Stony Brook University Continues STEM Excellence with Six 2026 NSF GRFP Winners

Stony Brook University had six students selected as recipients and one honorable mention of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) for 2026.

The NSF GRFP was established in 1952 with the goal of strengthening the quality and vitality of the U.S. scientific workforce. By supporting outstanding students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM fields, the program invests in individuals who demonstrate the capacity to make significant contributions to their disciplines.

The selection process this year saw more than 14,000 applicants from all 50 states, with only 2,500 awards being granted nationwide. Standing out in such a massive, competitive applicant pool is an achievement in its own, a testament to the quality of their hard work. For these six recipients, the fellowship provides substantial financial support, including a three-year annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance, which allows them to dedicate themselves fully to their research.

Beyond the funding, the program connects them to a prestigious network of past fellows, including numerous Nobel Laureates and members of the National Academy of Sciences. Their selection highlights the university's role in supporting a broad spectrum of research talent and preparing the next generation of leaders to address complex global challenges.

These students embody the talent within Stony Brook's undergraduate and graduate programs, joining a long-standing tradition of scholars recognized for their potential to contribute to the future of American scientific and engineering discovery.

Undergraduate and graduate students applying for fellowship opportunities at Stony Brook are supported by the External Fellowships unit in the Graduate School. Throughout the year, the office offers workshops and advising appointments, helping students understand their research goals and develop the communication skills necessary to obtain national awards such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, and excel in their future careers.

Students interested in applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program can learn more by visiting the External Fellowships website.

Fellowship Winners

Julianna Gerold
PhD Student, Psychology

Julianna Gerold's purpose in applying to the NSF-GRFP was to support the development and execution of an interdisciplinary research program examining cognitive and neural vulnerability to financial exploitation in older adults. This fellowship will enable her to integrate behavioral and neuroimaging approaches to develop task-based measures of vulnerability. Through this work, she aims to advance her training as an early-career scientist committed to promoting financial autonomy and well-being across the aging lifespan.

Ashley House
PhD Student, Geosciences

Through the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), Ashley House aims to advance her research modeling the ecological evolution of the Turkana Basin. By expanding her focus to understudied vertebrate groups, she seeks to better illuminate the origins of modern eastern African ecosystems and their resilience in the face of contemporary climate change. Furthermore, she looks forward to utilizing this opportunity to mentor Stony Brook University undergraduates in paleoecological analyses, fostering their engagement with the broader geological and ecological research communities.

Evelyn Li
PhD Student, Neuroscience

Winning this fellowship feels like a turning point for Evelyn Li, where she is beginning to see herself as an emerging independent neuroscientist with the opportunity to shape her own academic path. Li is most excited to take real ownership of her research, and the NSF GRFP gives her the support and freedom to explore the scientific questions that catalyzed her passion for science in the first place.

Yuxuan Lin
PhD Student, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology

Yuxuan Lin applied for the fellowship to pursue ambitious research in developmental biology while continuing a commitment to mentorship and accessible science. She is looking forward to pursuing her research in pituitary stem cell genetics with greater independence and flexibility. She is also excited to connect with other NSF fellows across fields and gain broader insight and skills beyond life science.

Kavya Menke
PhD Student, IDPAS

By applying to the NSF GRFP, Kavya Menke hoped to gain funding that would create more opportunities to pursue her research and to gain more experience in grant writing and project design. She is looking forward to studying wild primate populations in their native habitats. The NSF GRFP funding will allow her to spend more time collecting data from wild primates in the field.

Ciara Woellhof
Master's Student, Biomedical Engineering

As an NSF GRFP fellow, Ciara Woellhof looks forward to the freedom to pursue her research interests at Carnegie Mellon, particularly in the realm of digital twins. She aims to make a significant impact on patient-specific healthcare to ensure equitable access to optimized medical treatment. Beyond her immediate research, she is eager to engage with the NSF network to bolster her work and ultimately to lead her own research lab in the future.

Honorable Mention

Sean Krivitsky
Senior, Biochemistry