Four graduate students from the University of Wyoming have been awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships, according to an April 20 announcement. The recipients are Alex Kurtt, Collin Porter, and Lena Wigger from the Department of Zoology and Physiology, and Josephine Walton from the Department of Molecular Biology.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is one of the most competitive awards for graduate studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The fellowship provides three years of financial support within a five-year period. Each recipient receives an annual $37,000 stipend as well as a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance to cover tuition and fees. For the 2025 competition cycle, nearly 14,000 applications were submitted nationwide with only 2,500 fellowships awarded.
Kurtt is a first-year doctoral student studying insect ecophysiology in Professor Michael Dillon’s lab. His research will focus on how changes in altitude affect insect physiology. “This fellowship is invaluable both personally and professionally. I am tremendously grateful to my colleagues, friends and family who encouraged me to pursue my passions in this field and provided feedback along the way,” Kurtt said. He plans to transition into his NSF fellowship after completing his current role at WyldTech.
Wigger is pursuing her master’s degree under Assistant Professor Gabe Barrile. Her work investigates how habitat characteristics influence disease dynamics among boreal toads in western Wyoming. “My research focuses on boreal toads in western Wyoming… I investigate how changes in beaver pond habitat influence disease prevalence,” Wigger said. Barrile added: “Lena’s research links multiple fields by combining habitat loss, animal behavior… into one overarching framework.” Wigger intends to use her funding as she continues toward a Ph.D.
Walton will enter a doctoral program this fall under Associate Professor Thomas Boothby after completing undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry through the Wyoming Research Scholars Program. Her project explores how microbial communities help organisms survive extreme environments by focusing on tardigrade microbiomes during desiccation events. Walton described receiving the award as “an incredible honor.” Boothby said: “Josie’s research promises… could provide insights into how microbes contribute to human physiology.”
Porter begins his Ph.D.-level fellowship this fall with research centered on migratory habits among gray-crowned rosy-finches—a songbird that breeds at high elevations—and their physiological adaptations across different populations. “Being awarded this fellowship is a significant academic accomplishment…” Porter said about his recognition after previously receiving an honorable mention.
Two additional UW students received honorable mentions: Garrett Higgins for avian ecology studies focused on seed dispersal mechanisms in Hawaii; Kira Welch for her work analyzing milk snake hybridization using genomic data.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program has supported more than 70,000 fellows since its launch in 1952 following Congress’s establishment of NSF.
