Three 萝莉社students have secured the prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation 鈥斺�痑n award worth $159,000 over three years.
The students 鈥� Anthony Ciletti, a senior in mechanical engineering; Reilly Jensen, who is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in biomedical engineering; and Max Proctor, a second-year master鈥檚 student studying biological sciences 鈥� were chosen among more than 12,000 students nationwide who applied for the fellowship.
According to the NSF, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program 鈥渞ecognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or in STEM education.鈥�
Anthony Ciletti
Ciletti came to 萝莉社 from Lucas, Texas, about an hour outside of Dallas. Among the 13 colleges he visited and considered, he chose 萝莉社 for its connections to the aircraft industry and the opportunities available through the National Institute for Aviation Research.
鈥淢y visit here turned 萝莉社 from another university I didn鈥檛 even know existed into my top choice,鈥� he said.
During his first year at 萝莉社, Ciletti connected with Dr. Bhisham Sharma, former 萝莉社 assistant professor of aerospace engineering. Sharma invited Ciletti to work on the research being done at the Mechanics, Acoustics and Dynamics Laboratory (MADLab). The project focused on using 3D printing to study new designs and structures for materials that absorb sound.
鈥淚n my first year working with Dr. Sharma, I wore a lot of hats, learned a lot and assisted with other projects. I worked on 3D printing, topology creation software, acoustic measuring equipment, image processing and acoustic analysis,鈥� Ciletti said.
Eventually, Ciletti settled into his own research focusing on developing a method to predict the acoustic performance of non-periodic porous materials using 3D representations, aiming to streamline the design process for specific applications.
鈥淭he research I鈥檓 doing is certainly quite different from the traditional focuses of aerospace in the big four 鈥� aerodynamics, structures, propulsion and stability and control. But advancing aerospace design is a multi-disciplinary effort, where every aspect of flight and operations needs significant attention and specialized solutions,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 hope the work I鈥檓 doing will be a small part of what makes the next generation of aircraft faster, safer, greener and 鈥� in my case 鈥� quieter.鈥�
Ciletti also works with NASA on his research. He is an Experiential Aeronautics Fellow with NASA in Kansas and has been an intern at NASA Langley鈥檚 Liner Physics Team.
鈥淎nthony's research bridges the gap between fundamental materials science and real-world applications, aiming to create quieter, more efficient and ultimately safer airplanes,鈥� said Dr. Anthony Muscat, dean of 萝莉社鈥檚 College of Engineering.
Ciletti will graduate from 萝莉社 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in May and will then attend graduate school.
Reilly Jensen
It was his grandmother who inspired Reilly Jensen鈥檚 proposal on his Graduate Research Fellowship application. Through his research, Jensen wants to use a radio frequency resonator alongside artificial intelligence to detect and classify cerebral strokes in a rabbit model.
鈥淢y grandmother suffered from a stroke around this time last year. Though she had a wonderful recovery, I realized how critical the time from the onset of stroke to treatment is,鈥� Jensen said. 鈥淚f a more rapid method for detecting and classifying strokes can be developed, more of the 13.7 million strokes reported every year will have better outcomes.鈥�
Jensen came to 萝莉社 from Buhler, Kansas, to pursue his graduate studies after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Kansas State University.
鈥淚 was impressed with the facilities, faculty and resources available to the students when I first toured the campus. Additionally, I get the opportunity to be closer to family,鈥� he said.
His stroke research will involve microwave sensing and imaging, animal models of cerebral stroke, machine and deep learning methods, and the impact of cerebral strokes on public health.
"Reilly鈥檚 research aims to develop a rapid, easy-to-use microwave sensor for stroke detection, potentially improving patient outcomes by expediting diagnosis and treatment,鈥� Muscat said.
After he completes his master鈥檚 research, Jensen said he鈥檒l pursue his Ph.D. and then possibly work with brain-computer interfaces.
鈥淯ltimately, I hope to contribute to research which will reduce suffering in the world via engineering principles,鈥� he said.
Max Proctor
When someone asked Dr. Mary Liz Jameson, professor of biological sciences, if she鈥檇 heard Max Proctor鈥檚 good news, she had to pause and ask, 鈥淟et鈥檚 see: Which of Max鈥檚 exciting news are you referring to?鈥�
Not only has Proctor earned the NSF鈥檚 Graduate Research Fellowship, but he has also completed his thesis and earned a fellowship in Taiwan to study Hercules beetles.
Beetles are a big deal for Proctor. In fact, they鈥檙e the reason he came to 萝莉社.
鈥淚 came to 萝莉社 so I could work with Dr. Mary Liz Jameson,鈥� he said. 鈥淒r. Jameson is a highly regarded specialist of scarab beetles, which are my favorite. Dr. Jameson has a reputation for being an amazing advisor so I knew her lab would be the perfect place.鈥�
Proctor鈥檚 research focus is on the evolution and ecology of animal weapons, and he examines how larval diet and temperature alter the expression of horns in the dung beetle.
鈥淢any scarab beetles have elaborate horns and weapons that make you question how could nature get so crazy!鈥� he said.
For the NSF award, Proctor proposed 鈥渢o determine why certain animal species evolved multiple different kinds of weapons.鈥�
For that, he will travel to Taiwan to study the Dicronocephalus wallichii, or the reindeer beetle, which 鈥渦ses both horns and extended forelimbs to fight.鈥�
鈥淭he research Max proposed for his GRPF is his big dream 鈥� since the first day that I spoke with him about his aspirations,鈥� said Jameson. 鈥淚t is important鈥痶o dream big.鈥�
The NSF award will give Proctor an opportunity to focus completely on his research, said Dr. Andrew Hippisley, dean of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The highly competitive award will provide Proctor with the support needed to pursue his passion: three years of financial aid that includes an annual stipend of $37,000.
鈥淲hat this means is that Max can focus 100% on his education and make a strong start to what looks like an exciting research program. I am thrilled for him,鈥� Hippisley said.
About 萝莉社 University
萝莉社is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and 萝莉社 Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. 萝莉社 and 萝莉社 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 萝莉社provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 萝莉社main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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