University of Florida students earn 15 prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Fifteen University of Florida graduate students have been selected to receive 2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, one of the nation's most competitive and prestigious awards for graduate students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes students with exceptional potential to become leaders in research and innovation. The fellowship provides nearly $160,000 in support for graduate study and is widely regarded as one of the highest honors available to early-career scientists and engineers.

This year's cohort reflects the breadth of research excellence across UF, with recipients representing engineering, life sciences, physics, materials science and the social sciences.

2026 University of Florida NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recipients:

Allison Gao — Life Sciences: Microbial Biology
Supraja Ganti — Engineering: Biomedical Engineering
Michaela Nicole Haensgen — Engineering: Chemical Engineering
Konnor G. Hole — Engineering: Mechanical Engineering
Makenzie Ann Jones — Engineering: Biomedical Engineering
Reece Logan Lawrence — Engineering: Mechanical Engineering
Matheus Kunzler Maldaner— Computer and Information Sciences/Engineering: Artificial Intelligence
Camilla May — Engineering: Biomedical Engineering
Dominic A. Meler — Engineering: Mechanical Engineering
Matthew O'Connell — Materials Research: Biomaterials
Halena G. Soto — Social Sciences: Biological Anthropology
Nhat Huy Mai Tran — Physics and Astronomy: Condensed Matter Physics
Joel Dillon Vann — Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Thomas E. Victor — Life Sciences: Ecology
Anna Peng Yang — Engineering: Industrial Engineering and Operations Research