The article link is here: https://www.chem.indiana.edu/2026/04/nsfs-2026-graduate-research-fellowship-program-awardee-and-honorable-mention-recipients-include-four-iu-chemistry-students-and-alumni/
Text: The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award winners, including Madison Genslinger, current Ph.D. student, advised by Professor Alex Georgescu. Receiving an award in Materials Research – Materials Theory, Ms. Genslinger is this year’s sole U.S. awardee in that category.
In addition, IU alumna, Emily Ward, now at Princeton University, received an NSF GRFP in Materials Research – Chemistry of Materials for her work spanning both theory and experiment. During her time at IU, Emily was co-advised by Prof. Sara Skrabalak (experiment) and Prof. Georgescu (theory).
Both Ms. Genslinger and Ms. Ward are recent departmental award recipients: Ms. Genslinger received an Associate Instructor Award, and Ms. Ward received the Schwarzkopf Award as the highest achieving graduating undergraduate student in 2025.
NSF GRFP Honorable Mention recipients are Ph.D. student Jessica Samol in Chemistry – Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism, advised by Prof. Romualdo de Souza, and IU alumna Alex Butrum in Chemistry – Macromolecular (including Polymer Chemistry), Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry, advised as an undergraduate by Prof. Xingchen Ye. Ms. Butrum is now at Northwestern University and currently advised by Chad Mirkin.
Special thanks are in order for everyone in the department who submitted NSF GRFP proposals, particularly given the changes in timeline and eligibility this cycle.