What does it take to study how some of the earliest galaxies in the universe evolved, develop cleaner energy technologies or better understand the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth?
For a group of seven ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ graduate students and alums, it starts with curiosity and a willingness to explore the unknown.
Researchers studying topics ranging from galaxy formation and invasive fire ant species interactions across Florida ecosystems to sustainable propulsion systems, harmful algal blooms and organic chemistry with potential pharmaceutical applications have earned recognition through the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)βs Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). One of the nationβs most competitive honors, the fellowship supports students pursuing research-based ³Ύ²Ή²υ³Ω±π°ωβs and doctoral degrees in STEM fields while helping develop the next generation of innovators and scientific leaders.
The 2026 ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ recipients of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship are:
- Charlotte Moore β25
Physics, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College - Jennifer Hughes β25
Environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Burnett Honors College - Melissa Deinys β26
Chemistry, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College - Noah Swann β24
Chemistry, College of Sciences - Kalissa Moseley
Integrative biology, College of Sciences - Emilio Pereira β25
Aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Burnett Honors College - Brendan Shrader β25
Mathematics, College of Sciences, and Burnett Honors College
Chasing Challenges
The fellowsβ research spans different disciplines, but many are driven by a common goal: developing solutions to better our world.
ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ mathematics and physics alum Charlotte Moore β25 studies galaxy evolution in the early universe, a field that has rapidly advanced thanks to new observational technologies such as the James Webb Space Telescope.
βWeβre in an era of very rapid improvement in observing technology,β says Moore, an astrophysics doctoral student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. βThere is a lot of data from very early times in the universe I can use that just wasnβt available before the past five years or so.β
Jennifer Hughes β25, a ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ environmental engineering and biology alum, became interested in research after seeing a graduate student demonstrate a microbial fuel cell powered by bacteria in research lab during her first semester at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½.
βI was immediately fascinated by the idea that bacteria could generate an electrical current,β says Hughes, an incoming ³Ύ²Ή²υ³Ω±π°ωβs student in biological and environmental engineering at Cornell University whose research at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ focused on harmful algal blooms and algal bioremediation.
Melissa Deinys β26, a ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ biotechnology alum and current chemistry doctoral student whose research focuses on environmental health and ecosystem protection technologies, says her passion for science stems from a curiosity about how the world works and encouragement from her parents to keep asking questions.
βWhat I love most about research is that it allows me to combine my natural curiosity with a meaningful impact,β Deinys says.
Scientific Curiosity and Discovery
Moore said her interest in astronomy began early through physics courses and science programs she explored while growing up. She later became interested in studying galaxies through undergraduate research experiences and opportunities to work directly with researchers in the field.
Deinys says one of the experiences that most shaped her perspective on research came while presenting mangrove disease research during a community outreach event.
βAs researchers, we often focus on experiments, data analysis and publications, but at the end of the day, the purpose of research is to help people,β Deinys says.
The Reality of Discovery
While scientific breakthroughs may be the end goal, several fellows say the real work of research happens in the setbacks, uncertainty and persistence that lead to discovery.
For chemistry alum Noah Swann β24, whose work focuses on organic chemistry and natural product synthesis, repeated setbacks are an expected part of lab research.
βI was told when I first started in the lab that 90% of the reactions you run wonβt work,β says Swann, a chemistry doctoral student at the University of Chicago. βAt the end of the day, you realize that there is no failure, only learning.β
Kalissa Moseley, a ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ integrative biology doctoral student who studies invasive fire ant interactions across Florida ecosystems, says one of her earliest undergraduate research projects helped reshape how she approached experimental design and scientific problem-solving.
βEven though this project was [challenging], I walked away with a much better skillset in experimental design,β Moseley says.
Working through uncertainty has become one of the most important lessons for ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ aerospace engineering alum Emilio Pereira β25, whose research focuses on hypersonics and detonative combustion for propulsion and power generation systems.
βNothing worth doing has ever been easy,β says Pereira, a mechanical engineering doctoral student at Purdue. βThe ability to recognize this and not beat myself down and be empowered by my own inadequacies, is whatβs allowed me to succeed.β
The Power of Mentorship
Many fellows credit ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ faculty mentors, undergraduate research opportunities and hands-on lab experiences with helping shape their academic and professional journeys.
Moore points to undergraduate research experiences with Professor of Physics , which helped prepare her for graduate research and provided early exposure to scientific collaboration and conference opportunities.
Participating in undergraduate research and completing her Honors Undergraduate Thesis strengthened Hughesβ research skills for graduate study and the NSF fellowship.
Swann credits Professor of Chemistry with empowering him to lead his own research project and pursue research professionally.
Looking Ahead
Whether theyβre studying distant galaxies, invasive species, sustainable energy systems, environmental resilience or future medicines, the fellows share a belief that research can make a meaningful difference.
Several hope to advance scientific discovery. Others envision mentoring the next generation of STEM students and researchers.
These ambitions are already taking shape in labs, field sites and research centers β one question, experiment and discovery at a time.
For Hughes, that future includes continuing research focused on biological systems and environmental resilience. For Moore, it includes continuing astronomy research as new observational technologies expand scientistsβ ability to study the early universe.
Moseley says she hopes her future research can contribute to improving invasive species management strategies and understanding how invasive ants affect ecosystems across Florida.
Deinys says she hopes to eventually build a career that combines research, mentorship and public impact while helping future students see themselves represented in STEM fields.
Brendan Shrader β25, a ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ mathematics alum and Burnett Honors Scholar, also received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and will pursue graduate studies in mathematical biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Students interested in applying for the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship program or other major national awards should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at opa@ucf.edu.
