LEXINGTON, Ky. — Twelve University of Kentucky students and recent graduates have been awarded U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, recognition of their potential for significant achievements in STEM research and innovation.

The nine current students receiving fellowships represent diverse fields including chemical engineering, entomology, electrical engineering, geology, computer science, chemistry and mechanical engineering. Recipients range from seniors to doctoral candidates, with hometowns across Kentucky including Lexington, Frankfort, Richmond and Shepherdsville.

Three UK alumni also earned the highly competitive fellowships while pursuing advanced degrees at other universities. Anna Baur, a 2025 biomedical engineering graduate, is pursuing a doctoral degree at Northwestern University, while Hena Kachroo, a 2025 chemistry graduate from Lexington, studies chemistry and astrobiology at the University of Washington. Gabriel Martin Suarez, a materials engineering and physics graduate from Danville, is pursuing a doctorate at Syracuse University.

According to the University of Kentucky, the five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support, with an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution. The program supports outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time, research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM fields.

The NSF awarded 2,500 fellowships this year to outstanding graduate students selected from nearly 14,000 applicants nationwide. The fellowship program represents one of the nation's most prestigious awards, and UK's Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists students in researching and applying for this and other external scholarships.

Two additional UK students received honorable mention recognition: Kiara Baker, a senior biology student, and Wynne Radcliffe, a 2024 biology graduate from the Lewis Honors College.

Since 1952, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program has supported more than 70,000 graduate researchers, many of whom have become leaders in science and engineering. The program remains central to developing the skilled STEM workforce necessary for American innovation and scientific advancement.