The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. Established to advance the progress of science and strengthen national health, prosperity and security, the NSF funds early-stage, high-impact research that drives discovery and innovation. Its investments help develop new knowledge, train the next generation of scientists and engineers and expand the frontiers of what is possible.
Among the NSF’s most prestigious programs is the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), which recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students at the beginning of their research careers. The fellowship provides three years of funding, including a stipend and tuition support, and is awarded to individuals who demonstrate both strong intellectual merit and the potential for broad societal impact. By investing in emerging researchers, the GRFP plays a critical role in shaping future leaders in science and engineering.
Within the University of Pennsylvania, several students affiliated with Bioengineering have been selected as 2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program awardees. Their recognition reflects both individual achievement and the strength of the Bioengineering community at Penn Engineering.
Congratulations to these students on this accomplishment.
Current Bioengineering Ph.D Students:
- Giana Vitale
- Sylvia Cho
- Roy Chen
- Cayman Matson
- Alexandra Dolynuk
- Tal Dassau
- Sasha Shefter
- Emily Fitzgerald
Incoming Bioengineering Ph.D Students:
- Lindsay Gallgher
- Gene Weng
- Chloe Connolly
- Julia Patterson
- Natalie Calahan
- Evangeline Meyler
- Cameron White
- Aisha Mansoor
- Lucy Park
- Songman Li
- Sara Hunihan
- Rene DeBrabander
- April Guo-Yue
Undergraduate Bioengineering Students Going on to Graduate Studies:
- Shiny Shen, will be attending the Duke University Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program.
- Anthony Tukanowicz-Hassett, will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Biological Engineering Ph.D. Program.
- Emily Zhang, will not to pursue graduate studies at this time, and will be joining Epic post grad as a Technical Solutions Engineer.
- Brianna Leung, will be attending Stanford University’s Bioengineering Ph.D. program.
Recent Bioengineering Alumni:
- Ryann Joseph, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Bioengineering at Harvard.
- Sophia Klessel, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering at The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University