Graduate student Heather Wiest has been awarded a 2012 graduate research fellowship from The National Science Foundation.

Heather is a first year graduate student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics where she is majoring in propulsion.  She earned a dual degree in Mechanical Engineering and Economics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 2011.  Heather works under the direction of Professor Stephen Heister and will begin her master’s thesis research this summer at Zucrow Laboratories.  She will be running nozzle performance tests on the lab’s biannular airbreathing nozzle rig in order to study design concepts used to reduce the noise generated by small, supersonic aircrafts. 

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research.

The ranks of NSF fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering research, many who have become leaders in their chosen careers, and some who have been honored as Nobel laureates.

Honorable Mention

An Honorable Mention was also given to grad student Jesus O. Mares whose advisor is Prof. Steven Son