Five Tulane Students Receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

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From Left to Right: Dominic Amedeo Casalnuovo, Danielle Kimberly Kulick, Jamin Kidd, and Riley Anne Juenemann

Three Newcomb-Tulane College alumni, one current undergraduate student and one current graduate student have earned fellowships in the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines as they pursue advanced research-based degrees. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance. The GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. GRFP recipients become life-long leaders who contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching.

This year’s recipients are:

  • Dominic Amedeo Casalnuovo, NTC ‘20
  • Danielle Kimberly Kulick, NTC ‘20
  • Jamin Kidd, NTC ‘20
  • Riley Anne Juenemann, NTC ‘21
  • Manon Bart, current Tulane Ph.D. student

Dominic Casalnuovo (’20), now a first year Chemical Engineering Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University, researches how gaseous pollutants help form nanoparticles in the atmosphere. “The NSF GRFP fellowship gives me the freedom to pursue my research interest in understanding how human pollution impacts the atmosphere,” said Casalnuovo. “In addition, this fellowship provides me with a platform to conduct meaningful and effective STEM outreach. I plan to work with local high school teachers to develop atmospheric science lessons plans to raise awareness on how local Pittsburgh air pollution impacts our communities.”

Danielle “Nelle” Kulick (’20) is now studying the role of olfaction in the sociosexual communication of white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) at Tulane University. “I am spending this spring (2021) building the foundation of this project by collecting pilot data on olfactory-associated behaviors of white-faced capuchins in the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica,” said Kulick. “I am also endlessly thankful for my many mentors at Tulane – especially Dr. Katharine Jack, and other mentors: Dr. Emily Farrer, Dr. Donata Henry, Dr. D. Jelagat Cheruiyot, Dr. Trenton Holliday, Dr. Jordan Karubian, and Dr. Jennifer Beers. Without their limitless support, learning opportunities, and time and patience devoted to working with me and developing my skills, I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today”

Jamin Kidd (NTC ’20) chose to pursue a Ph.D. in Physics and Engineering Physics at Tulane. Kidd’s research lies at the intersection of math, physics, materials science, and computational science. Specifically, Kidd is interested in further exploring Density Functional Theory, using it to study quantum mechanical phenomena in materials via computer simulation, and developing new theories for describing strongly correlated topological materials. “If [my advisor and I] are successful we believe that our work will have major implications for both physics and technology,” said Kidd. “To me, receiving this fellowship means that the NSF understands our vision, and that really makes me ecstatic."

After graduating from Tulane, Riley Juenemann (’21) will pursue a Ph.D. at the Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME) at Stanford University. “I am honored that the NSF selection committee recognized the depth of my interdisciplinary research involvements and commitment to fostering inclusive intellectual communities during my time at Tulane. The fellowship gives me the freedom to focus on research early in my graduate studies and allows for flexibility in choosing an advisor,” said Juenemann. “I am eager to continue research and collaborations at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and biology.”

Please join us in congratulating these exceptional students and wishing them well on their future endeavors!


Newcomb-Tulane College offers advising for students and faculty mentors about prestigious scholarships and other post-baccalaureate opportunities. For more information about nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships, contact Dr. Jennifer Beers, Coordinator for Nationally Competitive Scholarships, at jbeers@tulane.edu.