Ten Tulanians recognized by National Science Foundation

Ten students and alumni connected to the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering have been recognized by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, one of the nation's most competitive honors for emerging researchers in science and engineering.

"This kind of recognition reflects what is possible when students have access to strong mentorship, hands-on research opportunities and the freedom to explore ambitious ideas," said Hridesh Rajan, dean of the Tulane School of Science and Engineering. "It is a clear outcome of the world-class research environment we continue to build at Tulane."

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports graduate students conducting advanced research in STEM fields and is widely regarded as a national benchmark for research potential. This year's Tulane-affiliated recipients earned five award offers and five honorable mentions across disciplines including ecology, coastal science, chemistry, neuroscience and psychology.

Their work spans tropical biodiversity, coral reef ecosystems, coastal restoration, neuroscience and the developmental and mental health benefits of hip-hop culture, reflecting the range of research taking place across the School of Science and Engineering.

Among those recognized was Avi Strange, a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Strange is demystifying how Louisiana oyster reefs change size and shape over time - and how those changes affect their ability to reduce coastal erosion.

Strange uses lidar, a technology that emits laser pulses toward the earth's surface to create high-resolution maps of hard-to-see places. The technology has also been used at Tulane to discover lost Maya cities in dense jungles.

"Being recognized by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is both an honor and a meaningful validation of my potential as an early-career scientist," Strange said.

Tom DeCarlo, professor of earth and environmental sciences, said Strange's research demonstrates how students are combining traditional fieldwork with advanced technologies to address applied environmental challenges.

Other recognized work includes using artificial intelligence to sift through recordings of bird songs to better understand bird variety and research into how engagement with hip-hop culture can provide developmental, communal and mental health benefits for Black youth.

"I hope my work contributes to reshaping narrow and often negative perceptions of hip-hop culture by highlighting its potential as a source of resilience, identity development and community connection," said Isaiah Epstein-Bagneris, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology.

Angela Grace Larson, another doctoral student studying earth and environmental sciences, received an honorable mention for her work seeking to better predict the impact of rising temperatures on coral reefs.

"I use statistical modeling to improve global coral bleaching predictions, drawing on large-scale temperature datasets developed in the Reef Lab," said Larson. "This recognition is a meaningful reminder that I'm moving in the right direction."

DeCarlo called her work "an ambitious project that brings together large-scale coral reef temperature data and machine learning to forecast coral stress in ways that are directly useful for management."

Together, the students and alumni recognized this year represent five departments within the School of Science and Engineering.

Awardees

• Maia Edwards
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences - Ecology
• Isaiah Epstein-Bagneris
  Psychology
  NSF Field: Developmental Psychology
• Ki Fraser Kuhn Finch
  Chemistry
  NSF Field: Macromolecular and Supramolecular Chemistry
• Avi Ann Rainey Strange
  Earth and Environmental Sciences
  NSF Field: Coastal Studies
• Alexander B. Walker
  Neuroscience
  NSF Field: Neurosciences

Honorable mentions

• Callie Rose Chenevert
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences - Ecology
• Emma Elizabeth Carol Jacobs
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences - Ecology
• Angela Grace Larson
  Earth and Environmental Sciences
  NSF Field: Biological Oceanography
• Porter D. Reim
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences - Ecology
• Clara Johanna Steeby
  Psychology
  NSF Field: Cognitive Neuroscience