Eight graduate students from around the world and the U.S. will be able to focus on their research first as West Virginia University Foundation Scholarships help relieve their financial stresses.
WVU DISTINGUISHED DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
Musfique Ahmed
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ph.D., Civil Engineering
“This will definitely help me to finish my dissertation work on development of an innovative and cost-effective iron-dosed wastewater treatment system. This kind of treatment system can be extremely beneficial for energy producing regions, where iron containing wastes are of great concern. At this stage of my Ph.D., this award will contribute towards my educational expenses, as well as living expenses. Personally, this award will motivate me to perform well as a researcher and to pursue the next stage of my career."
Kaylynn E. Coates
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Greenville, Pennsylvania
Ph.D., Biology
"My Ph.D. research uses the fruit fly as a model to understand both how serotonin neurons are connected in the brain and how other neurons communicate with them. This also has relevance to human health as serotonin neuron dysfunction can be the cause of some neurological disorders. This scholarship will help to offset my educational costs as well as provide financial assistance as I complete the final portion of my Ph.D. and prepare for the next stage of my career in neuroscience."
Tyler Davidson
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Ph.D., Forensic and Investigative Science
“This scholarship will help to offset my educational expenses as I finish my Ph.D. My research focuses on the structural characterization of emerging synthetic drugs, the use of which has become an epidemic in the United States.”
Tyia Wilson
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ph.D., Psychology, Life-Span Development
“This scholarship will help to support my dissertation work tremendously, which investigates the possible role discrimination has on African Americans’ parenting behaviors. While conducting this research, I hope to better understand the effects of racial discrimination on African Americans’ parenting and provide further explanation of African American parents’ motives behind racial and emotional socialization behaviors. Because racial discrimination is a known stressor for African Americans, determining if these experiences negatively impacts parenting can aid in the development of interventions to help parents who have experienced discrimination.”
CARL DEL SIGNORE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
Hui Ci
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Beijing, China
M.S. Industrial Hygiene
“This award will support and encourage me to continue my research on human occupational health. I will use it for educational costs, participant payment and purchasing of materials. It will also help me to attend professional conferences and training to enhance my research skills and learning new techniques in the Industrial Hygiene field. I hope my research will contribute to employees to work in a healthy and safe environment.”
Jacob Kemner
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Naperville, Illinois
M.S. in Forest Resources Management
"Covering most of my student fees for the spring, this scholarship takes a lot of financial pressure off of me as I spend my final semester writing my thesis, allowing me to better focus on my work."
Kevin Lou
College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
Irvine, California
M.S. Sports Exercise and Performance Psychology
“I feel the research I am conducting is interesting and valuable to me and my field, and to have other foundations acknowledge that is really rewarding. This scholarship will allow me to further my research by giving me the opportunity to reach a larger audience than I might have been able to before.”
Estefania Tavares
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
M.S. Biology
“My research project aims to improve the tomato tolerance to salt stress through de novo domestication of a wild species using gene-editing strategies. This research is a proof-of-concept to engineer crops using speedy reverse breeding that will ultimately allow the use of seawater and marginal lands for food production. This scholarship will allow me to continue to stay focused on completing my master’s research project, which will prepare me for a successful doctorate degree and professional career.”