Graduate Dissertation Fellowships awarded to 22 doctoral candidates

Twenty-two doctoral candidates at Arizona State University were awarded Graduate Dissertation Fellowships to complete their post-candidacy doctoral work.

From studying microalgae as a sustainable food and fuel source to creating a better diagnostic method for seizures and epilepsy, all were focused on research with a positive impact, locally and globally.

Dissertation Fellowships are awarded across five areas: arts, humanities and social sciences; natural sciences and mathematics; engineering; professional programs and education; and interdisciplinary research.

"These fellowships reward outstanding doctoral students who contribute to their fields of study with significant research," says Andrew Webber, vice provost for Graduate Education. “The award plus tuition allows them to devote full time to writing their dissertation.”

The 22 fellows for 2013-2014 are:

Laura V. Alvarez-Rueda, PhD in Geography Program
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Shahrzad Badvipour PhD in Design, Environment and the Arts
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Stephen J. Boyd, PhD in Psychology
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Jill Carle, PhD in Political Science
School of Politics and Global Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Scott Davies, PhD in Biology
School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Elena Frank, PhD in Gender Studies
Women and Gender Studies, School of Social Transformation

Enza Giannone, PhD in Theatre (Theatre for Youth)
School of Theatre and Film, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Ayfer Gokalp, PhD in Curriculum and Instruction (Language and Literacy)
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

Matthew J. Hammil, PhD in Applied Linguistics
Department of English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Seung Yong Han, PhD in Sociology
T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Laura C. Hand, PhD in Public Administration and Policy
School of Public Affairs, College of Public Programs

Robert W. Kutter, PhD in Sustainability
School of Sustainability, Global Institute of Sustainability

Ileana Baeza Lope, PhD in Spanish
School of International Letters and Cultures, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Yi Lai Christine Luk, PhD in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology
Graduate Education (interdisciplinary)

Carolyn S. Mattick, PhD in Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Catherine A. Nichols, PhD in Anthropology
School of Human Evolution and Social Change, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Marie-Louise Paulesc, PhD in Communication
Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Surya Poudel, PhD in Community Resources and Development
School of Community Resources and Development, College of Public Programs

Rene Utianski, PhD in Speech and Hearing Science
Department of Speech and Hearing Science, College of Health Solutions

Peter D. Van Cleave, PhD in History
School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

David Walsh, PhD in Religious Studies
School of Historical, Philosophical an Religious Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Robert J. Yao, PhD in Biomedical Informatics
Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Health Solutions