Geological engineering graduate student awarded NSF-GRFP Fellowship

Michaela L. Neal, a graduate student in the UND Geological Engineering program, was awarded a 2023 National Science Foundation-Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRFP). She applied under Geosciences-Hydrology as her GRFP field of study. Previously, Michaela earned her B.S. in Environmental Studies, with a minor in math, from UND.

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. Seeking to broaden participation in science and engineering of underrepresented groups, the five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000. GRFP fellowships are highly competitive, with yearly acceptance rates of about 16% among more than 12,000 applicants.

Selection as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow is a significant national accomplishment and places Michaela among an elite group of fellows, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in STEM or STEM education.

Michaela would like to offer a special thank you to her mentor/graduate advisor, Dr. Taufique Mahmood, and each of her professors, advisors, and supervisors who have guided her — past and present.

“Thank you also to the University of North Dakota for all the opportunities that have led to this moment and for enriching me with such an immersive, top-notch education.”