CU Boulder doctoral student takes first prize in state 3MT competition for presentation on the urea molecule

Zach Schiffman, a doctoral candidate in chemistry, beat out participating universities within Colorado to win the state Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition last month. He won with his presentation, “The Urea Molecule: From Fertilizer . . . to Climate Change?”

This is the second win for Schiffman, who took first prize in the Graduate School’s annual 3MT competition earlier this year. As part of his winnings, he was then invited to represent the university at both the regional (Western Region of Graduate Schools) and state (Colorado Council of Graduate Schools) competitions.

The 3MT event, which began at the University of Queensland in 2008, challenges graduate students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. To prepare, CU Boulder graduate students participate in a series of workshops focusing on storytelling, writing, presentation skills and improvisation comedy techniques. The Graduate School then holds a preliminary competition to whittle down the competition to ten finalists, who participate in the final competition at the beginning of February.

More information about the 3MT competition, including how to get involved in the 2024–25 school year, is available on the 3MT webpage.

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The Graduate Research Fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in a wide variety of science-related disciplines

The National Science Foundation has awarded 27 University of Colorado Boulder students with the prestigious graduate research fellowship, which places the university in the top 15 nationwide in terms of number awarded, the federal agency announced last week.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes outstanding graduate students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, paving the way for their continued work exploring some of the most complex and pressing issues of our time.

This year’s recipients of the five-year fellowship represent a wide swath of disciplines, spanning paleontology to robotics. Each GRFP recipient will receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000, as well as professional development and research opportunities.

We are very proud of the outstanding students who have been recognized for this highly competitive fellowship.

“We are thrilled to see so many of our students recognized by NSF through these fellowships,” said Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes. “With so many highly regarded graduate programs at CU Boulder, it is no surprise that we are consistently among the leading university recipients of these awards. I want to congratulate each of these students for their accomplishments so far and for the positive impact they will have through these fellowships.”

Of those 27 winners, 50% participated in a workshop or information session organized by the Graduate School, in partnership with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. These included specialized writing workshops, coaching sessions and general informational sessions about applying for the GRFP.

"This year’s continued success in securing NSF GRFPs alongside the nation’s top graduate schools is not only a testament to our extraordinary graduate students at CU, but also the Graduate School’s approach to cultivating talent with our campus partners and tremendously supportive faculty,” said E. Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and the vice provost for graduate affairs. “We are very proud of the outstanding students who have been recognized for this highly competitive fellowship.”

This year’s recipients include:

• Emma Aldrich, chemical and biological engineering
• Victoria Avery, astrophysical and planetary sciences
• Timotej Bernat, chemical and biological engineering
• Ethan Carr, geography
• Zoe Cruse, chemical and biological engineering
• Connor Diaz, geological sciences
• Bryan Durham, aerospace engineering sciences
• Mikaela Felix, aerospace engineering sciences
• Kyle Fisch, chemistry
• Kaylie Flores, ecology and evolutionary biology
• Shantae Gallegos, biomedical engineering
• Dylan Hamilton, materials science and engineering
• Abigail Hartley, astrophysical and planetary sciences
• Olivia Irvin, chemical and biological engineering
• Catherine Leszcz, aerospace engineering sciences
• Ryan Menges, aerospace engineering sciences
• Dylan Meyer, electrical, computer and energy engineering
• Sara Padula, ecology and evolutionary biology
• Madeline Pernat, civil engineering
• David Saeb, chemical and biological engineering
• Aliza Siddiqui, electrical, computer and energy engineering
• Caleb Song, mechanical engineering
• Ashlee Stratton, geological sciences
• Katherine Trese, chemical and biological engineering
• William Xie, computer science
• Raquel Yupanqui, computer science
• Mobeen Zahid, ecology and evolutionary biology

In addition to the fellowship award winners, 17 students were recognized with an honorable mention.

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Ten students participated in this year’s final competition for a chance at prize money and a chance to represent CU Boulder at the regional competition.

Environmental advertising, the mental health toll of being a drone pilot, and accessible robot building were a few of the topics presented during the seventh annual Three Minute Thesis Competition on Feb. 7, 2024.

This event challenges graduate students to craft a three-minute elevator pitch for their complex—and sometimes difficult to make sense of—research in a way that even an everyday person could understand.

This year, the ten competitors did just that to a packed Glenn Miller Ballroom and a panel of judges, which included Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell. The judges then evaluated the competitors on comprehension, content, engagement and communication.

“The Three Minute Thesis competition is one of my favorite Graduate School events for many reasons, and this year was no exception,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School. “It is of vital importance that the public understand the valuable work that graduate students are doing every day, and how it can impact them in lasting and positive ways, and this event does just that. Every year I am amazed and inspired by the incredible research that our students are doing, it makes me very proud to be dean of the Graduate School.”

The 2024 winners are:

First Place

Zach Schiffman, chemistry, The Urea Molecule: From Fertilizer… to Climate Change?

Second Place

Spencer Zeigler, geological sciences, The Missing Pages of Earth History

People’s Choice

Aaquib Tabrez, computer science, Building Trust & Reliance in Human-Machine Teams via Transparent Algorithms

Schiffman will receive $1500 in prize money and will represent CU Boulder at the Western Association of Graduate Schools competition. Zeigler and Tabrez will receive $750 and $500 in research funds, respectively.

Judges for this year’s event were College of Arts and Sciences Dean Glen Krutz, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Associate Dean Charles Musgraves, Professor of Sociology Lori Hunter, and Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell. Bud Coleman, Roe Green endowed chair in theatre, was the event’s emcee.

More information about the 2025 Three Minute Thesis Competition will be available on the Three Minute Thesis competition web page this fall.

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Grants from the Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation will improve equity and community across the graduate student experience

The University of Colorado Boulder is one of ten recipients to receive a grant from the Sloan Centers for Systemic Change initiative, the foundation .

This award aims to transform doctoral programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields by removing entrenched barriers to student success, improving student outcomes and creating educational environments that are more effective and equitable for all.

The Graduate School was awarded $250,000 to further develop its mentoring program for both faculty and students with the aim of improving equity and community across the graduate student experience.

In addition to the grant award, Sloan is also supporting each institution’s participation in the Equity in Graduate Education Consortium, a networked improvement community that equips participants with research, tools and change management strategies to achieve systemic change.

“This grant from the Sloan Foundation fits nicely with one of the longstanding major priorities of the Graduate School: to greatly improve graduate mentoring on campus and to broaden the use of best practices in inclusive mentoring,” said Scott Adler, the dean of the Graduate School and the vice provost for graduate affairs.

Specifically, the Graduate School will use the grant to:

• Build a more vigorous community of faculty engaged in improving mentorship of graduate students and support those faculty in improving their mentoring.
• Provide support from the Equity in Graduate Education Consortium to multiple departments eager to make systemic changes to their mentoring structure.
• Expand the current inclusive mentoring micro-credential.
• Promote community building among graduate students.

I have no doubt that these ten institutions are well on their way to becoming national leaders in reshaping STEM doctoral programs in ways that allow every student not only to succeed but to thrive.

Lorelle Espinosa, program director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

“This grant is part of a bigger effort to create synergies between our mentoring initiative, which included the hire of Natasha Shrikant from the College of Media, Communication and Information as its director, and our efforts to widen access to graduate programs and support a more diverse graduate student body,” Adler commented.

Applications for funding were assessed for the quality of planned activities, the breadth of participating departments on campus and the depth of institutional commitment to identifying and addressing systemic barriers to success in graduate education.

The Sloan Centers for Systemic Change initiative builds on Sloan’s University Centers for Exemplary Mentoring program, now concluding. That program found large, positive impacts on student outcomes, including much higher retention and graduation rates of participating Sloan Scholars than are observed nationally for underrepresented students.

At the end of a successful two-year seed grant period, institutions will be eligible to apply for four-year, $1.4 million implementation grants from Sloan, which include scholarship funds for students in participating departments.

“We know that we can make graduate education in STEM better for everyone,” said Adam Falk, president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, . “But systemic change is hard. What stands out about these institutions is their level of commitment and readiness. These are campuses that have a vision for how to be better and are eager to take the next step.”

Lorelle Espinosa, program director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, echoed that sentiment: “The next two years are about laying the foundations for success. … I have no doubt that these ten institutions are well on their way to becoming national leaders in reshaping STEM doctoral programs in ways that allow every student not only to succeed but to thrive.”

The CU Boulder Graduate School was also recently awarded a $45,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to participate in the. This award will be used to examine general trends in graduate student admission for both domestic and international applicants, with an eye toward creating a diverse scientific workforce.

“These awards showcase the innovation happening in the Graduate School right now,” Adler said. “We’re making the Graduate School a more equitable and inclusive place by creating a welcoming community for all, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Parts of this announcement are adapted from the .

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Graduate students from music and education receive funding to study educational systems abroad and music at the tip of the world

Two University of Colorado Boulder graduate students have been awarded the 2023-24 , the Department of Education announced.

The DDRA fellowship provides doctoral candidates who have shown mastery of a language with the opportunity to conduct dissertation research in area studies or foreign languages for six to 12 months abroad.

Lydia Wagenknecht from the College of Music will use the award to travel to Chile to study the effect of climate change on local music while Kyle Kopsick from the School of Education will go to Costa Rica to research international education organizations.

Both expressed gratitude for the fellowship, commenting that this funding offered them a chance to do research that might not be otherwise possible.

Affordances and limitations of international education organizations

Originally from Chicago, Kopsick arrived at CU Boulder by way of Quito, Ecuador, where he taught history and philosophy at a school run by an international education organization for roughly five years.

International education organizations are organizations, mainly from Europe, that affiliate with schools throughout the world to accredit, assess and offer diplomas or certificates to students who successfully go through their programs.

“Some are known to be pretty demanding, and while they do certain academic things very well, there are also all sorts of questions about what it means for teachers to have to follow educational standards that are set by governing bodies outside their local and regional contexts,” Kopsick commented.

And it is those questions about the affordances and limitations of the organizations that Kopsick will be researching with the help of the DDRA fellowship.

Kopsick will conduct qualitative research at a school in Costa Rica, working with teachers to do class observations and focus groups, and talking with them “about their experiences teaching under these kinds of organizations.” Kopsick will use this information to figure out how it ultimately affects their teaching practices, which, in turn, affect how and what students are learning.

“I came (to CU Boulder) with the intention of doing international field work, which I knew I could. But I also knew things needed to be set in place properly, and having the support of Fulbright really clarifies that,” said Kopsick. “Dissertation work can often be a challenging and isolating pursuit, so anytime you have this kind of additional support, it’s nice validation.”

Sound at the edge of the world

For Wagenknecht, an ethnomusicologist (someone who studies music and sound in culture), the route to the DDRA fellowship was a bit more serendipitous.

Already a Fulbright student grant recipient, she first heard about the fellowship during an orientation for Fulbright scholars where other DDRA fellows were present. Aware that her research was going to take longer than nine months, which is what the student grant provides, she decided to apply and was accepted.

“It was a really big relief,” said Wagenknecht, who was also the people’s choice winner during last year’s Three Minute Thesis competition.

During the DDRA fellowship, Wagenknecht will be researching the music and sound in Punta Arenas, Chile, which is at the southern tip of South American. In particular, she’ll be working with a diverse array of artists and researchers to explore how the sound and music of humans and nonhumans (e.g., landscapes) is changing in response to climate change.

“Punta Arenas is a major jumping off point for Antarctic research, so the city has branded itself as an Antarctic city and there’s a bunch of Antarctic research initiatives going on here,” said Wagenknecht, adding, “This is a part of the world where there’s a lot of really dramatic climate change events happening.”

Through field recordings, ethnographic interviews and concerts, Wagenknecht will pull together a series of case studies, one of which will be Antarctic soundscape projects.

“Ethnographic research can take a long time,” Wagenknecht commented. “I feel like this grant will help me build more reciprocal relationships. I can help my community partners, they can help me, and we can trust each other more. That’s really important.”

For more information, including how to apply, please visit the or reach out to Patty Stanfield at patricia.stanfield@colorado.edu. Applications for 2024 cycle typically open in the spring.

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Sanggay Tashi, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, will use this award to do on-the-ground research into Tibetan nomads as they adapt to a changing world

A Tibetan scholar at the University of Colorado Boulder is part of the inaugural class of dissertation innovation fellows, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) and Mellow Foundation announced recently.

Sanggay Tashi, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, is one of 45 recipients of this award, which supports doctoral students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences as they pursue bold and innovative approaches to dissertation research.

Tashi will use the $50,000 award to learn from Indigenous scholars and travel to his home on the Tibetan plateau to study how Tibetan nomads creatively assert their cultural identity amidst structural and developmental modernization. He’ll do this by immersing himself in the culture, working with and within the community, and involving himself as part of the projects already underway there—which, he says, are innovative in-and-of themselves.

“Historically, research in Tibetan studies in the West has been conducted predominantly by outsiders,” said Tashi. “I believe that the enthusiastic support for this project is a promising sign for the future of Tibetan studies.”

Growing up in a Tibetan nomadic family, Tashi says that he became interested in this subject because “it’s part of who I am,” adding:

“I have a special kind of connection to the people, and I understand what they’re going through because it’s also part of my experience of growing up in that culture.”

Tashi studied at Duke University before coming to CU Boulder, but his Tibetan roots continue to inspire him to this day, which led him to apply for this fellowship.

The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship is designed to intervene at the formative stage of dissertation development and promote research methodologies, project formats and areas of inquiry that challenge traditional norms of doctoral education.

As part of the award, each fellow receives a $40,000 stipend for the fellowship year; $8,000 for project-related research, training, professional development and travel expenses; and a $2,000 stipend to support external mentorship and advising that offers critical perspectives and expertise on the fellow’s project.

Tashi will use this fellowship to take part in comparative and collaborative research with other Indigenous communities and scholars, including at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. There, he’ll learn how to do ethical, practical, meaningful and community-based research while also participating in several community-based and community-supported projects in Hawaii.

“I will be trained in cultural protocols, research ethics, ethnographic methodologies and the practice of responsible relationship building. Additionally, I will help share my knowledge and research as a Tibetan PhD student that will benefit UH Manoa and the local communities,” Tashi added.

He’ll use what he learns in Hawaii when he returns to Tibet to research Tibetan communities from both an insider and outsider’s perspective. This exchange, he says, is part of his innovative approach to learning how to do ethical, practical and meaningful research, which will advance anthropological research knowledge and skills.

Formed a century ago, the ACLS is a nonprofit federation of 79 scholarly organizations that is committed to principles and practices in support of racial and social justice. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship, upholding the core principle that knowledge is a public good.

The Mellon Foundation is the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Mellon believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence and freedom to be found there. Through its grants, Mellon seeks to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.

“ACLS is thrilled to partner with the Mellon Foundation to support these exceptional emerging scholars as they pursue pathbreaking research,” said ACLS President Joy Connolly in the press release. “By expanding the range of research methodologies, formats and areas of inquiry traditionally considered acceptable for the dissertation, we can forge pathways toward a more diverse and inclusive academy.”

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With the generous support of donors and the CU Boulder community, the Graduate School offers awards, grants and fellowships that support the outstanding research, creative work and teaching of our graduate students. Congratulations to our award winners and many thanks to the faculty and staff who support them in their research, creative work and teaching, as well as to the donors whose generosity make these awards possible.

Graduate Part-Time Instructors Teaching Appreciation Award Recipients

These awards recognize excellent graduate student teachers for their hard work, creativity, and continued excellence in teaching. 

• Cali Banks, Department of Art & Art History, Fall 2020
• Jake Carias, Department of Sociology, Spring 2021
• Joelle Cicak, Department of Art & Art History, Spring 2021
• Rachel Chai, Department of Geography, Fall 2020
• David Chu, Department of Classics, Fall 2020
• Jennifer Cole, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Spring 2021
• Christopher Dengler, Department of Philosophy, Spring 2021
• Bailey Duhe, Department of Anthropology, Fall 2020
• Sara Fischer, Department of French & Italian, Fall 2020
• Kevin France, Department of Physics, Fall 2020
• Daniel Garzon, School of Education, Spring 2021
• Greg Gondwe, Department of Journalism, Fall 2020
• David Gunderman, Department of Applied Mathematics, Fall 2020
• Erkan Gunes, Department of Political Science, Fall 2020
• Emily Hite, Department of Anthropology, Spring 2021
• Shirely Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, Spring 2021
• Shruthi Jagadeesh, Department of Geography, Spring 2021
• Brooke Latham, Department of Classics, Spring 2021
• Samantha Moya, Department of Political Science, Spring 2021
• Joy Mueller, Department of Applied Mathematics, Spring 2021
• Leah Powers, Department of French & Italian, Spring 2021
• Elisa Riga, Department of German & Slavic Languages & Literatures, Spring 2021
• Àjené Robinson-Burris, Department of Philosophy, Fall 2020
• Jayne Simpson, Department of Communication, Fall 2020
• Justin Trupiano, Department of Critical Media Practices, Fall 2020
• Kun You, Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations, Fall 2020
• Christine Zabala, School of Education, Fall 2020

Dissertation Completion Fellows

These fellowships provide one academic semester of financial support. Graduate School and Reynolds Dissertation Completion Fellows receive one full year of academic support toward their research. 

• Bertha Bermúdez Tapia, Department of Sociology
• Christopher Barnes, Department of Media Studies
• Julie Larson, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Anna Hermes, Department of Environmental Studies
• Angela Theodosopoulos, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Kelly Zepelin, Department of Anthropology
• Kimberly Strong, School of Education
• Javan Carter, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Jennifer Reeve, Department of Geological Sciences
• Brittany Lambert, Leeds School of Business
• Sebastian Cantarero, Department of Geological Sciences

Graduate School Dissertation Completion Fellow

• Amelia Hogstad, Department of History

Reynolds Dissertation Completion Fellow

• Gagan Sapotka, Department of Philosophy

MFA Completion Fellow

This fellowship provides one academic semester of financial support.

Amy Hoagland

Amy Hoagland is a Louisville, KY born artist. She is currently attending the University of Colorado, Boulder as a candidate for her Masters of Fine Art in Sculpture.  Her work focuses on the role that humankind plays within nature, discussing how human’s technological advancements are progressing Earth’s ever evolving structure. Amy received her BFA from the University of Kentucky and was granted a 2017 Windgate Fellowship award presented by the Center for Craft. She has completed residencies with the Marpha Foundation in Marpha, Nepal and with Casa Lü in Mexico City, Mexico. Amy recently had a solo exhibition as a visiting artist for the Kentucky College of Art and Design. She has exhibited internationally in Mexico City and nationally including Los Angeles, Austin, and Portland.

Summer Fellows

These fellowships provide $6,000 stipends over the summer term to support students working on their dissertation.

• Alexandra Alexiev, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Sheena Barnes, Department of History
• ​�ċ�ċBrett Bessen, Department of Political Science
• Joseph Carzoli, Department of Integrative Physiology
• ���Ի��é&�Բ�����;�ٲ�������, Department of Mathematics
• Jessica DiCarlo, Department of Geography
• Sarah Fahmy, Department of Theatre & Dance
• Sara Fischer, Department of French & Italian
• Florencia Foxley, Department of Classics
• ​�ċ�ċ​Quinton Freeman, School of Education
• Catherine Gach, ATLAS Institute
• Jamie Glass, Department of Geological Sciences
• Logan Rae Gomez, Department of Communication
• ​�ċGreg Gondwe, Department of Journalism
• Tessa Gorte, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• Payne Hennigan, Department of Economics
• Xiaowen Hu, Leeds School of Business
• Yiming Hu, Department of Chemistry
• Nicollette Laroco, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Nathaniel Mathews, Department of Applied Mathematics
• John McKeever, College of Music
• Samantha Molnar, Department of Computer Science
• Jonathan Quartin, Department of Mathematics
• Marley Olson, Department of Sociology
• Danielle Quichocho, Department of Advertising, Public Relations, Media Design
• Urooj Raja, Department of Environmental Studies
• ​�ċJulia Salinger, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Gagan Sapkota, Department of Philosophy
• Alyssa Strickler, Department of Linguistics
• Kevin Sweet, Department of Critical Media Practices
• Andrew Tomaschke, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Griëtte van der Heide, Department of Anthropology
• ​�ċRobert Wagner, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
• Michael Wheeler, Department of Mathematics
• Patrick Wynne, Department of Mathematics
• ​�ċJunnan Yu, Department of Information Science

Helen Christy Summer Fellow

Kristin Enright, Department of Art & Art History 

Kristin came to CU after working in museums for several years, most recently as a museum educator at the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Museum of Mexican Art. In these roles, she managed programming for students, educators and docents that used culturally responsive pedagogy and works of art to increase student agency and facilitate access to language learning, historical thinking, and other academic areas. Kristin's research investigates the complex, global history of colonial Mexican Talavera ceramics in order to de-center dominant narratives about Latin America that are perpetuated by museums and the field of art history. Her practice of intervening in the frequent erasure of other narratives and the marginalization of colonial artworks in cultural institutions developed from her work with Latinx communities through Chicago art museums. Her goal through graduate study is to create spaces for difficult objects like Talavera in museums and art history curricula in such a way that invites reflection and engenders a provocative space to apply critical theory.

Katherine holds an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University, an MA in Spanish with a concentration in Applied Linguistics from New York University in Madrid, and a BA in Art History and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Donor Award Recipients

These awards are made possible by the Graduate School's generous donors. The Figueroa Family Fellowship provides financial support to a science or engineering student committed to positively impacting the cu boulder community and beyond. The Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship provides a $2,500 fellowship to a student in the sciences whose research interests are interdisciplinary. The Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship provides a $4,000 fellowship to a student in the sciences. The Brenda M. Romero CU Dissertation Award provides a $1,000 award to students enrolled at CU Boulder, CU Denver, and the Anschutz Medical Campus whose work relates to music (or sound studies) and social justice. 

Figueroa Family Fellowship

• First Place: Maximilian Bailey, Department of Integrative Physiology
• Honorable Mention: Gabriella Johnson, Department of Computer Science
• Honorable Mention: Julia Potocnjak, Department of Integrative Physiology

Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship

• Varsha Srikanth Koushik, Department of Computer Science

Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship

• Katherine Hernandez, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Brenda M. Romero CU Dissertation Award in Music and/or Sound Studies and Social Justice

• Renata Barreto, Department of Critical Media Practices
• Benjamin Cefkin, College of Music

Cynthia H. Schultz Graduate Student Small Grant Recipients

These awards are made possible by the generous donation of the Schultz family, and in Loving Memory of John & Cynthia Schultz.

Ernest A. Bigelow Award

• Sergei Motov, Department of German & Slavic Languages & Literatures

Hope Schultz Jozsa Award

• Varsha Srikanth Koushik, Department of Computer Science

Jenny Kate Collins Award

• Brittney Banaei, Department of Theatre & Dance

Paula C. Moore Award

• Will Patterson, Department of Integrative Physiology

Verona Walker Award

• Duong Nguyen, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grant Recipients

The Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants are competitive awards sponsored by the Graduate School that support the research, scholarship and creative work of graduate students from all departments at CU Boulder. Funding for the Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants program comes mainly from private donations. Some awards are made possible by the generous donation of an individual or family, often in honor of a family member. The highest-ranked proposals are considered for a Named Graduate Student Grant.

• Dreycey Albin, Department of Computer Science
• Stephan Allen, Department of Integrative Physiology
• Roberto Azaretto, Department of Critical Media Practices
• Brittney Banaei, Department of Theater and Dance
• Liza Barnes, Leeds School of Business
• Fiona Bell, ATLAS Institute 
• ​�ċ�ċ​�ċ�ċCalin Brackin, Department of Advertising, Public Relations & Design
• Bentley Brown, Department of Critical Media Practices
• Kristin Calahan, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Renata Carvalho Barreto, Department of Critical Media Practices
• Xiaoling Chen, Department of Geography
• Janghee Cho, Department of Information Science
• Miriam Clayton, Department of Psychology
• Zane Cupec, College of Music
• ​�ċ�ċTaralicin Deka, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Jing Deng, Leeds School of Business
• Nicholas Dragone, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Anden Drolet, Department of Anthropology
• Sebastian Duenas Ocampo, Department of Environmental Studies
• ​�ċ�ċ​Rawinorn Dulyakasem, Department of Environmental Studies
• ​�ċ�ċ​�ċPaige Edmiston, Department of Anthropology
• Stephanie Ellyse Schneider, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Caitrin Engle, Department Anthropology
• Lucia Escamilla Gonzalez, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
• Chet Falk, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
• Denise Fernandes, Department of Environmental Studies
• Alex Flores, Department of Psychology
• Anna Gilmour, Department of Psychology
• Airy Gonzalez Peralta, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Matthew Harvey, Department of Political Science
• Rachel Havranek, Department of Geological Sciences
• Austin Hayes, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Michael Hoefer, Department of Computer Science
• Peter Innes, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Taylor Johaneman, Department of Geography
• Kimberly Killen, Department of Political Science
• Varsha Srikanth Koushik, Department of Computer Science
• Nicollette Laroco, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Emma Loizeaux, Department of Geography
• Kyle Marquis, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Ferrell McClean, Department of Anthropology
• Dillon McGovern, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Benjamin Morris, College of Music
• Sergei Motov, Department of German & Slavic Languages & Literatures 
• Sasha Novak, ATLAS Institute
• Duong Nguyen, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Anna Paraskevopoulos, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Will Patterson, Department of Integrative Physiology
• Nicholas Puente, Department of Anthropology
• Jake Saunders, College of Music
• Jeffrey Schmidt, Department of Geography
• ​�ċ�ċIsabel Schroeter, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Adrienne Scott, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Kailey Shara, ATLAS Institute
• Young-Young Shen, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Samantha Sheppard, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Gabriella Subia Smith, Department of Geography
• Bertha Bermudez Tapia, Department of Sociology
• Sanggay Tashi, Department of Anthropology
• ​�ċ�ċ​Chilton Tippin, Department of Anthropology
• Chia-Nien Tsai, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Paulus van Horne, Department of Critical Media Practices
• ​�ċ�ċMelissa Villareal, Department of Sociology
• Corinne Walsh, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Kimberley Warren, Department of Critical Media Practices
• ​�ċDana Withrow, Department of Integrative Physiology
• Anna Wynfield, Department of Anthropology
• Spencer Ziegler, Department of Geological Sciences

CURFA Carl Kisslinger Research Award

• Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences

Dean's Award

• Meghan Hayden, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Eloise Timmons Award

• Kristin Enright, Department of Art & Art History

Friends of the Graduate School Award

• Jennifer Coulombe, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ray Hauser Award

• Keke Wu, ATLAS Institute

Three Minute Thesis Winners

In the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), competitors . They use only one static slide, in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. This event is held annually at the beginning of the Spring semester and is free and open to the public.

First Place

Varsha Rao, Department of Chemical & Bioligal Engineering

Second Place

Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences

People's Choice

Vishal Ray, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences

Professional Development Digital Credential Badge Recipients

The Graduate School at CU Boulder is offering digital credential badges that may be earned by current graduate students and postdocs participating in our professional development opportunities. These digital badges are online microcredentials that allow students to showcase skills, competencies or achievements they have gained through learning experiences.

D. Ashley Campbell, Department of Media Studies, Communications Badge

Conny Cassity, Department of English, Communications Badge

Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, Leadership Badge

Erin Schultz, Department of Engineering Management, Professionalism Badge

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award Recipients

These awards recognize outstanding faculty for their mentorship of graduate students and contributions to graduate education.

• Nichole Barger, ecology and evolutionary biology
• Christine Brennan, speech, language, and hearing sciences
• Dan Doak, environmental studies
• Francoise Duressé-Stimilli, art and art history
• Jaelyn Eberle, museum studies
• Jennifer Fitzgerald, political science
• Leila Gómez, spanish and portuguese
• Bradley Hayes, computer science
• Jerry Jacka, anthropology
• Jan Lenaerts, atmospheric and oceanic sciences
• Ann-Marie Madigan, astrophysical and planetary sciences
• Donna Mejia, theatre and dance
• Valerie Otero, education
• David Root, psychology and neuroscience
• Ricarose Roque, information science
• Rebecca Scarborough, linguistics
• Deborah Whitehead, religious studies
• Emily Yeh, geography
• Luis Zea, aerospace engineering

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With the generous support of donors and the CU Boulder community, the Graduate School offers awards, grants and fellowships that support the outstanding research, creative work and teaching of our graduate students. Congratulations to our award winners and many thanks to the faculty and staff who support them in their research, creative work and teaching, as well as to the donors whose generosity make these awards possible.

Graduate Part-Time Instructors Teaching Excellence Awards

Recognizes excellent graduate student teachers.

• Alexander Marino Cárdenas, Department of Spanish & Portuguese
• Evan Coles-Harris, Department of Linguistics
• Juan Jimenez Diaz, Department of French & Italian
• Tracy Fehr, Department of Sociology
• Christopher Jorde, Department of Political Science
• Derek LeFebre, School of Education
• Will Lindsay, School of Education
• Scott Robinson, Leeds School of Business
• Jashodhara Sen, Department of Theatre & Dance 
• Erica Van Steenis, School of Education 
• Kim Truong Vu, Department of Sociology

Dissertation Completion Fellowships

• Stephanie Couey, Department of English (Reynolds Dissertation Completion Fellowship)
• Juan Tiznado Aitken, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Kaitlyn Davis, Department of Anthropology
• Emily Hite, Department of Anthropology
• Kimberly Killen, Department of Political Science
• Alexandra Lloyd, Department of Philosophy
• Travis Mcdevitt-Galles, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Kathryn Randall, Department of History
• Rupak Shrestha, Department of Geography
• Andrea Tilstra, Department of Sociology
• Sheela Turbek, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

MFA Completion Fellowship

Provides one academic semester of financial support.

Elspeth Schulze 

Department of Art & Art History 

Elspeth Schulze is from south-central Louisiana, where water has as much hold as land. She holds a BA in Literature from Loyola University New Orleans and an AAS in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She has worked over the years as an artist assistant, pattern maker, production manager, and most recently, as Gallery Director at Adrian College in Michigan. Recent exhibition venues include Oklahoma Contemporary in Oklahoma City, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, RedLine in Denver, and Calico in Brooklyn, New York

Summer Fellowships

Provides a $6,000 fellowship over the summer term. 

• Alejandra Abad, Department of Art & Art History
• Nuha Albadi, Department of Computer Science
• Sabina Altus, Department of Applied Mathematics
• Jocelyn Armes, School of Music
• Amy Burkhardt, School of Education
• Andrew Campbell, Department of Mathematics
• Georgios Charisoulis, Department of Geography
• David Chu, Department of Classics
• Mikaela DeRousseau, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Jared Desjardins, Department of Linguistics
• Erik Funk, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Lucas Gagnon, Department of Mathematics
• Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
• Jacob Hutfles, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Nicholas Light, Leeds School of Business
• Brian Marein, Department of Economics
• Melissa Mazzo, Department of Integrative Physiology
• David Miller, Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering
• Erica Nieblas, Department of Philosophy
• Joel Ornstein, Department of Mathematics
• Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey, Department of Environmental Studies
• Hannah Paul, Department of Political Science
• Alberto Roper Pol, Department of Aerospace Engineering Science
• Christina Ryder, Department of Anthropology
• Dan Simon, Department of Sociology
• Sherri Sheu, Department of History
• Irena Stevens, Department of Technology, Cybersecurity & Policy
• Andrew Stocker, Department of Mathematics
• Amanda Rose Villarreal, Department of Theatre & Dance
• Mike Zawaski, Department of Geological Sciences

Summer Fellowship

Cassandra Gonzalez

Department of Ethnic Studies

My research examines the phenomenon of domestic human trafficking utilizing and intersectional criminological framework. Within this research, I focus on the experiences of Black individuals as both victims and perpetrators of trafficking and how their intersecting identities of race, class, gender, and sexuality may interact with their experiences of exploitation and navigating the criminal legal system. My research methods include interviewing Black women survivors of trafficking, field observations of anti-trafficking events, and a historical analysis of the evolution of slavery, sexuality, and race. I love dogs, getting coffee with friends, and reading anything I can get my hands on. I hope be employed as a tenure-track professor at a historically Black college/university (HBCU) or at a criminology/criminal justice department where I can mentor undergrads and graduate students. 

Three Minute Thesis

In the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), competitors .

They use only one static slide, in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. This event is held annually at the beginning of the Spring semester and is free and open to the public.

Adam Lamson

Department of Physics

Jason Zhang

Department of Computer Science

Jocelyn Armes

School of Music

Donor Awards

These awards are made possible by the Graduate School's generous donors. 

The Figueroa Family Fellowship provides financial support to a science or engineering student committed to positively impacting the cu boulder community and beyond. The Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship provides a $2,500 fellowship to a student in the sciences whose research interests are interdisciplinary. The Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship provides a $4,000 fellowship to a student in the sciences. 

Figueroa Family Fellowship

• 1st Place: Kathryn Grabenstein, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• 2nd Place: Matthew Bentley, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Honorable Mention: Asais Camila Uzcategui, Materials Science & Engineering Program

Carol B. Lynch Memorial Fellowship

• Fiona Bell, ATLAS Institute 

Sheryl R. Young Memorial Fellowship

• Kiera van der Sande, Department of Applied Mathematics

Cynthia H. Schultz Graduate Student Small Grant

These awards are made possible by the generous donation of the Schultz family, and in Loving Memory of John & Cynthia Schultz.

Ernest A. Bigelow Award

• Tarren Andrews, Department of English

Hope Schultz Jozsa Award

• Kathleen McGuire, Department of Anthropology

Jenny Kate Collins Award

• Megan Healy, School of Music

Paula C. Moore Award

• Sierra Jech, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Verona Walker Award

• Kathryn Grabenstein, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants

The Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants are competitive awards sponsored by the Graduate School that support the research, scholarship and creative work of graduate students from all departments at CU Boulder.

Funding for the Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants program comes mainly from private donations. Some awards are made possible by the generous donation of an individual or family, often in honor of a family member. The highest-ranked proposals are considered for a Named Graduate Student Grant.

Beverly Sears Named Graduate Student Grants

Dean's Award

• Derek LeFebre, School of Education

CURFA Carl Kisslinger Research Award

• Laura Maurer, Department of Chemistry

Ray Hauser Award

• Alexander Standen, Department of Environmental Studies

Eloise Timmons Award

• Cassandra Gonzalez, Department of Ethnic Studies

Friends of the Graduate School Award

Anne Fetrow, Department of Geology

Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grants

• Alejandra Abad, Department of Art & Art History
• Nathan Anderson, Department of Integrative Physiology
• Ciara Asamoto, Department of Geology
• Ashlyn Barnett, Department of Theatre & Dance
• Srinjita Bhaduri, Department of Computer Science
• Laurel Brigham, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Gabriela Buitron Vera, Department of Spanish & Portuguese
• Marielle Butters, Department of Linguistics
• Kelly Carscadden, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Zachary Cooper, Department of Anthropology
• Sara Cottle, Department of Journalism
• Jack Dalton, Department of Anthropology
• Sarah Davis-Mauney, Department of Theatre & Dance
• Sasha de Koninck, Department of Intermedia, Art, Writing, and Performance
• Simone Domingue, Department of Sociology
• Nick Dragone, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Bailey Duhe, Department of Anthropology
• Jessie Egan, Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Ian Elliot, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Tracy Fehr, Department of Sociology
• Carrie Fleming, Department of Sociology
• Anne Fritzon, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Kelsey Fuller, School of Music
• Erik Funk, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Chloe Garfinkle, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Laurel Gibson, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Angela Hansen, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Brandon Hayes, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Kate Hinshaw, Department of Art & Art History
• Emily Hite, Department of Anthropology
• Shirley Huang, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
• Emily Irvin, Department of Art & Art History
• Deidre Jaeger, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Claire Karban, Deparment of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Sean Keyser, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Ruiqi Li, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Josette Lorig, Department of English
• Molly McDermott, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Tina Melie, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biolgy
• Andrew Morgenthaler, Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
• Toma Peiu, Department of Emergent Technologies and Media Arts Practices
• Jacob Pettine, Department of Physics
• Chelsea Pretz, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Vishal Ray, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Will Reed, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Devon Reynolds, Department of Environmental Studies
• Kailey Shara, ATLAS Institute
• Sherri Sheu, Department of History
• Ji Shouse, Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations
• Joel Singley, Department of Environmental Studies
• Ryan Smith, Department of History
• Hillary Steinberg, Department of Sociology
• Amanda Villarreal, Department Theatre & Dance
• Robery Weiner, Department of Anthropology
• K. Woodzick, Department of Theatre & Dance
• Megan Zabinski, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Professional Development Digital Credential Badges

The Graduate School at CU Boulder is offering digital credential badges that may be earned by current graduate students and postdocs participating in our professional development opportunities. These digital badges are online microcredentials that allow students to showcase skills, competencies or achievements they have gained through learning experiences.

Maria Calahorra-Jimenez

PhD candidate in the Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, Communication Badge

Georgiana Salant

PhD candidate in Biochemistry, Communication and Leadership Badges 

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award

Recognizes outstanding mentorship of graduate students and contributions to graduate education.

• David Ciarlo, Department of History
• Cheryl Higashida, Department of English
• Antje Richter, Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations
• Kaifa Roland, Department of Anthropology

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award Honorable Mentions

• Casey Fiesler, Department of Information Science
• Tania Martuscelli, Department of Spanish & Portuguese
• Eric Pederson, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Brian Toon, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• Sabrina Volpone, Leeds School of Business
• Deborah Whitehead, Department of Religious Studies

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