Two students receive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

Two Auburn students have won National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFP) for graduate study. This prestigious fellowship program ensures the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000.

This year's recipients are Robin Weaver and Parker Megginson.

Robin Weaver

Robin Weaver is a 2024 alumna and current graduate student, studying aerospace engineering with the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Her research is focused on understanding bistable structures, which are objects with two distinct and stable positions.

Weaver relates this concept to the pop socket on a phone case. When the pop socket is open or closed, it is in a stable state, but in between these positions, the pop socket is unstable and easily shifts to one position or the other.

According to Weaver, structures with these capabilities have vast potential applications related to impact protection, such as a landing gear for a lunar lander or the interiors of football helmets.

“I am truly thankful to everyone who has supported me throughout my research endeavors. My mentors, family, lab mates and the greater research community constantly inspire me to explore new and unique projects," she said. "I would specifically like to thank my graduate advisor Dr. Russell Mailen. He has taught me so much since I started working in his lab as an undergraduate researcher, and he continues to support and challenge me throughout my graduate studies. I am honored to receive support from NSF GRFP and look forward to the opportunities this fellowship will create.”

The impact protection applications Weaver is researching are unique because they require vastly different bistable structure designs. Weaver hopes to apply foundational theory related to planar bistable structures, then tesselate the structures into sheets that can be implemented onto complex curved surfaces. Her aim is to understand how the tessellating pattern and surface geometry effect the mode of snap-through, and ultimately the energy that is absorbed by the structures upon impact.

“We are impressed with Robin’s scholarly contributions in the field of aerospace engineering and congratulate her on this achievement," said George Flowers, dean of the Graduate School. "This prestigious fellowship is a testament to the hard work and dedication she has demonstrated that truly embodies the Auburn Creed.

"We celebrate her accomplishments and look forward to the amazing opportunities this fellowship affords her to pursue life-enhancing research to improve the lives of the people of Alabama, the nation and the world."

parker megginson

Parker Megginson is an Honors College senior graduating this spring with a bachelor’s in computer engineering from the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

His research looks at how space radiation can damage the tiniest parts of a computer, like transistors and memory devices, in today’s most advanced electronics. This research is crucial because the greater exposure of transistors and electronic systems in space to radiation poses a significant risk of errors or even system failures.

“I'm deeply honored to receive the fellowship and to join the ranks of so many inspiring researchers who have come before me. This fellowship encourages me to keep pushing the boundaries of my work and reminds me of the responsibility to use research as a force for positive change," Megginson said.

His goal with this research is to contribute to efforts to make space electronics more reliable, supporting safer and more advanced missions in the future.

“It’s always inspiring to see our undergraduate students stand shoulder to shoulder with the top students from across the nation," said Lorenzo Cremaschi, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and professor of mechanical engineering. "Their passion, hard work and dedication truly shine through, and I commend Parker for receiving this prestigious award that recognizes an outstanding achievement.” 

honorable mentions

Three university-affiliated students received an Honorable Mention from the National Science Foundation: Darmon A. Kahvazadeh (entomology, Kennesaw State University), Faith M. Miller (neuropsychology, Auburn) and John R. Stockdale (materials science and engineering, Grand Valley State University).