Nine U of A Students Earn Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Nine students and alumni from the University of Arkansas have received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, and one was recognized as an honorable mention.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is one of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious awards for graduate students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics who are pursuing advanced degrees and conducting research with the potential to contribute to national innovation and discovery.

Recipients were selected from a highly competitive pool of nearly 14,000 applicants nationwide, based on their intellectual merit and broader impacts, including their potential to contribute to scientific innovation.

The awards represent a total of $1,431,000 in funding support for U of A students and bring the university’s historical total to 174 NSF Graduate Research Fellows. The 2026 cohort is the university’s largest group of winners in a decade, mirroring the institution’s ongoing commitment to advancing excellence in research.

“The University of Arkansas is committed to expanding our already substantial research efforts to more than $500 million annually,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “Building a pipeline of students prepared to conduct research at the highest levels is essential to that goal, and the selection of nine accomplished U of A students for prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships shows that we are well on our way. They are representative of the many students advancing new knowledge across our campus every day.”

These recipients represent a wide range of disciplines across engineering, life sciences, social sciences and geosciences.

Undergraduate Award Recipients

Aidan Donoho

Aidan Donoho, an honors student in electrical engineering from Fort Smith, Arkansas, received the fellowship to study and conduct research in electrical and electronic engineering. Donoho is a Chancellor’s Community Scholar and Arkansas Governor’s Scholar and conducts research under the mentorship of Alan Mantooth, distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science.

Donoho plans to continue his studies at the U of A, pursuing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering focused on semi-conductor devices and integrated circuit research. Reflecting on the award, he said receiving it “is an incredible honor” and that he is “excited to continue pursuing semiconductor and electrical engineering research.”

Lillian Hutchinson

Lillian Hutchinson, an honors student in chemical engineering from Little Rock, received the fellowship to study and conduct research in biomedical engineering. Hutchinson is a Chancellor’s Scholar and Arkansas Governor’s Scholar and conducts research with faculty mentor Younghye Song, associate professor of biomedical engineering.

Hutchinson plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Cornell University and said she is “excited and grateful” to receive the fellowship, which she views as “a culmination of all my hard work and a step towards a successful career in research.”

Abhinav Komanduri

Abhinav Komanduri, an honors student in electrical engineering and 2025 Goldwater Scholar from Bentonville, received the fellowship for study and research in human-computer interaction. Komanduri is an Honors College Fellow and Arkansas Governor’s Scholar and works with faculty mentor Alexander Nelson, professor of electrical engineering and computer science.

This fall, Komanduri will begin a Ph.D. program in electrical engineering at the University of Washington, where his research will focus on developing novel sensing modalities for wearable and ubiquitous computing to advance real-time human health monitoring.

Jared Noel

Jared Noel, an honors student majoring in chemical engineering and applied mathematics from Paragould, received the fellowship to continue his studies and research in chemical engineering. Noel is a 2025 Goldwater Scholar, a Chancellor’s Scholar and Arkansas Governor’s Scholar, and he has conducted research with William Richardson, associate professor of chemical engineering, and Jin-Woo Kim, distinguished professor of biological and agricultural engineering, as well as collaborators from numerous other labs and institutions.

Noel will begin a Ph.D. program in molecular engineering at the University of Washington. He said the fellowship is both “a great honor” and a testament to the mentorship and research opportunities he received during his undergraduate career.

Noshin Nowar

Noshin Nowar, who graduated from the U of A in 2023 with a degree in mechanical engineering, received a fellowship in aeronautical and aerospace engineering.

Nowar’s selection reflects continued excellence among recent alumni pursuing advanced research in aerospace systems and engineering innovation.

Ian Popp

Ian Popp, an honors student majoring in chemical engineering and finance, received the fellowship to continue his studies in biomedical engineering. Popp is a 2025 Goldwater Scholar, a Bodenhamer Fellow, and an Arkansas Governor’s Scholar.

His interdisciplinary academic background combines engineering and business perspectives, supporting research interests at the intersection of biomedical technology, innovation, and applied engineering solutions. He has conducted research in the lab of Christopher Nelson, assistant professor in biomedical engineering, and plans to continue his research with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering with a focus on gene regulation and tissue engineering to treat degenerative diseases.

Sam Sooter

Sam Sooter, an honors student majoring in physics and mathematics from Bentonville, received a Graduate Research Fellowship in neurosciences. Sooter is a Dave E. Johnson and Wilda S. McMurry Honors College Fellow and Arkansas Governor’s Scholar. In 2026 he became the first U of A student to be named a Churchill Scholar.

Sooter plans to pursue an MPhil in engineering at the University of Cambridge, focusing on neuroscience and computational approaches to understanding the brain. Afterwards, he intends to complete a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Princeton University.

“I am honored to receive the NSF GRFP and grateful for the mentorship and support I have received throughout my undergraduate career,” Sooter said, expressing his gratitude for research mentor Dr. Woodrow Shew, in addition to faculty and researchers from numerous labs and institutions.

Graduate Student Award Recipients

Liley Bozard

Liley Bozard, an honors alumna now pursuing graduate studies at the University of Michigan, received the graduate research fellowship in anthropology.

Bozard’s work in the social sciences reflects the continued impact of University of Arkansas undergraduate research experiences and mentorship in preparing students for nationally competitive graduate opportunities.

Andrew Ruegsegger

Andrew Ruegsegger, a first-year doctoral student in biology and Distinguished Doctoral Fellow at the University of Arkansas, received the fellowship in ecology. He is a first-generation college student from Norfork, Ark., and said that this fellowship is an incredible opportunity because “I can really focus on my research now in a way that would not have been possible before.”

Ruegsegger’s research focuses on life sciences and ecological systems, contributing to scientific understanding of environmental and biological processes. He is specifically interested in studying the Ouachita pine-bluestem woodlands and is conducting his doctoral research under the guidance of faculty mentors Caleb Roberts, research professor, and Maribeth Latvis, assistant professor of biological sciences.

Honorable Mention

Elizabeth Cobb

Elizabeth Cobb, a 2020 honors graduate with a bachelor’s degree in geology, received an honorable mention in geochemistry from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. She currently works as a geologist for Nevada Gold Mines after previously having served as a hydrologist for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Honorable mentions recognize students who demonstrated significant potential for graduate research and academic excellence during the highly competitive national review process.

About the NSF GRFP: The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides three years of financial support over a five-year fellowship period, including an annual stipend and cost-of-education allowance for graduate study.

For more information about nationally competitive awards at the University of Arkansas, visit the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards website.

Office of Nationally Competitive Awards: University of Arkansas students and recent alumni interested in applying for scholarships and fellowships and faculty wishing to identify competitive students should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu or 479-575-3771. More information is available at awards.uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation.