Lehigh University Alumni Shine in Prestigious NSF Fellowships
In a remarkable achievement for Lehigh University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, three of its graduates have been honored with 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships. With nearly 14,000 hopefuls across the nation, only 2,500 were selected, highlighting the distinction of this accolade.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is designed to support graduate students showing great potential in research within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This program offers three years of financial aid over a five-year period to aid their academic pursuits.
Among the recipients is Matthew O’Connell ’26, recognized for his work in Materials Research with a focus on Biomaterials. O’Connell will continue his academic journey at the University of Florida. Meanwhile, Metri Zughbi, who continues his Ph.D. studies at Lehigh, was acknowledged for his research in Materials Science and Engineering, particularly in Polymers and Ceramics. Thomas Theiner, embarking on his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology, earned his award for his study in the Physics of Materials.
Since its establishment in 1952, the GRFP has been a cornerstone of support for over 70,000 graduate researchers, with more than 40 former fellows achieving the honor of Nobel Prizes.
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