SLU Students, Alumnus Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

SLU Students, Alumnus Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Pranavi Kolouju will use fellowship to continue work in Abby Stylianou's computer science lab

ST. LOUIS - Three Saint Louis University students and one recent alumnus have been awarded highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Programs (GRFP) for 2026. The fellowship recognizes outstanding academic achievement and the potential to make significant contributions to research and society.

One student, Pranavi Kolouju, will use her fellowship to pursue a Ph.D. at SLU.

Applicants are evaluated on intellectual merit and broader impacts, including their potential to advance knowledge and contribute meaningfully to society.

Kolouju will use her fellowship to continue her work in Abby Stylianou's computer science lab, working on TraffickCam, a mobile application developed by Stylianou that enables users to help combat child sex abuse and human trafficking by uploading photos of hotel rooms when they travel.

"I'm excited about the funding for myself, but more excited that this funding will allow us to bring more students into the lab," Kolouju said, noting that she has benefited from the different perspectives of fellow students and investigators during her time at SLU and she was looking forward to expanding opportunities.

Kolouju initially applied for the fellowship as a SLU senior in 2025. That rejection allowed her to hone her focus for this year.

"I put in the work on my publications and I received really amazing recommendations from my professors," she said.

Kolouju came to Saint Louis University as an undergraduate to study computer science, drawn to SLU's 4+1 program which allows students to complete undergraduate and master's degrees in five years. She said her initial plan was to go into industry.

"After working in the lab, I've come to see that there is a valid career path in research that I didn't see coming," she said. "I can see the impact of the work we are doing and I really enjoy teaching as well."

Stylianou said she is incredibly proud of Kolouju.

"I met her as an undergraduate in our program several years ago, and have been delighted to watched her turn curiosity (and a strong math and programming background) into real research contributions and publications," said Stylianou. "She's the kind of student who makes our lab and our department better, and this recognition is very well deserved."

Kolouju said Stylianou and the Department of Computer Science have provided a community that allow students to thrive.

"There is a closeness in the department that you can feel in every faculty member and student. It is a collaborative place," she said. "The mentorship that I have received while at SLU has made all the difference. I figured out what I wanted to do through the strong mentors I have here."

Saint Louis University's 2026 GRFP recipients represent the fields of biology, computer science, and mathematics. They include:

• Pascal Sikorski, a computer science major, will graduate this spring and head to University of Pennsylvania for a Ph.D.
• Leendert Schrader, a mathematics major, will graduate this fall and go on to begin a Ph.D. program at Washington University.
• Patrick Hunt, who graduated from SLU in 2025 with a degree in biology, is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in biology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

"It's exciting to see multiple students from the School of Science and Engineering and across SLU receiving this award, which really speaks to the research trajectory we're building as a college and a university," said Stylianou.

Over the past 10 years, seven students from the University have received NSF GRFP fellowships.

Each fellowship provides three years of support, including an annual stipend and funding for tuition and research-related expenses. In addition to financial support, GRFP recipients gain national recognition and access to a broad network of scholars and professional opportunities.

"This is an exceptional accomplishment and a testament to the ambition, creativity, and persistence of our students," said Anneke Bart, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics and statistics. "Their success reflects the strength of our academic programs and the close mentorship that helps students develop into impactful researchers."