Ten from Tulane SSE Earn NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Recognition

Ten students and alumni connected to the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering have been recognized through the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, one of the nation’s most competitive honors for emerging researchers in science and engineering.

The program supports graduate students conducting advanced research in STEM fields and is widely regarded as a national benchmark for research potential. This year’s Tulane-affiliated recipients earned five award offers and five honorable mentions across disciplines including ecology, coastal science, chemistry, neuroscience and psychology.

Their work spans tropical biodiversity, coral reef ecosystems, coastal restoration, neuroscience and the developmental and mental health benefits of hip hop culture, reflecting the range of research taking place across the School.

Among those recognized is Maia Edwards, whose research combines fieldwork, behavioral observation and artificial intelligence to better understand bird diversity in northwestern Ecuador.

“Maia’s research combines field observation of bird behavior with AI-driven approaches to identify focal species from thousands of hours of audio recordings,” said Jordan Karubian, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. “In addition to advancing our understanding of the factors that shape biodiversity, her work will contribute directly to conservation efforts led by FCAT, a leading Ecuadorian NGO and longtime community partner of Tulane.”

For Edwards, the recognition marks an important milestone early in her doctoral journey.

“Receiving the NSF GRFP has given me confidence that I’m asking the right questions,” she said. “The application process helped me refine my focus on what drives patterns of avian biodiversity across complex landscapes, and this support allows me to dedicate more time to understanding how bird communities respond to environmental change.”

Edwards said the support system she found at Tulane and through FCAT played a major role in shaping her development as a scientist.

Other recognized projects examine how ecosystems respond to environmental change, from warming oceans to coastal restoration efforts along Louisiana’s shoreline.

“I use statistical modeling to improve global coral bleaching predictions, drawing on large-scale temperature datasets developed in the Reef Lab,” said Angela Larson. “In a discipline where imposter syndrome is common, this recognition is a meaningful reminder that I’m moving in the right direction.”

“Angela is developing an ambitious project that brings together large-scale coral reef temperature data and machine learning to forecast coral stress in ways that are directly useful for management,” said Tom DeCarlo, professor of earth and environmental sciences.

Similar questions of environmental resilience are central to the work of Avi Strange.

“I study restored oyster reefs in coastal Louisiana using drone-based LiDAR to understand how their shape and size change over time, and how those changes affect their ability to reduce coastal erosion,” Strange said. “Being recognized by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is both an honor and a meaningful validation of my potential as an early-career scientist.”

DeCarlo said Strange’s research demonstrates how students are combining traditional fieldwork with advanced technologies, including drone-based laser scanning, high-accuracy positioning systems and high-performance computing to address applied environmental challenges.

The recognized projects also extend beyond environmental science and into questions of identity, culture and human development.

Isaiah Epstein-Bagneris studies the developmental, communal and mental health benefits that engagement with hip hop culture can provide for Black youth.

“More broadly, I hope my work contributes to reshaping narrow and often negative perceptions of hip hop culture by highlighting its potential as a source of resilience, identity development and community connection,” he said.

For Epstein-Bagneris, the recognition was both meaningful and validating.

“Because my research is culturally specific and focused on building foundational knowledge, I’ve sometimes questioned whether others would view it as significant,” he said. “This recognition affirms both the importance and necessity of continuing this work.”

Epstein-Bagneris credited mentorship from Tulane faculty, including Corey J. Miles, Ph.D., and Michael Cunningham, Ph.D., with helping shape his academic path and approach to research.

Together, the students and alumni recognized this year represent five departments within the School of Science and Engineering and research questions that span ecosystems, communities, human behavior and environmental resilience.

Hridesh Rajan, Ph.D., dean of the Tulane School of Science and Engineering, said, “This kind of recognition reflects what is possible when students have access to strong mentorship, hands-on research opportunities, and the freedom to explore ambitious ideas. It is a clear outcome of the world-class research environment we continue to build at Tulane.”

Award Offers

• Maia Edwards
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences – Ecology
• Isaiah Epstein-Bagneris
  Psychology
  NSF Field: Developmental Psychology
• Ki Fraser Kuhn Finch
  Chemistry
  NSF Field: Macromolecular and Supramolecular Chemistry
• Avi Strange
  Earth and Environmental Sciences
  NSF Field: Coastal Studies
• Alexander Walker
  Neuroscience
  NSF Field: Neurosciences

Honorable Mention

• Callie Chenevert
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences – Ecology
• Emma Jacobs
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences – Ecology
• Angela Larson
  Earth and Environmental Sciences
  NSF Field: Biological Oceanography
• Porter D. Reim
  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  NSF Field: Life Sciences – Ecology
• Clara Steeby
  Psychology
  NSF Field: Cognitive Neuroscience