May 26, 2025
By Chloe Arrington

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded fellowships to several incoming students and recent graduates of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees.

Aisha Brundan, Vibha Ramanathan Iyer, Alexey Denisovich Khotimsky, Samuel Kirschner, and Jeffrey Li have each received graduate research fellowships from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

The fellowship provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. For each of the three years of support, NSF provides a $37,000 stipend and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance.

The support enables recipients to delve deeply into their research interests and focus on specific areas of study. This specialized approach will allow them to explore innovative ideas, address unique challenges, and contribute to advancements in their chosen fields.

"The fellowship will provide me with the flexibility to tailor my research to the intersection of robotics and healthcare," said Khotimsky.  

NSF Fellows are predicted to become knowledge experts who can significantly contribute to science and engineering research, teaching, and innovations. These individuals are vital to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security and contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.

Meet the recipients below: