Biological engineers earn NSF fellowships
April 17, 2014
Kevin Bennett
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Two Bagley College students have earned national fellowships that will provide three years of research funding.
Kevin Bennett and Shaquia Idlett are among 2,000 out of 14,000 applicants chosen for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Each will receive more than $30,000 annually for their research efforts, while an additional annual award of more than $10,000 will cover the cost of tuition.
Both students are part of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department and are mentored by assistant professor Chartrisa “LaShan” Simpson.
Bennett, who last year earned a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering from Mississippi State, will soon complete his first year in Mississippi State’s biomedical engineering doctoral program. His research focuses on developing a treatment for vascular calcification. The Ocean Springs native plans to use his experiences as a researcher and teaching assistant to become a professor following his graduation in May 2018.
Shaquia Idlett
As the first person in his family to attend graduate school, Bennett has a deep appreciation for this award and the opportunities it presents.
“Just being able to attend graduate school this year has been a great accomplishment,” Bennett said. “To receive this award is more than I could have ever imagined, and I’m going to work hard to make the most out of this opportunity.”
Bennett is the son of Neil and Suzanne Bennett and a graduate of Madison Central High School.
Idlett will begin the biomedical engineering doctoral program at the Georgia Institute of Technology this fall following the completion of a bachelor’s in biological engineering in May.
This NSF award, combined with a National Institute of Health Computational Neuroscience Training Fellowship from Georgia Tech, has guaranteed funding for the duration of her studies, which will focus on neurological engineering.
She is the daughter of Pamela and the late Demitrius Idlett. Her mother, who has a neurological disorder, and father, who passed away from a heart attack, motivate her research efforts. She plans to use her work to honor them.
“This fellowship is a great achievement for me as a student and researcher,” Idlett said, “But it is also an honor for the wonderful parents who raised me and the exceptional university that trained me.”
Idlett is a native of Newport News, Va., and graduated from Denbigh High School.
The NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines. In addition to academic requirements, the NSF fellowship program also asks applicants to write two original essays including a complete research proposal.
For more information about the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, visit www.nsfgrfp.org.
More information about the Bagley College of Engineering can be found at www.bagley.msstate.edu.
By: Erin Boozer