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ATLANTA — Five Georgia State students in the College of Arts & Sciences have received the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship based on their impressive research and plans for future exploration.
Established in 1951, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship program supports outstanding students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctor’s degrees at accredited U.S. institutions.
The five recipients are Emily Kaufman, Madison Leblanc, Hannah Lichtenstein, Emily Smith and Alexandra St Tellien.
Lindsey Cohen, interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, shared his enthusiasm for the students’ national recognition.
“We are immensely proud of Alexandra, Hannah, Madison, Emily K. and Emily S. for earning the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship,” Cohen said. “This prestigious recognition is a testament to their innovative research and the strong foundation of academic excellence we strive to cultivate in Arts & Sciences.”
Emily Kaufman, Neuroscience
Kaufman, a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience, received the NSF Fellowship to support her research into the roles of microRNAs in neurons. MicroRNAs help regulate how genes are expressed and play a crucial role in the development of dendrites, the branched extensions of neurons. Kaufman is using fruit flies to study how microRNAs affect these structures and their influence on both brain function and behavior.
“Once I was able to see the list of awardees and saw my name, I was in disbelief. I reread it a few times and then cried tears of joy,” Kaufman said. “I have wanted to apply for this fellowship since I started doing research as an undergraduate student, so receiving something I had been thinking about for many years felt really amazing.”
Madison Leblanc, Physics & Astronomy
Madison Leblanc, a graduate student in Georgia State’s Physics & Astronomy Department, received her fellowship for investigating M stars.
“M stars are the coolest, smallest stars, and they make up 75 percent of the stars in our Milky Way, and presumably the universe,” Leblanc said.
Leblanc created a sample of the nearest M stars as well as their companions, or the stars, planets and other objects orbiting them. With her fellowship, Leblanc plans to find previously undiscovered companions and to compare the orbits of different types of companions. Her research may also shed some light on the formation processes of M stars and their companions.
“It’s such an amazing opportunity to have this support to share my science with the community,” Leblanc said.
Hannah Lichtenstein, Neuroscience
Also a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience, Lichtenstein studies the effects of early-life adversity (ELA) on brain development, specifically microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, which play important roles in the proper development of neurons. Her work focuses on the central nucleus of the amygdala, an area of the brain that contains many stress-sensitive neurons. These neurons are important for threat responsivity and reward-related behaviors which can be disrupted by early-life adversity and its effects such as depression.
“I knew an opportunity like this would be life-changing,” Lichtenstein said of the fellowship. “When I finally was able to see my awardee acceptance letter, my face lit up and I couldn’t stop shaking with excitement. I am even more confident that a career in science communication and science policy will be a good fit for me. I am so grateful for all the support I have had throughout graduate school thus far, and I am excited to see what the future will hold.”
Emily Smith, Neuroscience
A non-traditional undergraduate neuroscience student, Smith researches the use of brain imaging techniques that can measure the amount of chemicals that specifically allow neurons to communicate with each other, also known as neurotransmitters. One important neurotransmitter Smith focuses on is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has been associated with many medical conditions.
“Decreased GABA levels have been implicated in diseases and deficits that impact learning and memory, such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and dyslexia,” Smith said.
For the fellowship, Smith proposed a method to improve the processing of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) signals. MRS data helps to determine GABA levels in patients, and Smith hopes to be able to use MRS to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
“I was excited about the flexibility that guaranteed funding provides students. I worked very hard on my proposal, and it feels validating to be recognized for that work,” Smith said.
Alexandra St Tellien, Anthropology
An anthropology graduate student, St Tellien received the fellowship for her work on Africana sacred languages, particularly Haitian Langaj and Haitian Vodou, and their connections to various West and Central African indigenous religions and cultures. St Tellien hopes to learn how religious culture and language from Benin have influenced the development of Haitian Vodou and Langaj, as well as how Haitian Vodou practitioners, especially women, interpret the African heritage and connection of their language and religion.
“I was a little nervous because I did not think that my project was ‘scientific’ enough, but I applied anyway because I knew this research was extremely important for many reasons,” St Tellien said. “I am happy that I was able to convey that in my application.”
Only 2,000 people are awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship annually, making the achievements of these five Georgia State students even more impressive. They join the ranks of former recipients such as U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and “Freakonomics” co-author Steven Levitt.
To learn more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, visit nsfgrfp.org/about/about-grfp/.
—Story by Katherine Duplessis