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April 6, 2016 — The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Allegheny College senior Emily Eikey a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship.

Eikey, a chemistry major and psychology minor from Finleyville, Pa., was one of 2,000 individuals chosen for an award. Awardees — chosen from close to 17,000 applicants — represent a diverse group of scientific disciplines.

The fellowship provides three years of financial support within a five-year fellowship period ($34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the graduate institution). That support is for graduate study that leads to a research-based master’s or doctoral degree in science or engineering.

“I am extremely honored and beyond excited that I have been awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship,” says Eikey, who plans to attend graduate school in the fall to obtain a Ph.D. in chemistry. “By receiving this fellowship, I have opened the doors to a countless number of current and future opportunities. All the hard work I’ve put into my undergraduate career has paid off.”

“The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is the most prestigious award a young scientist can win,” says Patrick Jackson, adviser in the college’s nationally competitive awards office and visiting professor of religious studies and history. “It comes with generous funding that frees recipients up to concentrate entirely on advancing their research agenda, without the pressure of having to apply for grants every year or to split their time between the laboratory and the classroom as a grader or a teaching assistant.”

“Three years to focus on doing experiments at the beginning of their career gives NSF fellows a considerable advantage once they finish their Ph.D.s,” he adds. “Many of them graduate with an impressive list of publications, which puts them in an enviable position as they apply for the most coveted postdocs at the nation’s leading labs.”

Former NSF Fellows include individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering, have become leaders in their chosen careers and been honored as Nobel laureates.

Eikey also has received the College Chemistry Award from the Society for Analytical Chemistry of Pittsburgh. She is a member of Allegheny College’s chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon, the National Chemistry Honorary Society; is a tutor; and has served as a captain for the Allegheny Cheerleading Team for three years.