The Alabama Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) has announced the recipients of its 2025-26 scholarships and fellowships. ASGC is located on the campus of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System.
The consortium was formed in 1989 when NASA implemented the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. It is a voluntary association of eight research universities in Alabama along with other community colleges, educational outreach, and industrial and government entities.
Undergraduate scholarship recipients are awarded $1,500, while graduate fellowship winners receive $37,000. A single asterisk by a student’s name denotes a one-year renewal of a previous scholarship or fellowship award while two asterisks indicate a two-year renewal of a previous fellowship award.
For more information on ASGC and its scholarship and fellowship opportunities, visit uah.edu/asgc.
2025-2026 NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium Scholarship and Fellowship Awardees:
Alabama A&M University – Mr. Gerald Vines, campus director
Undergraduate Scholar:
Joel Nick Friedman, Computer Science, B.S., May 2027
Graduate Fellows:
*Elijah Kerry Nix, “Transforming Arachis hypogaea for Aflatoxin Resistance,” Plant & Soil Sciences, M.S., May 2026. Advisor: Dr. Xianyan Kuang. NASA Kennedy Space Center.
Israel Katari Micah Scott, “Exploring the Generational Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Apomictic Plants for Sustainable Space Agriculture,” Plant & Soil Sciences, M.S., May 2028. Advisor: Dr. Alex Harkess. NASA Kennedy Space Center.
Auburn University – Dr. Brian S. Thurow, campus director
Undergraduate Scholars:
Eirik Clay Mulder, Aerospace Engineering & Computer Science, B.S., May 2027
*Lucas Wayne Sanders, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026
Dakoda Bryant Willingham, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026
Graduate Fellows:
Paxton Coe Albright, “Context-Aware Control for Spacesuit Exoskeleto,” Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2026. Advisor: Dr. Chad Rose. NASA Johnson Space Center.
*Joseph Thomas Ivarson, “Shape-shifting Sailer: Self-foldable Shape Memory Membranes for Entry and Descent,” Aerospace Engineering, Ph.D., May 2026. Advisor: Dr. Davide Guzzetti. NASA Langley Research Center.
Ayden Joe Kemp, “Machine Learning and Computational Fluid Dynamics Tools for Engineering Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Green Combustion Devices,” Biosystems Engineering, Ph.D., December 2028. Advisor: Dr. Hassan Khodaei Jalalabadi. NASA Glenn Research Center.
Tuskegee University – Dr. Gregory V. Murphy, campus director
Undergraduate Scholar:
Jayme Kamille Barclift, Electrical Engineering, B.S., May 2027
The University of Alabama – Dr. Rajiv Doreswamy, campus director,
Undergraduate Scholars:
Rianna Frances Cassibry, Mechanical Engineering, BS, May 2027
*Sophia N. Kyemba, Computer Science, BS, May 2026
*Benjamin Charles Light, Aerospace Engineering, BS, May 2026
Daniel Thomas Stadter, Aerospace Engineering, BS, May 2027
Graduate Fellows:
Adam Hallmark, “Efficient Control of Autonomous Aerospace Vehicles Based on Koopman Operator Theory,” Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics, Ph.D., August 2026. Advisor: Dr. Pan Zhao. NASA Langley Research Center.
Andrew Marshall Jordan, “Development of Hot Cracking Susceptibility Index for Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing of Alloys,” Metallurgical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2026. Advisor: Dr. Qiaofu Zhang. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham – Dr. Yogesh K. Vohra, campus director
Undergraduate Scholars:
Keith Andrew De La Rosa Gonzalez, Advanced Physics & Mathematics, B.S., May 2028
Alyson Ann Goodwin, Biomedical Engineering, B.S., May 2027
Annamarie Fitzgerald Jewell, Chemistry, B.S., May 2026
Zosia Circe Kabarowska, Physics, B.S., May 2026
Roman Edward Luckett, Applied Physics, B.S., May 2028
Teacher Undergraduate Scholars:
Lalitha Appana, Biomedical Science, B.S., May 2027
Mercedes Charmaine Ivey, Biology, B.S., December 2026
The University of Alabama in Huntsville – Dr. Gang Wang, campus director
Undergraduate Scholars:
Leah Danielle Beasley, Electrical and Systems Engineering, B.S., May 2026
Claude Blue, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026
Tanner Marshall Land, Biology, B.S., May 2026
Erissa Marie Morin, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026
Faith Olivia Sweetser, Electrical Engineering, B.S., May 2026
Graduate Fellows:
Justin Michael Byers, “Detonation-based Combustion through Electrolysis of Native Lunar Ice for In-Situ Propulsion and Power,” Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2029. Advisor: Dr. John Bennewitz, NASA Johnson Space Center.
**Benjamin Alexander Campbell, “Investigation of Alternative Satellite Constellation Dispersion Techniques Utilizing Momentum Exchange Tethers,” Aerospace Systems Engineering, Ph.D., December 2025. Advisor: Dr. L. Dale Thomas. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
Jack Steven Wagner, “Utilizing Extreme Precision Radial Velocity Measurements to Directly Measure the Galactic Acceleration,” Physics, Ph.D., May 2028. Advisor: Dr. Sukanya Chakrabarti. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
University of North Alabama – Dr. J. Matt Green, campus director
Teacher Undergraduate Scholars:
Heidi R. Armstrong, Elementary Education, B.S., May 2025
Graduate Fellow:
Christian Alan Price, “Effects of Gfuel on Cognition and Physical Performance Following a Simulated Microgravity Period in Recreationally Active Females,” Exercise Science & Health Promotion, Ph.D., May 2026 Advisor: Dr. Lauren Killen. NASA Johnson Space Center.
University of South Alabama – Dr. Carlos J. Montalvo, campus director
Undergraduate Scholars:
William Cyrus Dollison, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2027
*Megan Alyssa Jordan, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026
Kyle Scott Kovalchick, Electrical Engineering, B.S., May 2027
Carolyn Grace Lippold, Chemical Engineering, B.S., December 2027
*Madeline Marie Potter, Computer Engineering, B.S., May 2026