Michelle Pizzo, in the lab of Professor Robert Thorne, and Celeste Alvarez, in the lab of Professor Glen Kwon, both in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, received a 2014 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship. Ian Miller, in the lab of Professor Jason Kwan, received honorable mention.

“Steadily building on the success of honorable mentions from previous years, our achievements and recognition this year were made possible in part by our efforts to admit and enroll highly-qualified, exceptional students that can compete for the most prestigious national fellowships,” said Robert Thorne.

The NSF Graduate 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 at accredited U.S. institutions. The GRFP invests in students with demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering.

According to Joan Palmer, administrative program specialist and grants manager for the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy, the NSF fellowship is unique in that it is based on the individuals’ scientific and broader impact—getting the science out of the lab and into the community. Graduate students earning Honorable Mentions in recent years include:

• Navid Adnani (2012) in the lab of Professor Tim Bugni, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division
• Joe Gawdzik (2013) in the lab of Professors Warren Heideman and Richard E. Peterson, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division

Recent pharmaceutical sciences graduate students with a UW Madison affiliation to receive a NSF GRFP Fellowship include:

• Erin Gemperline (2013) in the Department of Chemistry in the lab of Professor Lingjun Li, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division
• Chris Lietz (2013) in the Department of Chemistry in the lab of Professor Lingjun Li, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division
• Sarah Neuman (2013) in the lab of Professor Arash Bashirullah, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division
• Emanuel Vasquez-Rivera in (2013) the lab of Professor Tim Bugni, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division

NSF Graduate Fellows receive a $32,000 annual stipend. The GRFP Fellowship period is up to five years, with support provided for a maximum of three years. During the course of the GRFP Fellowship period, Fellows can take advantage of opportunities offered through the GRFP, like international research collaboration and professional development. Fellows conduct their research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.