Supported by WVU Foundation scholarships, eight graduate students from the US and abroad are conducting significant research while completing their degrees.
The Office of Graduate Education and Life has awarded four doctorate students the WVU Foundation Distinguished doctorate Scholarship and four master’s students the Carl del Signore Foundation Scholarship.The prizes help students cover expenditures and complete their theses or dissertations.
Cheryl Brandmeir, a Severna Park, Maryland native, is pursuing a doctorate in pathophysiology, rehabilitation, and performance at West Virginia University School of Medicine.
“This scholarship will be instrumental in facilitating the completion of my dissertation work, which seeks to provide insight into the mechanisms surrounding gait dysfunction in people with Parkinson’s disease,” Brandmeir stated in a press release. “By improving our understanding of limb speed perception and postural stability, I hope to contribute to the advancement of evidence-based rehabilitation, ultimately improving the quality of life for those living with this condition.” My foundational study will pave the path for unique therapy strategies and serve as a foundation for future physical therapist education at West Virginia University.”
Megan Hut is an international student from Tiel, the Netherlands. She is pursuing a doctorate in educational theory and practice from West Virginia University’s College of Applied Human Sciences.
“I am extremely grateful to receive this award and appreciate the value it places on educational research aimed at supporting preservice teachers to become compassionate, social justice educators equipped to create equitable educational opportunities for their future students,” he added. “I hope that my research will make a positive contribution to teacher education. This funding will continue to help me establish and extend linkages between my research and teaching practice, as well as allow me to publish and spread my work.”
Kent Marshall, from Saint Albans, is currently pursuing a combined MD/PhD degree at the School of Medicine. His PhD will focus on clinical and translational science.
“This eminent award not only recognizes our individual achievements but also underscores the Foundation’s commitment to supporting biomedical sciences, young investigators and cancer research at WVU,” Marshall stated in a press release. “I am really grateful for the opportunity to pursue my PhD studies in Morgantown, and the financial aid offered by this scholarship will enable me to purchase materials to employ cutting-edge methodologies in my dissertation research. It will also allow me to continue my extracurricular research once I return to the clinic to complete my medical degree. This award motivates me to continue pursuing greatness in my research and academic endeavors.”
Tobi Ore, an international student from Ekiti, Nigeria, is pursuing a doctorate in geology at WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
“This award holds immense significance to me, as it will assist in successfully finishing my dissertation on advancing machine learning-aided seismic interpretation and inversion for subsurface characterization,” Ore stated in a press release. “With this work, I hope to improve current industrial automated interpretation methods, providing greater flexibility to complicated geological structures and stratigraphy. The expected conclusion of my research holds promise for more efficient subsurface characterisation, contributing significantly to the development of sustainable energy solutions and the transition to a carbon-neutral future.”
Connor Lambert, from South Royalton, Vermont, is pursuing a master’s degree in psychology with a focus on behavioral analysis at Eberly College.
“The use of this award will help to fund my current research project, understanding factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of pathological gambling disorder, and will aid in the development of my dissertation and other research concerning maladaptive decision-making,” Lambert said in a press release. “This scholarship will help me to focus on my academic pursuits without worrying as much about the associated financial burdens.”
Lacey Leatherland, a native of Olathe, Kansas, is pursuing her master’s degree in forensic and investigative science at Eberly College.
“This award has assisted me with travel costs associated with participation at conferences where I can share my research findings on the forensic examination of electrical tapes,” Leatherland said in a press release. “Specifically, my project focuses on the elemental analysis of electrical tapes using micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, while also evaluating a previously developed quantitative spectral similarity metric, the spectral contrast angle ratio, to lay the groundwork for the future development of consensus-based protocols. In addition, I am investigating how popular fingerprint development chemicals alter the elemental profiles of electrical tapes in order to advise forensic examiners on the best workflow for cross-disciplinary tape evidence examinations.”
Eden Nitza, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, is pursuing a master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries resources at West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design.
“I am so grateful for the Carl del Signore Scholarship because it allows me to focus on data analysis and writing during the final year of my master’s studies,” she said. “My thesis research examines river otter diet and population genetics in West Virginia. With this grant, I am able to devote my attention to ensuring that my thesis makes a relevant contribution to conservation science.”
Abigail Wellings is from Frostburg, Maryland. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling with a focus on clinical mental health from the College of Applied Human Sciences.
“This award is not only a great honor to receive as a first-generation student but will also help alleviate the financial costs of graduate school and allow me to focus more on my academic career and thesis project,” Wellings stated in a press release. “My thesis investigates the incidence of suicide thoughts among first-generation college students vs their non-first-generation classmates. This study aims to contribute to current literature on the mental health of first-generation college students.
To learn more about WVU Foundation graduate scholarships, please contact Jessica Queener, associate provost for graduate education policy, at Jessica.Queener@mail.wvu.edu.
Donations to fund the two scholarships are made through the WVU Foundation, a nonprofit entity that accepts and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
