Five students receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (4/12/2023) – Five students connected to the Department of Chemistry community have received fellowships in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The fellowship recipients are Alison Block, Clare Froehlich, Maggie Kumler, Dani Rodriguez, and Fabian Williams.
From left to right: Dani Rodriguez, Clare Froehlich, Alison Block, Fabian Williams, and Maggie Kumler.
Alison Block is a first-year Chemistry graduate student in the Hillmyer Group. She is currently investigating methods for selectively depolymerizing bioderived polymers. The end goal of Alison’s research is to develop sustainable polymers that can replace current petrochemical-derived and non-degradable plastics.
Clare Froehlich is a first-year Chemical Engineering graduate student co-advised by Professors Christy Haynes and Vivian Ferry. Froehlich joined the Haynes lab as an undergraduate in 2019. She graduated summa cum laude with her B.ChE. in chemical engineering and B.S. in chemistry from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2022, then continued in the group as a graduate student. While in the Haynes and Ferry labs, she will be working on developing chiral plasmonic nanomaterials for use in SERS sensors.
Maggie Kumler is a first-year Chemistry graduate student in the Hillmyer Group. Her research interests are focused on understanding structure-property relationships for new sustainable polymers. Maggie’s working goal is to develop sustainable thermoplastic elastomers with competitive properties to current commercial plastics.
Dani Rodriguez is a first-year Chemistry graduate student in the Carlson Group. She has been fascinated by organic chemistry since her junior year of undergraduate studies and is interested in solving biological issues – such as antibiotic resistance – from a chemistry perspective. Dani is currently doing research in organic synthesis with chemical biology applications to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Her recent goals consist of generating new inhibitors to contribute to my research project and the optimization of some reactions I am recreating in the lab. Dani also volunteers in WISE outreach events such as Cool Chemistry, and hopes to continue developing her mentoring skills.
Fabian Williams is a senior in the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science undergraduate program. For three years, he has been doing research with Chemistry Professor Renee Frontiera on plasmon-driven reactions using Raman spectroscopy. In addition to his recent research, Fabian interned at Northwestern University and experimented with solid-acid fuel cell electrolytes under the instruction of MSE Professor Sossina Haile. Fabian plans to pursue a Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering and continue his research with a focus on energy materials and carbon capture.
The NSF GRFP 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 at accredited United States institutions. The program also seeks to support the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM graduate studies. The three-year fellowship provides an annual stipend of $37,000.