said Casey. “This year’s NSF Fellowships are another product of the wonderful relationships between faculty and undergraduate students possible at LSU. Professors like Dr. [Marybeth] Lima and Dr. [W. Todd] Monroe have been the starting point and driving force behind anything I have been able to accomplish here, be it scholarships or laboratory work.” De Leo, a native of Baton Rouge and daughter of Jim and the late Rose Anne De Leo, will begin her doctoral studies in Columbia University’s biomedical engineering program. “I am very honored to receive this fellowship. It is a fantastic opportunity to pursue graduate-level education and research, and to build upon the strong engineering foundation that I have received at LSU,” said De Leo. “At Columbia, I will explore neural circuitry through 2D and 3D optical imaging, microscopy and/or spectroscopy techniques. This research will facilitate a more complete picture of normal brain function, and findings will contribute to a better understanding of ailments including Alzheimer's disease and age-related neurodegeneration.” After completing her graduate studies, De Leo plans to pursue a career as a university professor and researcher. “My ultimate goal is to make science accessible to the larger community and to create opportunities to support and encourage young students in scientific disciplines,” she said. Both students received university and state support throughout their undergraduate careers. Casey was supported in his undergraduate research at LSU through the Chancellor’s Future Leaders in Research, or CFLR, program, which provides qualifying undergraduate students opportunities to conduct research and work alongside faculty mentors for four years. De Leo received undergraduate support through the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or LA-STEM, Research Scholars Program. Both students will graduate in May with College Honors. Casey was recently named a member of the USA Today All-USA Academic Second Team and LSU’s Tiger 12, and De Leo is graduating with Distinguished Communicator honors. “We are proud of these students and of our faculty, who provide excellent mentoring, undergraduate research opportunities, and encourage students to pursue NSF Graduate Fellowships,” said Dan Thomas, professor and head of the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering. De Leo and Casey are the ninth and tenth students in biological engineering to have received the NSF Graduate Fellowship in the past eight years. The LSU Honors College Office of Fellowship Advising was created to assist students in applying for prestigious post-graduate scholarships and fellowships, such as the NSF Graduate Research, Rhodes, Marshall, Gates, Mitchell, Truman and Goldwater awards. Students interested in applying for these and other scholarship opportunities or for more information, contact fellowships@lsu.edu. About NSF GRFP The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in the United States and abroad. NSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals will be crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large. For more information about GRFP, visit http://www.nsfgrfp.org/. MEDIA NOTE: A former LSU Honors College student, Katie Faust Stryjewski, is also a recipient of the NSF GRFP award this year. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology at Boston University. -30- |
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