Courtney Mitchell, a graduate student in chemical engineering, is the second Vanderbilt engineering student in in three weeks to be awarded a 2013 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
Awarded annually to only about 200 students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one of 15 supported disciplines, the NDSEG fellowship is a highly competitive three-year award that pays full tuition and fees and offers a monthly stipend.
Mitchell, of Hampton Roads, Va., earned her undergraduate degree at Hampton University in chemical engineering. To reach her long-range professional goal of designing and developing her own line of personal care products, Mitchell said she wants to have sufficient knowledge and background on interfacial and surface science and engineering, and to become a more independent researcher.
“Surfaces and interfaces are often the key to product performance from personal to commercial to defense products. My research in this area will allow me to apply what I have learned to a multitude of applications,” she said.
“Courtney is deserving of this very prestigious fellowship,” said Bridget Rogers, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “I am thrilled to be working with Courtney to help her develop the knowledge and skills she will need for her extremely promising career.”
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April 9, 2013 Doctoral student receives National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship