Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

All 2017 VPGE Fellows

Main content start

We are pleased to announce the 2017 recipients of fellowships and awards administered by the VPGE office.

Supported by endowment and general funds, the following fellowships are designed to attract the most talented students to Stanford's doctoral programs, and to honor and support our most outstanding current doctoral students. Each program has a distinct focus, and while the selection processes vary, all are highly competitive and involve several levels of faculty review.

Jump to:

ARCS: Achievement Rewards for College Scientists

The ARCS Scholar Award recognizes outstanding students who have a record of past achievement and who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the scientific and technological strength of the nation. Each year, the Northern California Chapter of the ARCS Foundation allocates an award to Stanford, which VPGE then uses to support as many PhD students as possible through a combination of ARCS and University funds. ARCS scholars can select a two- or three-quarter award configuration, depending upon their academic and tuition needs.

Read more about ARCS

Read more about the Northern California Chapter of the ARCS Foundation

  • Eli Fox, Physics
  • Alex Kendrick, Geophysics
  • Patrick Leigh Kramer, Chemistry
  • Julia Grace Mason, Biology
  • Amanda Victoria Miguel, Bioengineering
  • Hannah Naughton, Earth System Science
  • Zev Rosengarten, Mathematics
  • Shabnam Jandaghi Semnani, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Gennifer Smith, Electrical Engineering
  • Anne Ye, Bioengineering

CCSRE: Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity Graduate Fellowships

The Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity Graduate Fellowship (CCSRE) awards three-year fellowships to new doctoral students interested in the study of the meanings, processes, and consequences of race, ethnicity, and culture. 

Read more about CCSRE

  • Zion Ariana Mengesha, Linguistics
  • Jameelah Imani Morris, Anthropology
  • Yiqian (Alice) Wang, Political Science

DARE: Diversifying Academia, Recruiting Excellence

The DARE Doctoral Fellowship program awards two-year fellowships to advanced doctoral students who want to investigate and prepare for academic careers and whose presence will help diversify the professoriate. The DARE program aims to better prepare Stanford doctoral students from diverse backgrounds for successful faculty careers, and to contribute to the richness of Stanford’s educational environment.

Read more about DARE

  • Felix Alfonso, Chemistry
  • Chava Bobb, Geological Sciences
  • Dara Bobb-Semple, Chemical Engineering
  • Emilio Botero, Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Laughing Bear Torrez Dulgeroff, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine
  • Nisrin Elamin, Anthropology
  • Tamara Gilkes, Education
  • Paolo Martin, Education
  • Carlos Medina, Immunology
  • Kevin Mintz, Political Science
  • Amber Moore, Immunology
  • Paola Moreno-Roman, Biology
  • Courtney Pena, Education
  • Isamar Rosa Plata, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Lisa Sauermann, Mathematics
  • Alejandro Schuler, Biomedical Informatics
  • Andrew Shephard, English
  • Miranda Stratton, Biology
  • Shea Streeter, Political Science
  • Jessica Torres, Biomedical Informatics
  • Valerie Troutman, Mechanical Engineering
  • Abigail Ward, Mathematics

EDGE: Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education Fellowship

Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) fellows are incoming doctoral students with outstanding scholarly promise who have the potential to contribute to the diversity of their academic fields and departments. EDGE serves students in the Graduate Schools of Business and Education, and the Schools of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, Engineering, and Humanities & Science.

Read more about EDGE

EDGE-STEM Fellows

  • Lauren Abrahams, Geophysics
  • Jaime E. Avilés Acosta, Materials Science and Engineering
  • Amel Awadelkarim, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering
  • Julia Belk, Computer Science
  • Mark Berger, Computer Science
  • Jean-Raymond Betterton, Computer Science
  • Malory Brown, Earth System Science
  • Gabrielle Cabrera, Chemistry
  • Christopher Cameron, Mechanical Engineering
  • Aldo Carranza, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering
  • Alexander Carsello, Electrical Engineering
  • Michael Chavez, Bioengineering
  • Agnetta Cleland, Applied Physics
  • Eva de la Serna, Chemical Engineering
  • Griffin Dietz, Computer Science
  • Pablo Elvira, Chemistry
  • Ioannis Eugenis, Bioengineering
  • Mia Flores, Geological Sciences
  • Tony Ginart, Electrical Engineering
  • Julieta Gomez-Frittelli, Chemical Engineering
  • Melody Guan, Computer Science
  • Michaela Hinks, Bioengineering
  • Randall Holmes, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources
  • Samantha Hung, Chemistry
  • Juan Irurita Vernaza, Materials Science and Engineering
  • Chey Jones, Chemistry
  • Taylor Jones, Chemistry
  • Pratyusha Kalluri, Computer Science
  • Colette Kelly, Earth System Science
  • Hannah Larson, Mathematics
  • Megan Leszczynski, Computer Science
  • Jingyi Li, Computer Science
  • Simon Lorenzo, Electrical Engineering
  • Weiyun Ma, Computer Science
  • Dannielle McCarthy, Chemistry
  • Jorge Meraz, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Antonio Montoya, Electrical Engineering
  • David Motley, Management Science and Engineering
  • Ayinwi Muma, Management Science and Engineering
  • Justin Myles, Physics
  • Kasra Naftchi-Ardebili, Bioengineering
  • Josheena Naggea, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources
  • Negar Nazari, Energy Resources Engineering
  • Gedeon Nyengele, Electrical Engineering
  • Ji Won Park, Physics
  • Courtney Payne, Earth System Science
  • Joshua Rabinowitz, Chemistry
  • Lauren Riddiford, Applied Physics
  • Francisco Romero, Electrical Engineering
  • Alison Rugar, Applied Physics
  • Camilo Andres Ruiz, Bioengineering
  • Noah Shutty, Physics
  • Olivier Simon, Physics
  • Yen Nhi Truong Vu, Mathematics
  • Vannessa Velez, History
  • Rafael Vila, Materials Science and Engineering
  • Anna Wang, Applied Physics
  • Hannah Wastyk, Bioengineering
  • Cyndia Yu, Physics
  • Alvaro Zamora, Physics
  • Irene Zhang, Applied Physics
  • Sharon Zhou, Computer Science
  • Yanbing Zhu, Applied Physics

EDGE-SBEH Fellows

  • Feyaad Allie, Political Science
  • Adrian Apaza, Business
  • Christian Brickhouse, Linguistics
  • Jamie Fine, Modern Thought and Literature
  • Danielle Greene, Education
  • Omnia Hamdan, Modern Thought and Literature
  • Marc Harrison, Psychology
  • Philip Hernandez, Education
  • Kristin Keane, Education
  • Tanya LaMar, Education
  • Shuangning Li, Statistics
  • Taylor LiCausi, Education
  • Nancy Martinez, Comparative Literature
  • Mathew McGuthry, Philosophy
  • Alexander Mejia, Education
  • Zion Mengesha, Linguistics
  • Allison Merz, English
  • Crystal A. Moore, Education
  • Jameelah Morris, Anthropology
  • Juliana Nalerio, Modern Thought and Literature
  • Judy Nguyen, Education
  • Abraham Oshotse, Business
  • Lisa Overbey, Education
  • Austin Peters, Political Science
  • Rose Pozos-Brewer, Education
  • Francine Stephens, Sociology
  • Chloe Stowell, Political Science
  • Sarah Thompson, Political Science
  • Sunny Trivedi, Education
  • Cesar Vargas Nunez, Political Science
  • Ulysses Velasquez, Business
  • Javier Mandujano Veytia, Business
  • Yiqian (Alice) Wang, Political Science
  • Henry Washington, Jr., English
  • Benjamin Woodford, Education
  • Tianrong Zhang, Economics

Ethnic and Community Center Academic Achievement Awards

These awards honor graduate students affiliated with the ethnic and community centers who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and serve as role models to undergraduate and graduate students. Each center determines its own selection process and criteria.

  • VPGE Black Community Services Center Graduate Student of the Year Award: Kareem Edouard, Education - Learning Sciences & Technology Design
  • VPGE Academic Achievement Award for El Centro Chicano y Latino: Eli Moises Hernandez Diazgiron, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Luz Minerva Jimenez Ruvalcaba, Modern Thought and Literature
  • VPGE Research Award for the Asian American Activities Center: Renren Yang, Comparative Literature
  • VPGE Graduate Feminist Scholar Award for the Women's Community Center: Vanessa Seals, English
  • VPGE Academic Achievement Award for the Queer Student Resources Center: Faaris (Fares) Akremi, Law
  • VPGE Academic Achievement Award for the Native American Cultural Center: Mark Berger, Computer Science
  • VPGE Graduate Scholar Award for The Markaz: Resource Center: Osama El-Gabalawy, Medicine

Gerald J. Lieberman Fellowship

The Gerald J. Lieberman Fellowships were established in 1993 to honor Stanford Professor and Provost Gerald Lieberman for his many years of distinguished service to the University. Designed to support the next generation of academic leaders across a broad array of disciplines, the Lieberman Fellowships are awarded to advanced doctoral students nominated by each school’s Dean. The honorees intend to pursue careers in academia and have demonstrated potential for leadership roles through their research accomplishments, teaching and university service.

Read more about the Lieberman Fellowship

  • Scott Lawin Arcenas, Classics
  • Michael Anthony Baumer, Physics
  • David S Bergsman, Chemical Engineering
  • Michelle Heather DiBenedetto, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Doron Dorfman, Law
  • Nicholas Dwork, Electrical Engineering
  • Amanda Frye Leinhos, Education
  • Rikki Garner, Biophysics
  • Jeremy Glazer, Education
  • Jens-Erik Lund Snee, Geophysics
  • Itay Ravid, Law
  • Caitlin Marie Roake, Cancer Biology
  • Tyler Emerson Whittle, Management Science and Engineering
  • David Yang, Economics

SGF: Stanford Graduate Fellowships in Science & Engineering

Stanford Graduate Fellowships in Science and Engineering (SGF) is a group of more than 300 endowed fellowships, each named by a donor. Both new and continuing doctoral students are nominated by their departments to receive two-year and three-year awards.

Read more about SGF

  • Jaime E. Avilés Acosta, Materials Science and Engineering
  • Rachel Adeola Gabriella Adenekan, Mechanical Engineering
  • Francis Sayson Aguisanda, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine
  • Rachael Caelie Aikens, Biomedical Informatics
  • Aisulu Aitbekova, Chemical Engineering
  • Reece Villarin Akana, Cancer Biology
  • Sophie Anne Allen, Sociology
  • Kevin Daniel Palacio Aris, Biophysics
  • Hudson Randal Ayers, Electrical Engineering
  • Arunraj Balaji, Mechanical Engineering
  • Julia Ann Belk, Computer Science
  • Brandon Benson, Applied Physics
  • Tyler Stephen Benster, Neurosciences
  • Abigail Nora Birnbaum, Earth System Science
  • Cindy Catherine Orozco Bohorquez, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering
  • Kelly L. Boles, Education
  • Lukas Bolte, Economics
  • Sebastian Benjamin Meije Bosma, Energy Resources Engineering
  • Tony Michael Boutelle, Cancer Biology
  • Adam Joseph Bowman, Applied Physics
  • Elizabeth Douglas Buechler, Mechanical Engineering
  • Julia Kathleen Butterfield, Mechanical Engineering
  • Alyssa Cartwright, Electrical Engineering
  • Chew M Chai, Bioengineering
  • Kabir Aladin Chandrasekher, Electrical Engineering
  • Callie Rodgers Chappell, Biology
  • Elyse Deanna Zaino Chase, Mechanical Engineering
  • Ching Pin Cheng, Genetics
  • Elizabeth Chin, Biomedical Informatics
  • Christian Andrew Choe, Bioengineering
  • Kristy Eun Choi, Computer Science
  • Minseung Choi, Neurosciences
  • Agnetta Cleland, Applied Physics
  • Dylan Dahan, Microbiology and Immunology
  • Sarah Caroline Daws, Biology
  • Dorottya Demszky, Linguistics
  • David Benjamin Durst, Computer Science
  • Qiaofeng Fan, Economics
  • Bob Feng, Chemical Engineering
  • Peter Martin Finch, Mechanical Engineering
  • Rebecca Dawn Finzi, Psychology
  • Stephen Michael Galdi, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Ahmad Ghalayini, Electrical Engineering
  • Vince Paul Giralo, Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Carrie Kathlyn Townley Flores, Education
  • Nisha Gopal, Structural Biology
  • Noah Frey Greenwald, Cancer Biology
  • Kevin Patrick Griffin, Mechanical Engineering
  • Abigail Kate Grosskopf, Chemical Engineering
  • Jack Guo, Mechanical Engineering
  • Teresa Charlyn Hegarty, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Philip Hernandez, Education
  • Victoria Guadalupe Hernandez, Neurosciences
  • Michaela Marie Hinks, Bioengineering
  • Jessica Hinman, Epidemiology and Clinical Research
  • Kenneth Alexander Wolfgang Hoffmann, Mechanical Engineering
  • Randall Thomas Holmes, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources
  • Sarah McIlwaine Hooper, Electrical Engineering
  • Meghan Howard, Biology
  • Evan Huang, Electrical Engineering
  • Athena Ierokomos, Biophysics
  • Andres Iglesias-Thome, Molecular and Cellular Physiology
  • Karthik Anand Jagadeesh, Computer Science
  • Arun Jambulapati, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering
  • Katherine Grace Johnson, Chemistry
  • Chey Marcel Jones, Chemistry
  • Klint Kanopka, Education
  • Laura Jane Keller, Chemical and Systems Biology
  • Andrew Hyunwoo Kim, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Jacob Michael Kirsh, Chemistry
  • Ingrid Sheu Lan, Bioengineering
  • Hannah Kerner Larson, Mathematics
  • Seungah Sarah Lee, Education
  • Ismael Lemhadri, Statistics
  • Jiawen Li, Geological Sciences
  • Mathilde Lindhart, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Aofei Liu, Chemistry
  • Jessie Liu, Mechanical Engineering
  • Qiaoyi Liu, Electrical Engineering
  • Yayuan Liu, Materials Science and Engineering
  • Simon Gabriel Lorenzo, Electrical Engineering
  • Amanda Lu, Education
  • Yingdan Lu, Communication
  • Daniil Lukin, Electrical Engineering
  • Weiyun Ma, Computer Science
  • Jay Sushil Mardia, Electrical Engineering
  • Dannielle McCarthy, Chemistry
  • Brianna McIntosh, Cancer Biology
  • Catherine Marie Meis, Materials Science and Engineering
  • David Carrington Motley, Management Science and Engineering
  • Tahmina Nasserie, Epidemiology and Clinical Research
  • Victor Frank Naturale, Biology
  • Sharon Shin Newman, Electrical Engineering
  • Gedeon Kabuya Nyengele, Electrical Engineering
  • William Oestreich, Biology
  • Alana Papula, Applied Physics
  • Egan Lee Peltan, Chemical and Systems Biology
  • Joshua Rabinowitz, Chemistry
  • Luis Carl Rios, Chemical and Systems Biology
  • Kameron Rodrigues, Immunology
  • Julien George Roth, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine
  • Alexander Carlton Rucker, Electrical Engineering
  • Ahmed Mohamed Sawaby, Electrical Engineering
  • Kirstin Schauble, Electrical Engineering
  • Stephanie Nanette Schneider, Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Ali Shameli, Management Science and Engineering
  • Dayeon Judy Shon, Chemistry
  • Vincent Simon Sitzmann, Electrical Engineering
  • Jinhie Lee Skarda, Electrical Engineering
  • Richelle Smith, Electrical Engineering
  • Martin Souchier, Economics
  • Robert Leland Spragg, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Eric Thomas Stoker-Spirt, Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Alp Mehmet Sunol, Chemical Engineering
  • Henry Louis Thaman, Materials Science and Engineering
  • Jedidiah Oliver Thompson, Physics
  • Ella Ainsley Thomson, Electrical Engineering
  • Zikang Tong, Electrical Engineering
  • Pranav Vyas, Bioengineering
  • Nia Symone Walker, Biology
  • Evan Wen Wang, Electrical Engineering
  • Zihan Wei, Geophysics
  • Jimmy Xu, Bioengineering
  • Siqi Xue, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering
  • Steven Akira Yamada, Chemistry
  • Kei Yamaya, Developmental Biology
  • Ye Ye, Management Science and Engineering
  • Colin Yule, Applied Physics
  • Anni Zhang, Chemical Engineering
  • Tianrong Zhang, Economics
  • Sharon Zhou, Computer Science
  • Zhenpeng Zhou, Chemistry
  • Bokai Zhu, Microbiology and Immunology
  • Peiyun Zhu, Civil and Environmental Engineering

SIGF: Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship

The Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship Program is a group of 100 endowed fellowships, each named by a donor. Three-year fellowships are awarded to current doctoral students engaged in interdisciplinary research and the pursuit of questions that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Read more about SIGF

  • Yifat Aran, Law
  • Nandita N. Balakrishnan, Political Science
  • Winston Becker, SIGF Affiliated with Sarafan ChEM-H, Biophysics
  • Johannes Birgmeier, Bio-X SIGF, Computer Science
  • Jacqueline Carozza, SIGF Affiliated with Sarafan ChEM-H, Chemistry
  • Anneke Laurel Claypool, Management Science and Engineering
  • Michael Fairley, Management Science and Engineering
  • Kevin Tyler Feigelis, SIGF Affiliated with the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Physics
  • Cayce Jessica LaGrasse Hook, Psychology
  • Tim Horton, Bio-X SIGF, Chemistry
  • Marty Francis Keil, Education
  • Margarita Khariton, Bio-X SIGF, Bioengineering
  • Carolyn Kim, Bio-X SIGF, Computer Science
  • Hongquan Li, Bio-X SIGF, Electrical Engineering
  • Zhao Li, Business
  • Andrea Lund, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources
  • Rebecca Marie Marton, Bio-X SIGF, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine
  • Devin McMahon, Earth System Science
  • Dylan Moore, Mechanical Engineering
  • Hannah Marie Moots, Anthropology
  • Chikara Onda, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources
  • Petar Petrov, Bio-X SIGF, Chemistry
  • Alexander Jason Ratner, Bio-X SIGF, Computer Science
  • Ronnie Shue-Ron Shi, Classics
  • Steven Robert Shuken, Bio-X SIGF, Chemistry
  • Xulu Sun, SIGF Affiliated with the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Biology
  • Terence Charles Theisen, Bio-X SIGF, Microbiology and Immunology
  • Avin Veerakumar, Bio-X SIGF, Bioengineering
  • Nate Robert Wolf, Chemistry
  • Arianna Yuan, Psychology