Congratulations to all the graduate students and faculty members whose remarkable achievements in research, teaching, mentorship, and creative endeavors were recognized at the annual Graduate Fellowship and Awards Luncheon. Please join us in congratulating them.
Take a look at the full list of 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 recipients below:
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: Recognizes graduate teaching assistants who have demonstrated special effectiveness in teaching undergraduates at Nebraska.
• Hassan Fazayeli, Biological Systems Engineering
• Donavan Phoenix, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication
• Rebecca Wolfe, Psychology
Outstanding Graduate Research & Creative Activities Award: Recognizes excellence in graduate student research and creativity at Nebraska.
• Peace Adegbite, Physics and Astronomy
• Anika Azme, Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Nitish Bastola, Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Cailin Smith, Biochemistry
• Barbie Zaman Wahid, Nutrition and Health Sciences
Graduate Student Excellence in Mentoring Award: Recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate and other graduate students in research and creative activities.
• Anjana Bhandari, Mathematics
• Brooke Parrish, Animal Science
• Kasey Peters, English
• Portia Plange, Biological Systems Engineering
• Casey Tisdale, Psychology
Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Education: Honors faculty members whose dedication to graduate students and commitment to excellence in graduate mentoring have made a significant contribution to graduate education at Nebraska.
• Ross Miller, Political Science
• Byrav Ramamurthy, School of Computing
• Stacey Waite, English
Folsom Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award: Recognizes the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of the university's doctoral students.
• Vipin Kumar, Agronomy and Horticulture
• Veera Venkata Ram Murali Krishna Rao Muvva, School of Computing
Folsom Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award: Recognizes the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of the university's master's students.
• Kashish Verma, Entomology
Dean's Fellow: Is awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students.
• Ahatsham FNU*, Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Omid Armantalab, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Shilu Dahal, Plant Pathology
• Nawaraj Dulal*, Plant Pathology
• Rebecca Howard Valdivia, Psychology
• Nosakhare Idiaghe*, Mechanical & Materials Engineering
• Adda Ireba, Natural Resources Sciences
• Janella Kang*, Child, Youth and Family Studies
• Kanak Kanti Kar, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Irene Magara*, Engineering
• Kiruthiga Mone*, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
• Oghenetega Obewhere*, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Christine Parker, School of Global Integrative Studies
• Trisam Sapkota, Biological Systems Engineering
• Daniel Schaefer*, Sociology
• Rintu Sen, Biological Systems Engineering
• Tina Shetabi, Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design
• Lanh Trinh*, Mechanical & Materials Engineering
• Alejandra Vasquez*, Political Science
• Gauthami Viswan*, Physics and Astronomy
• Makayla Wendland*, Political Science
• Ankit Yadav, Agronomy and Horticulture
• Farzad Yazdipanah*, Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Fatema Yeasmin Tanni, Biochemistry
• Junxiao Zhang, Biological Systems Engineering
• Yuru Zhang, School of Computing
Fling Fellow: Is awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students.
• Rachel Beck*, Psychology
• Christina Fragel, School of Biological Sciences
• Roopan Miriam George, Child, Youth and Family Studies
• Eunhong Lee*, Philosophy
• Daniel Lino Plata*, Modern Languages and Literature
• Kevin Liévano-Romero, School of Biological Sciences
• Sahand Serajian*, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Alejandra Vasquez, Political Science
Presidential Fellow: Is awarded to advanced doctoral or MFA students.
• Katherine Bogen*, Psychology
Outstanding Postdoc Award: Honoring the achievements of exceptional postdoctoral scholars for their comprehensive efforts in research, teaching, mentoring, innovation, and University or community service.
• Siva Shanmugam Nallattinputhur Radhakrishnan, Food Science and Technology
• Biquan Zhao, Animal Science
Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award: Honoring a UNL faculty member or PI who has demonstrated a sustained commitment and exceptional ability in mentoring postdoctoral scholars' professional and career development.
• Clemencia Rojas, Plant Pathology
*Denotes 2025-2026 Award Winners
More details at: https://graduate.unl.edu/funding/award-nominations/