{"id":224015,"date":"2025-10-20T16:09:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=224015"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:09:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:09:14","slug":"grad-research-fellowship-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/20\/grad-research-fellowship-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Record 43 NSF<\/abbr> grad fellows at 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa; next round of applications now open"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Sami Akiba is one of 43 active recipients of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program at 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa. (Photo credit: Shannon Campbell)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa is celebrating a record milestone with 43 active recipients of the National Science Foundation (NSF<\/abbr>) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP<\/abbr>)<\/a>—the most in the institution\u2019s history. Since 1996, 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa has produced 135 fellows, with this year\u2019s record group representing nearly one-third of all recipients over the past 29 years.<\/p>\n

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Willem Hoogendam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NSF<\/abbr> GRFP<\/abbr> is one of the nation\u2019s oldest and most competitive graduate fellowships, supporting outstanding students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics who are pursuing research-based master\u2019s and doctoral degrees. Recipients receive a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance that covers tuition and fees, giving students the flexibility to focus on innovative research that advances science and benefits society.<\/p>\n

Applications are now open<\/a> for the next cycle of NSF<\/abbr> GRFP<\/abbr>, with deadlines in November for the 2026–27 academic year. Students interested in applying are encouraged to start early and take advantage of resources available through 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa\u2019s Graduate Division<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From exploding stars to native bees<\/h2>\n

Among the current fellows is Willem Hoogendam, a PhD<\/abbr> candidate in astronomy<\/a> who studies how stars end their lives in explosive supernovae. His research helps explain how essential elements such as iron and calcium are formed and dispersed across the universe, while also exploring rare interstellar comets discovered by Hawaiʻi<\/span>-led sky surveys. Through the fellowship, Hoogendam also spent time at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and collaborated with leading astronomers in Australia and Hawaiʻi<\/span>, experiences that broadened his research and professional network.<\/p>\n

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Akiba performing fieldwork at Haleakalā (Photo credit: Jacob Hurst)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“It\u2019s given me academic freedom at an early career stage,” Hoogendam said. “I\u2019ve been able to work with whom I want on what I want to explore. Without this fellowship, I would not have had the freedom to learn about and write papers on interstellar objects.”<\/p>\n

The program\u2019s flexibility has also benefited students such as Sami Akiba, a master\u2019s student in entomology<\/a> who studies Hawaiian yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus spp.<\/em>), the only bees that are native to the state. Her work focuses on understanding the habitat factors that support healthy native bee populations and the threats they face from invasive species. Akiba conducts her fieldwork in Haleakalā National Park on Maui, and has used the fellowship\u2019s resources to expand her research and training opportunities across the country.<\/p>\n

“I am grateful for the flexibility of the NSF<\/abbr> GRFP<\/abbr>,” Akiba said. “I get to design my own project, make shifts as needed and put effort into aspects of my research I think are particularly important or exciting, even if the ideas are a little unconventional.”<\/p>\n

Since its creation in 1952, NSF<\/abbr> GRFP<\/abbr> has recognized more than 60,000 fellows, including Nobel Prize winners and members of the National Academy of Sciences. At 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa, the growing number of fellows highlights the university\u2019s strong research culture and commitment to developing talent across scientific disciplines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NSF<\/abbr> GRFP<\/abbr> is one of the nation\u2019s oldest and most competitive graduate fellowships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":224016,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[34,364,507,1466,1467,660,9],"class_list":["post-224015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-astronomy","tag-entomology","tag-graduate-education","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-manoa-excellence-in-research","tag-student-recognition","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t