News

Person in academic robes shakes the hand of another person in academic robes — Alexandra Bayer/Cornell University President Michael I. Kotlikoff congratulates a doctoral candidate at the 2025 Ph.D. Recognition Ceremony on May 23 at Barton Hall.

Graduate student honors

Ph.D. graduates overcame obstacles to find success

5/28/2025 Cornell Chronicle

Cornell’s newest Ph.D.s found success even through the unexpected events of the last few years, President Michael I. Kotlikoff reminded nearly 400 doctoral graduates at the 2025 Ph.D. Recognition Ceremony on May 23 at Barton Hall.

Glass figures shaped like a teardrop on top of a square glass base, red with black lines swirling down in parallel — Roger William Photography

Awards and Honors

Seventeen Receive Awards Recognizing Inclusive Excellence

5/19/2025 Cornell University Graduate School

Awardees were recognized for the significant impacts they have made to advance access, engagement and belonging through their service and leadership.

Several people standing in three rows, wearing dark blue shirts — Provided A portion of this year’s Expanding Your Horizons volunteers

Graduate student research

Hundreds of grad student volunteers host conference for budding scientists

4/29/2025 Cornell University Graduate School

Over 300 graduate students came together to offer this year’s annual Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) conference, putting in countless hours of volunteer work to host middle and high school students from across the state for a day of hands-on learning experiences on April 5.

Eight people wearing green academic stoles (plus one baby) — Simon Wheeler for Cornell University Cornell’s 2025 Bouchet Society inductees. Back row (left to right): Don Long, Andrea Robinson, Salma Rebhi and her son, Zhuang Han, and Aspen Omapang. Front row (left to right): Jamila Walida Simon, Marguerite Pacheco, Libby Indermaur, and Belen Sotomayor

Graduate student honors

Nine inducted into Bouchet Honor Society

4/28/2025 Cornell University Graduate School

Salma Rebhi, doctoral candidate in Romance studies, is among Cornell’s Bouchet scholars inducted at the annual Yale Bouchet Conference on Graduate Education.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Elijah Sheridan

10/18/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Elijah Sheridan, a doctoral student in physics from Lansing, Michigan, studies string theory under the guidance of Liam McAllister at Cornell.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Cameron Tardif

9/24/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Cameron Tardif, a doctoral candidate in history studies sport as a space of race and power in 20th-century United States and Canada.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Susannah Sharpless

9/24/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Susannah Sharpless, a doctoral candidate in English language and literature, studies 19th century American literature with a focus on women writers and the sea.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Oona Cullen

9/24/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Oona Cullen, a doctoral candidate in English language and literature with minors in feminist, gender, and sexuality studies and media studies, studies questions of embodiment, narrative, and form as they relate to experiences of race and gender.

Five people standing in a line under a tree — Simon Wheeler for Cornell University The five 2024 Postdoc Achievement Award recipients, left to right: Jonathan Sogin, Ph.D. ’23; Andrew Orkney; Alexandra Easley; Reum Scott, Ph.D. ’19; and Sabrina Axster.

Graduate student honors

Five postdocs honored with achievement awards

9/23/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

The Postdoc Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made contributions to community and show commitment to promoting inclusion at Cornell and in society.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Postdoc spotlight: Alexandra Easley

9/23/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Alexandra Easley is a postdoc in the department of chemistry and chemical biology; her research focuses on new approaches to carbon dioxide capture.

Deanne Gebell Gitner, smiling, with short black hair, a jacket and pearl necklace — Provided Deanne Gebell Gitner '66

Awards

Donor’s Annual Prize Shows Appreciation for Teaching Assistants

9/16/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

The Deanne Gebell Gitner ’66 and Family Annual Prize for Teaching Assistants was created to put TAs in the spotlight, celebrating and recognizing them for their contributions to education at Cornell.

Graduate student research

Donor's gift supports students' international research

6/20/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Recognizing the importance of extended, in-country research, Amit Bhatia ’01 created a fund to help close gaps in funding for travel and other expenses.

Graduate student honors

Eighteen receive awards recognizing inclusive excellence

5/22/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

A&S graduate students and faculty were among those honored with 2024 Distinguished Awards at the Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Awards and Recognition Celebration on May 14.

Graduate student research

Three doctoral students selected for Department of Energy program

5/22/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Virginia McGhee, doctoral candidate in chemistry and chemical biology; and Liana Shpani, doctoral candidate in physics, are two of three Cornell doctoral students selected for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research (DOE SCGSR) Program’s 2023 Solicitation 2 Cycle.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Meagan Sundstrom

4/30/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Meagan Sundstrom, doctoral candidate in physics from Walpole, Massachusetts, studies the role of gender in physics education.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Kelly Richmond

4/29/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Kelly Richmond, doctoral candidate in performing and media arts studies the role of live performance in responding to the climate crisis.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Katherine Ally Zaslavsky

4/26/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Katherine Ally Zaslavsky doctoral candidate in sociology from Endwell, New York, studies the value of representation.

Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Jason Ludwig

4/25/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Jason Ludwig, doctoral candidate in science and technology studies from Brooklyn, New York, studies the role of computing in reshaping politics of racial equality.

Nine people pose; some wear green stolls — Simon Wheeler/Cornell University Cornell’s 2024 Bouchet Society inductees

Graduate student honors

Ten inducted into Bouchet Honor Society

4/22/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Eight Cornell doctoral candidates, including five connected to A&S, and two postdocs have been inducted into the Cornell chapter of the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society.

Person speaking to a group, with an illuminated screen behind — Simon Wheeler/Cornell University Meagan Sundstrom presents her winning Three Minute Thesis.

Physics

Physics Ph.D. candidate wins 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition

3/22/2024 Cornell University Graduate School

Meagan Sundstrom won Cornell’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. 3MT challenges graduate students to present their thesis research compellingly to general audiences in just three minutes.

Several dozen people crowd together, looking up at the camera — Roger William Photography 2023 Dean’s Scholars

Graduate student honors

Nearly 70 students recognized at pinning ceremony

12/15/2023 Cornell University Graduate School

Dean’s Scholars are selected for their demonstrated commitment to academic excellence and advancing aspects of diversity, access, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the academy and other communities.

four people holding certificates — Roger William Photography for Cornell University. From left to right: Xuan Chen, Zachary Ulibarri, Sarah Gilbert, and Samantha Sanft. Not pictured: Alyssa Kaganer and Anusha Shankar.

Postdoctoral scholars

Six postdocs honored with achievement awards

10/2/2023 Cornell University Graduate School

Cornell employs 790 postdoctoral scholars who are appointed across nearly 90 departments where they actively participate in the university’s research, teaching, and extension missions.

Graduate student honors

Over 80 students receive NSF graduate fellowships

9/7/2023 Cornell University Graduate School

Eighty-four students have been selected as National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) fellows in 2023, comprising the largest group of new fellows Cornell has ever fielded in one year.

Inside a library full of elaborate book shelves — Jason Koski/Cornell University The A. D. White Reading Room in Uris Library.

Graduate student research

Funding for fluency: Grants support summer language study

7/5/2023 Cornell University Graduate School

Thirteen doctoral students were awarded grants for 2023, with destinations including France, Indonesia, Jordan, and more.

Several people in long red robes and black caps walk in a line against a red background; one turns to give a thumbs up — Jason Koski/Cornell University Students line up for recognition at the 2023 Ph.D. Recognition Ceremony on May 27 at Barton Hall.

Graduate student honors

Ph.D. graduates celebrated for contributions to knowledge

6/1/2023 Cornell Chronicle

Cornell’s newest doctoral graduates crossed the line "from students to scholars" at the 2023 Ph.D. Recognition Ceremony May 27.

A grid of images of several people accepting awards at a podium — Roger William Photography Some of the recipients of 2023 Distinguished Awards at the Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Awards and Recognition Celebration, May 16 in G10 Biotech

Graduate student honors

Thirty-two receive awards recognizing inclusive excellence

5/23/2023 Cornell University Graduate School

On May 16, several Arts and Sciences affiliated graduate students were among those honored for leadership and commitment to diversity, inclusion, outreach, and student engagement.

Sprig of white flowers in foreground, stone tower in background

Graduate student research

Two doctoral students selected as Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellows

5/8/2023 Cornell University Graduate School

The fellowships will provide a stipend as well as funding for research and other activities.

Seven people wearing green honor stoles — Simon Wheeler/Cornell University

Post-graduate excellence

Ten Inducted into Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

4/10/2023 Cornell University Graduate School

The Bouchet Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.

Cornell's central campus with lake beyond

Graduate student research

Over 50 Students Receive NSF Graduate Fellowships

11/7/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

The National Science Foundation offers approximately 2,000 fellowships per year to research-based master’s and doctoral students pursuing STEM studies.

Nine people stand in a line; six of them hold plaques — Roger William Photography postdoctoral scholars honored with Postdoc Achievement Awards

Graduate student research

Seven Postdocs Honored with Achievement Awards

9/29/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

Elizabeth Riley, postdoc in psychology, and Eileen Gonzales, postdoc in astronomy, represent the College of Arts and Sciences among the honorees.

Students with backpacks walk past a building with stone columns

Literatures in English

Two Doctoral Students Receive Ford Fellowships

9/16/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

Joseph Miranda, a doctoral candidate in English language and literature, received a dissertation competition fellowship.

Person casts a net from a canoe on a calm lake — Hennie Stander/Unsplash Fishermen on Lake Victoria in Uganda

Graduate student research

Two Doctoral Students Receive Africa Fund Fellowships

6/6/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

Angela Nankabirwa, doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology, will collect and analyze harmful algal bloom samples taken from Africa’s Lake Victoria.

A dark-skinned man, bald White woman and African-American woman holding bouquets of flowers and their award certificates — Roger William Photography

Awards

Twenty-five receive awards recognizing inclusive excellence

5/23/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

The awards recognize the excellence represented within the graduate community and celebrates students for their accomplishments.

Building with reflective windows under a blue sky — Germán Reyes/Provided The National Institute of Educational Studies in Brazil

Graduate student research

Travel Grants Help Graduate Students Conduct Research Across the Globe

5/10/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

The Graduate School awarded over 100 Research Travel Grants totaling $204,196 in 2021-22, the largest group of grants awarded since the pandemic began interrupting travel.

Graduate School

Asian Literature, Religion, and Culture Ph.D. Candidate Wins Three Minute Thesis Competition

3/29/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

Bruno Shirley presented his dissertation research in just three minutes to a panel of judges and a virtual audience from across campus and around the world.

People work on laptop computers in a cozy room

Graduate student life

Record High Attendance at Writing Boot Camp

3/21/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

This year’s Proposal, Thesis, and Dissertation Writing Boot Camp, hosted by Cornell University Graduate School, went virtual and broke records, drawing 400 writers from 50 institutions.

2022 wu scholars — 2022 Wu Scholarship recipients. Top row, left to right: Shiping Cao, Yue Deng, and Zihan Hu. Bottom row, left to right: Hui Ji, Yubo Su, Yongjian Tang, and Hui Zhou. Not pictured: Shan-Chi Hsieh.

Graduate School

Eight Graduate Students Receive Wu Scholarships

2/21/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

Eight graduate students, including four studying in the College of Arts and Sciences, were awarded 2022 Hsien and Daisy Yen Wu Scholarships.

Circular chart showing internal stakeholders and external stakeholders

Graduate School

Diverse Stakeholder Perspectives Improve Ph.D. Career Development Programming

1/28/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

A team of researchers including Conrad Smart, physics doctoral candidate, interviewed 45 stakeholders from academic institutions about their perspectives on career development for doctoral students. Smart used his skills in data visualization techniques to develop the stakeholder tool.

Graduate school

Helping humanities students explore careers beyond academia

1/24/2022 Cornell University Graduate School

Humanities doctoral students begin their programs with an area of interest. This focus narrows as dissertation research progresses until, by the end of a doctoral program, it narrows to the point that students see only a path to a faculty or research career. To broaden their view, the Graduate School’s Careers Beyond Academia has expanded its programs to illuminate many more possible careers.

Anthropology

Graduate School recognizes over 40 new NSF GRFP recipients

12/6/2021 Cornell Chronicle

Arts and Sciences doctoral students David Esparza and Anna Whittemore are among 44 Cornell graduate students selected as new National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) fellows.

Graduate research

Two doctoral students receive Ford Fellowships

6/21/2021 Cornell Chronicle

Doctoral students Monique Pipkin and Ama Bemma Adwetewa-Badu have been selected to receive 2021 Ford Foundation Fellowships. Honorable mentions were awarded to nine additional Cornell graduate students.

Linguistics

Removing barriers through remote opportunities

6/15/2021 Cornell Chronicle

Many Graduate School students, alumni and staff, including linguistics alumna Carol-Rose Little, Ph.D. ’20 have learned to use remote and hybrid environments to their benefit.

Graduate research

Six graduate students receive 2021 Wu Scholarships

6/10/2021 Cornell Chronicle

Six graduate students were awarded 2021 Hsien and Daisy Yen Wu Scholarships. These scholarships recognize graduate students for their academic ability, performance and character as well as financial need.

Linguistics

Linguistics doctoral student named Cobell fellow

5/25/2021 Cornell University Graduate School

Charlotte Logan, a doctoral student in linguistics, was recently selected as a Cobell Graduate Summer Research Fellow. Administered on behalf of the Cobell Board of Trustees by Indigenous Education, Inc., Logan is one of six fellows for 2021.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Nearly 1,000 gather for conversation on safer fieldwork

3/11/2021 Cornell Chronicle

Witnessing incidents of violence against people of color in the media, two ecology and evolutionary biology doctoral candidates have created a set of best practices on how researchers can stay safe while conducting fieldwork. What started as a list for their graduate field transformed into much more when Monique Pipkin and Amelia-Juliette Demery’s ideas began resonating at Cornell and beyond.

Biological sciences

Students’ vaccine videos go viral

2/22/2021 Cornell Chronicle

In viral social media videos, two doctoral students in the field of biomedical and biological sciences explain how messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines work, also creating Spanish versions.

Teacher stands near students, who are writing at a table

Graduate school

ELSO Expands Services to All Multilingual Graduate Students

12/15/2020 Cornell University Graduate School

Cornell’s English Language Support Office (ELSO) has expanded to support all multilingual graduate students – both from the U.S. and abroad. Previously available only to international students for whom English was not their first language, now multilingual graduate and professional students from anywhere in the world can participate in ELSO programs, including tutoring, workshops, and classes.

Mathematics, Science and Technology Studies, Society for the Humanities

Seven postdocs honored with achievement awards

10/5/2020 Cornell Chronicle

Seven postdoctoral scholars have been honored with Postdoc Achievement Awards, as part of Cornell’s celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, celebrated Sept. 21-25. The recipients are:

Astronomy, Physics, Carl Sagan Institute

In-person or online, Cornell’s summer research internships prove successful

9/9/2020 Cornell University Graduate School

The COVID-19 pandemic halted plans to host annual on-campus summer research experiences for undergraduates from institutions across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Cornell faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate student mentors, however, quickly pulled together to shift course and move these programs online, allowing about 90 undergraduates to experience virtual research at Cornell.

Science and Technology Studies

Seven Graduate Students Receive Wu Scholarships

8/25/2020 Cornell University Graduate School

Seven graduate students were recently awarded Hsien and Daisy Yen Wu Scholarships. These awards provide recipients with funds to help with any aspect of doctoral study, from research expenses to personal living expenses.

History

‘Making it Work’: Flexibility During COVID-19

7/21/2020 Cornell University Graduate School

Emily Donald, a doctoral student in history, planned to go to Thailand this summer. Instead, she remained in Ithaca. Like many scholars at Cornell and around the globe, Donald’s research was interrupted by the pandemic. “I’m lucky to be in a position where I can be flexible and shift things around to make it work,” she said.

History of Art and Visual Studies, Archaeology Program

Art history Ph.D. candidate wins Newcombe Fellowship

6/24/2020 Cornell Chronicle

Lara Fresko Madra, a doctoral candidate in the field of history of art, archaeology and visual studies, has been selected as a recipient of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. Administered through the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, the fellowship has been awarded to 23 recipients for the 2020-21 academic year.

Graduate Studies

Twenty-two Receive Awards Recognizing Inclusive Excellence

6/24/2020 Cornell University Graduate School

The Graduate School Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement (OISE) and the Graduate and Professional Student Diversity Council presented the 2020 Distinguished Awards on June 12 at the Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Awards and Recognition Celebration, held over Zoom.

Anthropology

Anthropology Ph.D. candidate named Newcombe fellow

6/26/2019 Cornell Chronicle

Natalie Nesvaderani, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, was recently selected as a recipient of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. Administered through the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Nesvaderani is one of 23 recipients for the 2019-20 academic year.Nesvaderani is studying the intersection of documentary film, migration and children’s labor in Iran.

Graduate students

Five inducted into Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

4/22/2019

The Bouchet Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.

Graduate student research

Grants help graduate students to do research around the world

11/28/2018 Cornell Chronicle

Twenty-six Cornell graduate students have won more than $42,000 in fall 2018 Research Travel Grants, which provide students up to $2,000 to conduct thesis or dissertation research away from campus. In a typical year, 70 to 80 students receive these competitive grants from the Graduate School. More grant winners will be announced in the spring.

Graduate Students

Grad students recognized at dean’s scholars pinning ceremony

10/3/2018 Cornell Chronicle

The Graduate School Dean’s Scholars pinning ceremony Sept. 26 celebrated its inaugural year in 2017, but the 2018 ceremony was not without its firsts.