Variety in NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) Funded Research
The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is highly competitive and provides fellowship support for graduate students (master or doctoral) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Recipients are given a three-year award consisting of a fellowship stipend and an education allowance, in addition to the powerful networking opportunities and resources afforded by being selected as a fellow.
The Department of Psychology is fortunate to have several NSF fellows in our graduate program. Our three most recent recipients of this prestigious fellowship are Fasika Hailu, a second-year student in the Social Psychology and Personality Area with Dr. Sapna Cheryan; John Kruper, a second-year student in the Cognition and Perception Area with Dr. Ariel Rokem; and Katie Malloy Spink, a third-year student in the Child Clinical Area with Dr. Kate Foster.
Fasika Hailu
Let's start with the basics, where are you from and where did you complete undergrad/masters?
I was born in Southern California but grew up in Tampa, Florida. I went to the University of South Florida for undergrad (dual bachelors’ in psychology and sociology).
How did you wind up at UW/why did you apply here? What do you think about living in Seattle?
I ended up at UW in quite an unexpected way. Towards the end of my junior year in undergrad, one of my honors thesis advisors let me know about a summer internship opportunity that she thought would be a great fit for me. It would allow me to work as a research assistant in any social psychology lab of my choosing for the summer, and it was fully paid! The application was due the next day, and she helped me gather all the necessary materials on short notice. I had three people on my list whom I was eager to work with, and as luck would have it, I was paired with Dr. Sapna Cheryan. That summer, I had an incredible experience working in her lab and truly learned so much. I also fell in love with Seattle (although I was cautioned that I should return during the gloomier months to truly know if I liked it here). I knew I wanted to continue working with Dr. Cheryan as a graduate student, and here I am! Even after living in Seattle through quite a few gloomy months, I still love living here! It’s great to live in a place with actual seasons (unlike the previous places I’ve lived in) and I’m incredibly grateful for the community I’ve found and grown with here.
What is your research interest and how did you get into it (what inspires/motivates you)?
Very broadly, I’m interested in how stereotypes drive racial inequality in the US. My interest in intergroup dynamics dates back to hearing my parents’ immigration experience from Ethiopia to the United States in 1983. They’ve shared how they were treated differently for their racial and immigrant status. Overall, their lives as Black immigrants do not conform to people’s stereotypes of what it means to be Black in America. As the daughter of Black immigrants, I also share some of their experiences. These stories and experiences sparked my interest and passion for learning more about perceived group differences, stereotypes of racial and ethnic groups, and how race intersects with other identities (e.g., immigrant status) to produce unique outcomes.
How did you learn about your funding opportunity and tell us about the application/waiting process?
Dr. Cheryan informed me about the NSF GRFP during my senior year of undergrad, but I didn’t apply for another few years after that (a year before starting grad school). The application process was quite a bit of work, but I’ve heard it’s not as bad as most other fellowships/grants. It required a two-page personal statement, a two-page research statement, and a two-page research proposal. The most challenging part for me was crafting the research proposal. I had an idea in mind and worked with Dr. Cheryan to further develop my idea (and pare down the proposal to just two pages - that was probably the hardest part). With a lot of feedback from Dr. Cheryan, my lab mates, and other people in my area, I submitted the application in October 2021. I was relieved after submitting and tried not to think about it much until March 2022 came around, then I was eagerly waiting for a response.
How did you feel when you learned that your application was accepted and that you will receive funding?
I was in absolute shock! While my advisor, lab mates, and other people in my area were all very optimistic and encouraging, I wasn't as confident I’d receive the award, given how extremely competitive it is. In April 2022, a fellow graduate student (and friend) texted me late at night asking if I had seen “the list”, and I immediately checked my email and saw that I was awarded the fellowship! Reading through the reviewers’ comments and realizing that others recognize the importance of my work was incredibly validating. It was amazing to celebrate the good news with my family and friends, and the relief of knowing I wouldn't have to TA for three years if I didn't want to, was a BIG weight off my shoulders!
What is the name of your project, and general scope for the layperson?
Right now, the name of my project is “The Varying Consequences of Perceived Foreignness”. In my project, I look at the different effects of being perceived as a foreigner in the US for Black and Asian individuals. Past work has established that members of groups perceived as foreign (e.g., Asian, Latinx, and Arab Americans) face distinct forms of racial prejudice in the US. But there is little work looking at the consequences for Black individuals who are perceived as foreign. I predict that the consequences of perceived foreignness may take a distinct, more protective form for Black individuals in the US, in contrast to Asian individuals, where it typically results in more adverse outcomes.
Do you have any advice/tips/suggestions for others who may apply to this opportunity? About graduate study in general?
My biggest piece of advice would be to seek feedback from as many people as you can. I presented my work to my lab at multiple points throughout my preparation process, and it was extremely helpful for me! It can be overwhelming and intimidating to hear others’ thoughts on your work, but I learned from my lab mates to take what I needed from people’s feedback and implement them in the ways that felt best to me. And it was great to hear the encouragement from my peers and advisor along the way!
The last book and/or movie you saw and enjoyed?
I’m not a big book or movie person, but the last movie I saw that I really enjoyed was The Woman King. It did not get nearly enough press or hype! It is a beautiful story about bravery, chosen family, and the resilience of African communities against colonialism. I boo-hoo cried, so have a tissue ready.
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John Kruper
Let's start with the basics, where are you from and where did you complete undergrad/masters?
I am from Sammamish, Washington. I completed my undergrad at University of Washington, in computer engineering.
How did you wind up at UW/why did you apply here? What do you think about living in Seattle?
I met my current PI while doing undergraduate research through the computational neuroscience center. I enjoy, hiking, biking, and the outdoors, so the Seattle area is perfect for me.
What is your research interest and how did you get into it (what inspires/motivates you)?
My research interests is in creating more advanced, open source software pipelines for processing medical images, specifically diffusion MRI. I think this is important for understanding the human brain in a way that is non-invasive and more widely accessible, while increasing reproducibility.
How did you learn about your funding opportunity and tell us about the application/waiting process?
I learned about this from my PI / labmates. I initially applied the year before becoming a graduate student and was rejected, and then I applied again as a first year and was accepted.
How did you feel when you learned that your application was accepted and that you will receive funding?
It felt great to have the security in knowing how I would be funded for the coming few years, and to feel recognized for my accomplishments in my research so far.
What is the name of your project, and general scope for the layperson?
The working title is "Using MRI to understand brain vasculature health in subjects with age related macular degeneration". My hypothesis is that microvasculature deficits in the brain are associated with age related macular degeneration. My plan is to test this hypothesis in the white matter of the brain, specifically in large pathways of myelinated axons such as the arcuate fasciculus. I will quantify tissue properties along these major pathways using a variety of MRI modalities, including diffusion MRI, T1w, T2w, FLAIR, SWI, MRA, and ASL, using data from the Alabama Study on Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2.
How might your research change the world?
The hope would be to better understand the relationship between brain health, eye health, and MRI measurements. This may make it more cost efficient to diagnose various brain diseases, or to catch them earlier.
Do you have any advice/tips/suggestions for others who may apply to this opportunity? About graduate study in general?
I encourage anyone interested to apply, if possible twice, as it is useful practice for formulating ideas about research and it is a nice fellowship.
What do you hope to accomplish with the funding and/or while in the UW Psychology graduate program?
I am working on the project above, as well as other project relating eye health (such as disease status) and measurements (such as optical coherence tomography) to visual white matter health in the brain. This may further help diagnosing issues with brain health.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
I like to hike, read, bike, cook, and go to the gym.
The last book and/or movie you saw and enjoyed?
Red Paint by Sasha LaPointe
What you plan to do once you complete your Ph.D.?
I am not sure. I hope to continue to write software which solves complicated problems and has a positive impact on the world.
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Katie Malloy Spink
Let's start with the basics, where are you from and where did you complete undergrad/masters?
I grew up in the Midwest, but I’ve lived in Seattle for almost a decade. I began finishing my undergraduate shortly after having my second daughter, starting at North Seattle Community College and then transferring to UW where I completed my bachelor’s degree.
How did you wind up at UW/why did you apply here? What do you think about living in Seattle?
While I applied for graduate programs across the country, UW was at the top of my list due to its strong research program as well as my interests in heterogeneity and idiographic methods within the developmental space, which lined up with Dr. Kate Foster’s research expertise. I also grew up amongst cornfields and summers filled with humidity, so I’ve never grown tired of the stunning beauty in this area!
What is your research interest and how did you get into it (what inspires/motivates you)?
My research interests revolve around emotions and emotion regulation skills. I'm most curious about how emotion regulation skills develop (and why), what factors promote the use of these skills (contextual, social, personal beliefs, etc.), and how to support flexibility in skill use given that what skills work for whom varies to some degree.
My interest in emotion regulation comes from a personal journey with chronic pain over a decade ago, as well as my observations of my two daughters and the various ways in which they each used different emotion regulation skills. For example, skills that were highly effective for one daughter were not necessarily as helpful for the other and vice versa, which got me interested in person-specific differences in skills use and effectiveness.
How did you learn about your funding opportunity and tell us about the application/waiting process?
Since going back to school to finish my undergraduate, I’ve always been on the lookout for scholarships and funding opportunities. I’m convinced it’s an opportunity to build writing skills, persistence, self-understanding; and hopefully, you receive some funding to relieve financial burdens along the way.
What is the name of your project, and general scope for the layperson?
Title: Heterogeneity in the multivariate structure, development, and change of emotion regulation repertoires across adolescence and within adolescent daily life
Scope: Developing a toolkit of emotion regulation skills is fundamental to having the capacity to adaptively manage emotional challenges over the years. We do not presently understand how adolescents develop and implement a range of emotion regulation strategies, and how this differs between individuals. My project will leverage innovative statistical approaches best equipped to understand emotion dynamics over time, to learn how adolescents build skills to manage emotions over the course of development, and how those skill sets may promote outcomes like academic success, healthy peer relationships, and well-being. Conversely, given that emotion dysregulation is central to numerous behavioral and mental health difficulties, my project findings may help with prevention development, both for research scientists and professionals working with adolescents.
How might your research change the world?
My hope is that this research will take us one step closer to understanding a) emotion regulation skills development across adolescence, b) which emotion regulation toolkits relate to improved well-being and mental health, and c) how to best help adolescents (and those who support them) to develop strong emotion regulation skills to manage difficulties throughout the lifespan.
Do you have any advice/tips/suggestions for others who may apply to this opportunity? About graduate study in general?
Center your project on a question that you can’t stop thinking about – it all flows a bit easier because of your natural interest. Begin writing the research statement first, then the personal statement – it may seem harder, but it will set you up to craft the personal statement with your specific research goals and aims in mind. Have a strong thesis in both statements (which inherently need to relate to each other), and make sure every paragraph, sentence, and word serves the thesis statement!
What do you hope to accomplish with the funding and/or while in the UW Psychology graduate program?
Given that my project is a bit more statistically complex, I hope to accomplish my three main research aims related to this project by the time I’m done with the program! I also hope to come out of the program with strong statistics and data science skills, as I’ve come to enjoy these topics more than I anticipated.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
In my spare time I love tending to my plants, trying to recreate meals I’ve had at restaurants, reading good fiction, spending time in nature, and playing strategy board games (Agricola, Dominion, Seven Wonders, to name a few). I also enjoy doing all or some of these things with my two spunky daughters and my partner.
The last book and/or movie you saw and enjoyed?
I recently re-read my favorite book ‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir. It is a fascinating and moving book – you should read it!
What you plan to do once you complete your Ph.D.?
I’m planning to pursue a research career, although what form this will take is still to be decided. I’m open to it evolving naturally alongside my growing interests and skills.